Q.1 Write a comprehensive essay on Pak-Russia relations.

ANS: Democratic governments (1947-1958)The Soviet Union-Pakistan relations dated back to 1948
when Moscow directed a farewell message to then-Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan. Pakistan gained
independence during the Penultimate times of cold war, and the Russian military involvement in
Afghanistan had a long history, going back to Tsarist times in the so-called "Great Game" between Russia
and Great Britain.

Pakistan cannot afford to wait. She must take her friends where she finds them..!

-Liaquat Ali Khan calling the Soviet Union and China.

According to the studies conducted by the Institute of Strategic Studies (SS) the Soviet Union did not
welcomed the partition of Bengal and Punjab, fluctuating from cool to antagonistic and hostile relations.
Moscow gave vehement criticism to United Kingdom for partitioning the region, regarded as the “Divide
and rule strategy of foreign policy of Great Britain, and had earlier labeled the Muslim League as a tool
of the British, from its very inception. Joseph Stalin and officials at Moscow did not send any
congratulatory message to Governor-General Jinnah founder of Pakistan Rather the Soviet Union
extended relations after the death of Jing after sending the invitation to Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan
on April 1948. During the 7 war, Soviet Union remained neutral non-committal attitude, while the
Western counties moved the Kashmir dispute to United Nations Security Council, to settle the dispute.
The Status was more acceptable to India, not by Pakistan initially influence Moscow to vote in favor of
India in 1947, during 1947-1953, Pakistan was an early member of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM facing
all the challenging issues involving the economic default, internal unrest, challenges in foreign policy.
constitutional crises and the problems at the Constituent Assembly after the death of Jinnah. Initially
Pakistan waited to see if any nation was willing to help the country to re-build is massive military and
economical aid, and leading bureaucrat at this time Sir Firoz Ali Khan had revealed that:

If the Hindus give (us) and Pakistan, then the Hindus are her best friends. If the British give it to her
Russia then the Brits are our best friend. If neither will give it to us freedom then the Russia is our best
friend.

In April 1948, at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Far East,Pakistan's foreign officers
of Pakistan announced that "she (Pakistan) would accept aid from any source", but the Soviets did not
respond to that request. In 1948, Prime Minister Ali Khan made several attempts to Soviet Union to
establish the relations, but Soviet remained quiet. On April 1948, Foreign minister Sir Zafarullah Khan
held talks with Deputy Foreign minister Andrei Gromyko, subjecting the diplomatic relation. During this
time, Pakistan saw relations with the Soviet Union from the prism of relations with India just as these
days it sees ties with the United States.

There are important divergences of outlook between Pakistan with its Islamic background, and the
Soviet Union with its background of Marxism which is atheistic... Pakistan had noticed the subservience
which was forced upon the allies of the Soviet Union... Furthermore, there was the question whether
Russia could supply the aid, both material and technical, which Pakistan so urgently needed...

However, the policy was changed after Soviet Union witnessed two events particularly forcing them to
respond to Pakistan when India decided to remain within the Commonwealth Nations, it was a clear sign
that India was leaning towards the Western countries under the U.S. auspices. The second event was
the Indian premier Jawaharlal Nehru's announcement to pay the state visit to the United States on May
7, 1949. To a reaction, Soviet Union extended an invitation to Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, in 1949
to visit Moscow, becoming the first prime minister from the Commonwealth of Nations to visit the
communist country, but Soviet Union herself did not materialized the dates or the plans. Instead, Prime
minister Liaquat Ali Khán went onto paid a state visit to United States, taking the largest diplomatic and
military convey with him, a clear rebuff to Soviet Union, According to studies completed by Pakistan
Institute of International Affairs (PIIA he real motives, goals and objectives, were to an economic and
technical assistance. "There are important divergences of outlook between Pakistan. With its Islamic
background, and Soviet Union with its background of Marxism which is atheistic. ..

Pakistan had noticed the subservience which was forced upon the allies of the Soviet Union
Furthermore; there was the question whether Russia could supply the aid both material and technical,
which Pakistan so urgently noted...” PIHA Doted.

The relations suffered setback when members of Communist Parte b communist Faiz Ahmad Faiz,
sponsored by Major general Akbar Khan, hatched Coup d'état against Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan in
1950(See Rawalpindi 'conspiracy case). Soon, three years after, Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan
assassinated while campaigning for his electoral term. During 1954-58, the relations were strained and
hostility against each other as time passes. In 1954, Pakistan became a member of SEATO and CENTO
in1955, which Soviet Union did not welcome, overtly opting the Pro-Indian policy and regarding the
Kashmir as part of India. As a result of 1954-55 elections Prime Minister Huseyn Suhrawardy a left-wing
prime minister made deliberate attempts to improve relations On April 1954 a delegation of soviet
cultural troupe toured Pakistan and a festival of the Soviet films was held in Karachi. To reciprocate this,
the Pakistan Government also sent a delegation to study the Soviet industrial and agricultural
development in 1956, Soviet premier Nikolai Bulganin offered technical and scientific assistance to
Prime Minister Suhrawardy for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Offering Soviet contribution after
Suhrawardy submitted the plan to establish the nuclear power against India. In 1958, Soviet Union
agreed to give Pakistan and handful in aid in agriculture, economic, science, control of pest, flood
control, desalination, soil erosion and technical assistance to Pakistan. In 1958, Pakistan and Soviet
Union finally established an oil consortium, Pakistan Oilfields, and expressing interests in establishing
the country's first steel mills.

Military dictatorships (1958-1971)

In July 1957, Prime Minister Suhrawardy approved the leasing of the secret ISI installation, Peshawar Air
Station, to CIA After commencing the military coup d'état against President Iskander Mirza, Army
Commander Ayub Khan visited the United States, further enhancing relations with the U.S. while at
same time. trying establishing link with Soviet Union through Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Pakistan felt deceived
because the U.S. had kept her in the dark about such clandestine spy operations launched from
Pakistan's territory The U-2 incident worsened relations between the Soviet Union and Pakistan. General
Khalid Mahmud Arif, former chief of army staff, wrote of the incident that, "Pakistan felt deceived
because the U.S. had kept her in the dark about such clandestine spy operations launched from
Pakistan's territory"

The Soviet Union paid back its revenge on Indo-Pakistani war of 1965.euerged as the biggest supplier of
military hardware to India. India on other hand, distanced from the western countries, developed close
relations with the Soviet Union Soviet Union and India used the diplomacy, convincing the US. and
Western powers to keep a ban on Pakistan’s military and hardware. After 1965 war the arms race
between India and Pakistan became even more asymmetric and Indía was outdistancing Pakistan by far.
However in 1965 Soviet Union and Pakistan made an arms deal

Relations with West and East Pakistan the Soviet Union had far better relations with East-Pakistan (Now
Bangladesh), and had strong ties with Communist party after successfully staging the protest to give
national recognition to the language as compare to Urdu in 1956 constitution The Communist Party had
ensure the complete elimination of Pakistan Muslim League once and for all leading the collapse of
central government of Pakistan Muslim League in the federal government the tendency of democracy
and the Anti-American sentiment was greater in East-Pakistan, which highly benefited the Soviet Union
in 1971. When the mutual defense treaty, following the arrival of military advisors from MAAG group
which was announced in February 1954 there was a great outcry in East Pakistan many demonstrations
led by communist party were held and the 162 newly elected members of East-Pakistan Parliament
signed a statement, which denounced Pakistan's government for signing a military pact with United
States.

In West-Pakistan, the Soviet relations had improved after the formation of leading democratic socialist
Pakistan People’s Party. The tendency of socialism was greater in West Pakistan, in contrast to East
Pakistan were the tendency of communism was at its height. After the 1965war, Soviet relations with
socialist mass, Awami National Party, Pakistan People's Party, and the Pakistan Socialist Party,
impulsively improved. In 1972, the West-Pakistan Parliament passed the resolution which called for
establishing ties with Soviet Union. During the 1980s when the purged took place under the Zia regime,
the socialist’s members escaped to the Soviet Union through Afghanistan, seeking the political asylum
there. Role in Indo-Pakistani war of 1971

The Soviet Union played a decisive role in the 1971 Winter war, first signing the Indo-Soviet Treaty of
Friendship and Cooperation. The Soviet Union sympathized with the Bangladeshi’s, and supported the
Indian Amy and Mukti Bahini during the war, recognizing that the independence of Bangladesh would
weaken the position of its rivals the United States, Saudi Arabia, and China.

On 6 December and 13 December 1971, the Soviet Navy dispatched two groups of cruisers and
destroyers and a nuclear submarine armed with nuclear missiles from Vladivostok: they trailed U.S. Task
Force 74 into the Indian Ocean from 18 December 1971 until 7 January 1972. The Soviets also had a
nuclear submarine to help ward off the threat posed to India by USS Enterprise task force in the Indian
Ocean. The Soviet Navy's presence was threatening for Pakistan, with the Soviet nuclear submarines K-
320 and Charlie movements were picked up by the Pakistan Navy submarines. The Pakistan Navy's
submarines Ghazi. Hangor and Mangor had sent solid evidence of Soviet Navy's covert involvement
helping the Indian Navy, and Soviet Navy's own secret operations against the Pakistan Navy. Pakistan
Navy avoided aggressive contacts with the Soviet Navy due to possible nuclear raimion by Soviet nuclear
submarines m Karachi. In 2012, at an official press release in the as Sian Consulate-General Karachi, the
Ran ambassador remarked that the former Stance against

Pakistan in 1971 did "somewhat embarrass our relations"

Democratic government (1971-1977

The democratic socialist alliance led by then-Prime minster zuifikar Ali Bhutto made an effort to improve
relations with the Soviet Union, and for the first time in Pakistani history, the Soviet Union's ties with
Pakistan to warm and relations were quickly improved. Reviving his foreign policy, Bhutto relived
Pakistan from SEATO and CENTO, breaking off the relations with the United States under President
Jimmy Carter. In 1974, Bhutto paid a tiring and lengthy state visit to Soviet Union. Becoming the first
prime minster since the independence of Pakistan in 1947 Bhutto and his delegation was met with great
judicial a warm hearted celebration took place after Bhutto was received by Alexei Kosygin in Moscow.
The honorary guard of honor was bestowed by the Soviet Armed Forces, and strong interaction was
made during Bhutto's democratic era. Bhutto also met with Leonid Brezhnev where Pakistan reached
agreements with Soviet Union on mutual trust, cooperation, technical assistance, and friendship. While
there, Bhutto succeeded to convince the Soviet Union to establish the integrated steel mills, which
prompted the Soviet Union to provide funds for the billion dollar project. Prime Minister Bhutto made a
deliberate attempt to warm relations with Russia as he was trying to improve relations with the
Communist bloc. Bhutto sought to develop and alleviate the Soviet Pak Relations, as the Soviet Union
established Pakistan Steel Mills in 1972. The foundation stone for this gigantic project was laid on 30
December 1973 by the then Prime Minister Mr.mZulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Facing inexperience for the
erection work of the integrated steel mill Bhutto requested Soviet Union to send its experts. Soviet
Union sends dozens of advisors and experts, under Russian scientist Mikhail Koltokof, who süpervised
the construction of this integrated Steel Mills, with a number of industrial and consortium companies
financing this mega-project.

During the 1973 till 1979, Soviet Union and Pakistan enjoyed a strong relationship with each other which
also benefited the Soviet Union. This interaction was short lived after popular unrest began to take place
after the 1977 elections. With United States support, the CIA- sponsored operation code named Fair Play
removed Bhutto frompowerin977. The Soviet relations with Pakistan deteriorated on April 4, 1979,
when Bhuto was executed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Earlier Lconid Brezhnev, Alexci Kosygin,
and other members of the Politburo had sent repeated calls for clemency to CMLA General Muhammad
Zia-ul- Haq who forcefully rejected the Soviet requests.[31) Brezney maintained the issue of Bhutto was
Pakistan ‘internal matter but did not wish to see him executed. When Bhutto Was hanged, Brezhnev
condemned the act out of "purely humane motives.

Military dictatorship 1977-1988

Communist Afghanistan Map showing areas involving heavy y fighting, Areas adjacent to Baluchistan
province remained untouched (white region. south the fighting while the NWFP (north-west) inflicted
with heavy lighting shortly after the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Military forces and General
Muhammad Zia-ul- Haq called for a meeting of senior military members and technocrats s of his military
government. At this meeting, General Zia-ul-Haq asked the Chief of Army Staff General Khalid Mahmud
Arif (veteran of 1965 and 1971 war) and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff Admiral Muhammad
Shariff who was made POW by India daring the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971) to lead a specialized
civil-military team to formulate a geo-strategy to l of the ISI at that time, Lieutenant-General akhtar
abdul Rehman voted for an idea of covert operation in Afghanistan by arming the Islamic extremist, and
was loudly heard saying: "Kabul must burn! Kabul must burn!” As for Pakistan, the Soviet war with
Islamist mujahidin was a complete revenge in retaliation for the Soviet Union's long support of regional
rival, India, notably during the 1971 war, which led the loss of East Pakistan.

In 1980, the relationship took a dangerous turn, when Soviet press, notable "Pravda" and other Soviet
commentators, began to issue threatening statements towards Pakistan. Soviet Commentator, V Baikov,
went far enough to say: The axis of United States and China, is trying to secure a base for its rapid
deployment force, presumable offering F-16 fighter plans in that view." Another Soviet commentator
"threateningly asked Pakistan that "If she (Pakistan) thought about where the United States was pulling
it in its hostilities with Afghanistan; their aggression was taking place in the vicinity of the USSR”. In
February 1980, a delegation of TASS in New York City maintains that, "One can see the contours of
dangerous plans aimed at Pakistan's arch rivals India, Soviet Union, and Afghanistan. The change of
administration in 1980 and immediate verbal threat of Soviet Union to Pakistan brought the United
States and Pakistan on a six-year trade. Economic and military agreement valuing approximately-32.5
billions US dollars

The U.S. viewed the conflict in Afghanistan as an integral Cold War struggle, and the CIA provided
assistance to anti-Soviet forces through the ISL in a program called Operation Cyclone. The siphoning off
of aid weapons, in which the weapons logistics and coordination were put under the Pakistan Navy in
the port city of Karachi, contributed to disorder and violence there, while heroin entering from
Afghanistan to pay for arms, contributed to addiction problems. The Pakistan Navy coordinated the
foreign weapons into Afghanistan, while some of its high-ranking admirals were responsible for storing
the weapons in the Navy logistics’ depot, later coordinated the weapons supply to Mujahidin, out of
complete revenge Pakistan Navy's brutal loss and defeat at the hands of the Soviet backed Indian Navy
in 1971.

In November 1982 general Zia attended the funeral, in Moscow. Of Leonid brezhnev, the late General
Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Soviet origin Minister Andrei Grorhyk and new
Secretary General Yuri Andropov met with Zia there Andropov expressed indignation over Pakistan's
Covent support of Afghanistan resistance against the Soviet Union and its satellite state communist
Afghanistan Zia took his hand and assured him, "General Secretary, believe me Pakistan wants nothing
but very good relations with the Soviet Union" According to Gromyko, Zia's sincerity convinced them,
but Zia's actions didn't live up to his words. Ironically Zia directly dealt with the Israel working to build
covert relations with Israel. Allowing the county to actively participate in Soviet- Afghan War Helped any
Wilson's stars of own word, on the report2 30841THgence service: "Just don't put by ISI, the Mossad
channeled Soviet reversed engineered weapons to Afghanistan In Charlie’s own words zia reported to
remarked Israeli intelligence service just don’t put any stars of david on the boxes

The world is now shifting from a brief unipolar era, which started after the disintegration of the Soviet
Union, to multipolar scenario, allowing states to carefully choose new allies and set new policies. In this
regard, Pakistan and Russia have entered into a mutually-beneficial relationship, which is soon to set
tone for regional geo-politics too. From the foes of Cold War to friends of today, both Russia and
Pakistan have come a long way. The new realities of the region and the world are changing, and both
countries have realized the futuristic challenges. During the '90, the relations between the two countries
did not see much change. But in 2014, Russian policies underwent a major change, allowing Pakistan to
buy weapons from Moscow. Later in 2016, the first joint military exercise between the two countries
was held, signifying the beginning of a new era.

To quote the Pakistani Ambassador to Russia Shafqat Ali Khan: "it's self-evident from our policies and
our statements that for Pakistan. Russia remains a key priority in our foreign policy, and we take great
pleasure and we are very glad that in the past two decades the two countries' bilateral relations have
made enormous progress." He noted in an interview that the two countries had "all-encompassing
dialogue" at various levels.

"The relationship is not unidirectional or uni-dimensional, it's multi-dimensional, and that is what we
want to achieve to strengthen this relationship.. This relationship, of course, serves the national
interests of both countries, Pakistan and the Russian Federation, but it also contributes to regional
stability and it also contributes to global stability He asserted that Russia remained "a pillar of global
stability" amid a quickly-changing global situation. About the future role of CPEC in bilateral relations,
the ambassador said "we look at the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor as a part of the larger project of
Eurnsian connectivity, which is bringing all countries of Eurasin together through a network of trade
pacts trade arrangements, railway lines. (Road networks, flights, etc

We feel that the china Pakistan Economic Corridor, once it is completed, will enable] the East- West
connectivity between one end of Eurasia to the other 4As soon as the East-West connections improvised
the China Pakistan Economic Corridor is developed successfully, we will be able to trade with central
Asia and Russia through overland roots also." This is a significant statement.

Last year, Russian Trade Minister Denis Valentfinovich told in Islamabad that Russia will help boost
Pakistan's economy by cooperating în various fields including aircraft manufacturing and his country was
looking forward for joint collaborations Pakistan's Minister Hammad Azher welcomed the offer stating
this is huge scope of cooperation between both countries in the fields of trade business to business
relations and countries strategic partnership. Increase key Ministry, it’s both true the potential people to
people contacts. He added Pakistan desired to transform relations with Russia into a through greater
cooperation and enhanced business activities by the private sector of both the countries. The Russian
side invited Pakistan to organize a road show in Moscow to provide an opportunity to the Russian
private companies to explore new avenues in Pakistan. Pakistan on the other hand urged Russia to
attend trade fairs in the country.

Alexey Dedov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, asserts that
Pakistan ranks high in the Russian foreign policy in the South Asia. "It is evident when you look at the
increased frequency of high-level official meetings as well as delegation exchanges between various
ministries and agencies of Russia and Pakistan. Moscow and Islamabad actively interact in international
organizations with our views on the core global issues coinciding or being very close."

He added:"Russia attaches particular importance to cooperation with Pakistan in the framework of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Russia is providing extensive support to Islamabad in turning its
observer status to a full-fledged membership. As it is, Russia is keen on participating in gas pipelines,
electricity and other energy projects. In 2019, it had announced plans to invest S14 billion in Pakistan's
energy sector. Moreover, both countries are cooperating on peace in Afghanistan as Moscow actively
engages with Islamabad. With India talking towards the US and joining bar camp against Chinese it is but
natural for Pakistan to revamp her diplomatic priorities. Russia is an emerging power of the world and
being in the region can play a more effective role in regional peaee. With Russia and Pakistan on one
page, the combination shall be playing a more assertive role in geopolitics of the region. The narrow but
important convergence on Afghanistan is making way for greater ties between the two countries. The
development of constructive relations between Russia and Pakistan is an important fact on in ensuring
regional stability and international security

Q.2 how do you see China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as game

changer for Pakistan in the belt of South Asia?
ANS: CHINA-PAK ECONOMIC CORRIDOR also known as CPEC)
The China-Pakistan economic Corridor is an economic corridor comprising a collection of projects
currently under construction at a cost of $51l billion. CPEC aims to facilitate trade along an overhaul
route that connects Kashgar and Gwadar, through the construction of the a network of highways,
railways, and pipelines. The corridor is intended to rapidly expand and upgrade Pakistani infrastructure,
as well as deepen and broaden economic between Pakistan and the Peoples Republic of China. It is
considered to be an extension of Chinas ambitious One Belt. One Road initiative and the importance of
CPEC to China is reflected by its inclusion as part of China's 13th five-year country's annual economic
growth. Were all the planned projects to be implemented, the value of those projects would be equal to
all foreign direct investment in Pakistan since 1970,and would be equivalent to 17% of Pakistan's 2015
gross domestic product. Infrastructure projects under the aegis of CPEC will span the length and breadth
of Pakistan, and will eventually link the city of Gwadar in southwestern Pakistan to China's northwestern
autonomous region of Xinjiang via a vast network of highways and railways. Proposed infrastructure
projects are worth approximately S 1l billion, and will be financed by heavily- subsidized concessionary
loan so that will be dispersed to the Government of Pakistan by the Exim Bank of China, China
Development Bank, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. As part of the broad package of
infrastructure projects under CPEC, a 1,100 kilometer long motorway will be constructed between the
cities of Karachi and Lahore, while the Karakoram Highway between Rawalpindi and the Chinese border
will be completely reconstructed and overhauled. The Karachi-Peshawar main railway line will also be
upgraded to allow for train travel at up to 160 kilometers per hour by December 2019.Pakistan's railway
network will also be extended to eventually connect to China's Southern Xinjiang Railway in Kashgar.

A network of pipelines to transport liquefied natural gas and oil will also be laid as part of the project,
including $25 billion pipeline between Gwadar and Nawabshah to eventually transport gas from Iran. On
13 November 2016 the first trade activity took place through CPEC. Cargo from China was trucked down
via the corridor and loaded on to ships at Gawadar port, headed to markets in West Asia and Africa.

In November 2016, China announced an additional S85 billion investment in Pakistan with S4.5 billion
allocated to upgrade Pakistan's main railway line from Karachi to Peshawar including tracks, speed and
9ilometier. And S4 billion toward an ENG terminal and transmission s to help alleviate energy shortages,
taking the total level of investment to $55 billion china stands to an alternative route for trade rather
than the South china sea with shorter distance saving transport costs (distance will be reduced by
9000km) and Uncertainty and risk (Pakistan is allied with China) whereas in South east Asia China is
dispute with its neighbors. Pakistan stands to gain due to upgrade of infrastructure along the Lahore-
Karachi railway helping to make exports more competitive terms of travel time and transport costs and
the development of the Pakistan road airport and seaport infrastructure to transport goods and will
remove the energy shortages which will lead to the complete industrialization of Pakistan's economy
from the current semi-industrialized economy, around 8000 Megawatts of energy will be generated
Pakistan an d Chinese Navy ships are to jointly guard the safety and security of the trade corridor, as
Pakistan seeks to expand the maritime forces From December 2016, Pakistan's Navy established a
special taskforce "TF-88" to ensure there is maritime deploy 2000 police officers d rd 81fimed that Sindh
will deploy 12,000 troops to protect CPEC land route. As part of CPEC, Pakistan has boosted its
international engagement in terms of foreign policy China, Iran, USA, Turkey and Malaysia are to be
engaged for the maritime economy related to CPEC.

Plans for a corridor stretching from the Chinese border to Pakistan's deep water ports on the Arabian
Sea date back to the 1950s, and motivated construction of the Karakoram Highway beginning in
1959.Chinese interest in Pakistan's deep-water 10ilome at Gwadar had been by 1998 and in 2002 China
began construction at Gwadar port which was completed in 2006. Expansion of Gwadar Port then
ceased thereafter owing to political instability in Pakistan following the fall of General Pervez Müsharraf
and subsequent conflict between the Pakistani state and Baloch militants. In February 2014, Pakistani
President Mamnoon Hussain visited China to discuss the plans for an economic corridor in Pakistan. Two
months later, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met with Premier Li Kequiang in China to discuss
further plans, resulting in the full scope of the project to be devised under Sharif's tenure. In
November 2014, Chinese government announced its intention to finance Chinese companies as part of
its S45.6 billion energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan as part of CPEC. During the state visit of Xi
Jinping to Pakistan in April 2015, he wrote in an open editorial stating: "This will be my first trip to
Pakistan, but it feels as if I’m going to visit the home of my own brother." On 20 April 2015 Pakistan and
China signed an agreement to commence work on the S46 billion agreements, which is roughly 20% of
Pakistan ' annual GDP, with approximately $28 billion worth of fast-tracked "Early Harvest projects to be
developed by the end of 2018.As a gesture of friendship. the Pakistani capital at that time was dotted
with slogans and signboards such as "Pakistan-China friendship is higher than the mountains, deeper
than the oceans, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel"- an oft repeated phrase coined by the
Chinese to be their deep ties to Pakistan. On 12 August 2015 in the city of karmay China and Pakistan
signed 20 more agreements worth S1.6billion to further augment the scale and scope of CPEC. Details of
the plan are opaque. But are said to mainly focus on increasing energy generation capacity’s part of the
agreement, Pakistan and china agreed to co- operate in the field of Space research

In September and Ochop2015, the government of the united Kingdom announced two separate grants
to the Government of Pakistan for construction of roadways that are complementary to CPEC In
November 2015 china included CPEC to the 13 th five-year development plan while in December 2015
china and Pakistan agrees on further $1.5 billion investment to set up the information and technology
park as a part of CPEC project On 8th April 2016 during the visit of china president communist party chief
Zhang Chunxiang companies from Xinjiang with their Pakistan counterparts signed $2 billion of
additional agreements covering infrastructure of solar power and logistics

PROJECTS IN GWADAR PORT AND CITY

Gwadar Port has been fully operational since 2007.Gwadar forms the crux of the CPEC project, as it is
envisaged to be the link between China's ambitious One Belt, One Road project, and its Maritime Silk
Road project. In total, more than S1 billion worth of projects are to be developed around the port of
Gwadar by December 2017. Gwadar Port Complex Initial infrastructure works at Gwadar Port
commenced in 2002 and were completed in 2007, however plans to upgrade and expand Gwadar's port
stalled. Under CPEC agreement, Gwadar Port will initially be expanded and upgraded to allow for
docking of larger ships with deadweight tonnage of up to 70,000.Improvement plans also include
construction of a S130 million breakwater around the port, as well as the construction of a floating
liquefied natural gas facility that will have a capacity of S00 million cubic feet of 1lilometer natural gas
per day and will be connected to the Gwadar-Nawabshah segment of the Iran-Pakistan gas Pipeline.

The expanded port is located near a 2,282 acre free trade area in Gwadar which is being 1kilometer on
the lines of the Special Economic Zones of China The swathe of land was handed to the China Overseas
Port Holding Company in November 2015 as part of a 43-year lease. The site will include manufacturing
zones, logistics hubs, warehouses, and display centers .Businesses located in the zone would be exempt
from customs authorities as well as many provincial and federal taxes. Business established in the
special economic zone will be exempt from Pakistani income, sales, and federal excise taxes for 23 years.
Contractors and subcontractors associated with China Overseas Port Holding Company will be exempted
from such taxes for 20 years, while a 40-year tax holiday will be granted for imports of equipment,
materials, machinery Appliances and accessories that are to be for construction of Gwadar Port and
specialized economic zone. The special economic zone will be completed in three phases. By 2025 is
envisage that manufacturing and processing industries will be developed, while further expansion of the
zone is intended to be complete by 2030.On 10 April2016. Zhang Baozhong chaiirman of China

Overseas Port Holding company said in conversation with The Washington Post that his company
planned to spend $4.5 billion on roads, power, hotels and other infrastructure for the industrial zone as
well as other Projects in Gwadar city

China will grant Pakistan $230 million to construct a new international airport in Gwadar which is to be
operational by December 2017 the provincial government of Baluchistan has set aside 4000 acres for
the cost of the new $230 million Gwadar International Airport which will require an estimated 30
months for construction, the costs of which are to be fully funded by The grants of Chinese government
which Pakistan will not be obliged to pay

The city of gwader is further being developed by the construction of the 300MVcoal power plant and a
new 300 bed hospital plan for Gwader city also include construction of the East Bay Expressway a 19
kilometer controlled-access road that will connect Gwadar Port to the Makran Coastal Highway. These
additional projects are estimated to cost S800 million, and are to be financed by 0% interest loans
extended by the Exim Bank of China to Pakistan.

In addition to the aforementioned infrastructure works, the Pakistani government announced in

September 2015 its intention to establish a training institute named Pak-China Technical and Vocational
Institute at Gwadar, which is to be developed by the Gwadar Port Authority. The institute is to be
completed by March 2016 at the cost of 943 million rupees, and is designed to impart to local residents
the skills required to operate and work at the expanded Gwadar Port. Roadway projects

The CPEC project envisages major upgrades and overhauls to Pakistan's transportation infrastructure.
Under the CPEC project, China has announced financing for S10.63 billion worth of transportation
infrastructure so far, So.1 billion have been allocated for constructing "Early Harvest" roadway projects
at an interest rate of 1.6 parent.[72] The remainder of funds will be allocated when the Pakistani
government awards contracts for construction of road segments which are still in the planning phase.
Three corridors have been identified for cargo transport: the Eastern Alignment though the heavily
populated provinces of Sindh and Punjab where most industries ate located, the Western Alignment
through the less developed and more sparsely populated provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
Baluchistan and the future Central Alignment which will pass through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab. and
Baluchistan. Karakoram Highway reconstruction

Highlighted in red is the route of National Highway 35, which is to be completely rebuilt and upgraded
under CPEC agreement. Highlighted in blue is the 175 kilometer around between Gilgit and Skardu
which is to be upgraded to a 4-lane highway The CPEC its call for

Reconstruction and upgrade works on National Highway 35 (N-35) which forms the Pakistani portion of
the Karakoram hoghway tKKH), The KKH spans the 887 kdaetre long distance between the China-
Pakistan country and the town of Burhan, near ihsdrAbdal. At Burhan, the existing MI motorway will ifi
he N-35 at the ShahA Interchange. From there access onwards to Islamabad and afbre continues as
pakuhe existing MI and M2 motorways. Burhan will also be at intersection of the Eastern Alignment, and
Westerm Alignment. Upgrades to the 487 ong section tctacen Bua and Rukat af the Karakoram Highway
are officially referred to in Pakistan as the Karakoram Highway Phase 2 project. At lane controlled-access
highw 82ATuct a 59-kilometer-long, 4 the southem end of the NOA hkch upon completion will be
officially referred to as the E-35 expressway. North of Havelian, the next 66 kilometres of road will be
upgraded to a 4-lane dual carriageway between Havelian and Shinkiari, Groundbreaking on this portion
commenced in April 2016.The entire 354 kilometres of roadway north of Shinkiari and ending in Raikot,
near Chilas will be constructed as a 2-lane highway.Construction on the first section between Shinkiari
and Thakot commenced in April 2016 jointly with construction of the Havelian to Shinkiari 4-lane dual
carriageway further south.Construction on both these sections is expected to be completed with 42
months at a cost of approximately S1.26 billion with 90% of funding to come from China's EXIM bank in
the form of low interest rate concessional loans. Between Thakot and Raikot spans an area in which the
government of Pakistan is currently either planning or actively constructing several hydropower
projects, most notably the Diamer- Bhasha Dam and Dasu Dam. Sections of the N-35 around these
projects will be completely rebuilt in tandem with dam construction.In the interim, this section of the N-
35 is currently being upgraded from its current stateuntil dam construction commences in full force at a
later date. Improvement projects on this section are expected to be completed by January 2017 ata cost
of approximately S72 million.The next 335 kilometres of roadway connect Raikot to the China-Pakistan
border. Reconstruction works on this section of roadway preceded the CPEC and were initiated after
severe damage to roadways in the area following the 2010 Pakistan floods. Most of this section of
roadway was completed in September 2012 at a cost of S510 million.

A large earthquake rocked the region nearest to the China-Pakistan borde in 2010, triggering massive
landslides which damimed the Indus River, resulting in the foruiation of the Attabad Lake. Portions of
the Karakoram Highway were submerged in the lake. foreing all vehicular traffic onto bes to traverse the
new reservoir. Construction on a 24 kilómeterKies of bridges and tugnals to Atabad Lake began in 2012
and required 36 months foympletion. The bypass consists e large bridges and 5 kilometres worth of
tunnels that werginatugurated for public use on 14pember 2015 at a cost of $275 million The 175
kilomegdad between Gilgit and Skardu WAle upgraded to a4-lane road at acost of S475 milo provide
direct 5 access to Skardu frortahe-35

Eastern Alignment

The term Eastern Alignment6BCeters ao rogdway pyifkcated in Sindh and Punjab provincessome of
which were irstmvisíoned in 1991 pdrt of the Eastern Alignment, a 1,152 km long motorway will connect
Pakistan's two largest cities, Karachi and Lahore with 4 to 6-lane controlled smaway designed for uavek
speeds up to i20kilometres per hour.The entire projoiltct approximately S6.6 billion, with the bulk of
financing to be distributed by various Chinese state-owned banks. The entire Eastem Alignment
motorway project is divided into four i yRITT¢ween Karachi and 6hetfeiohg section between Hyderabad
and Sukkur, a 387 kilometre long section between Sukkur and Multan, and a 333 kilometre section
between Multan and Lahore via the town of Abdul Hakeem.
 The first section of the project will provide high speed road access from the Port of Karachi to the city of
Hyderabad and interior Sindh. Upgrade and construction works on this section currently known as Super
Highway between Karachi and Hyderabad began in March 2015, and will convert the road into the 4-
lane controlled access M9 Motorway which will be completed in an estimated 30 months. At the
terminus of the M9 motorway in Hyderabad, the Karachi Lahore Motorway will continue onwards to
Sukkur as a six lane controlled-access motorway known also as Mó motorway that will be 296 kilometers
long. The planned cost for this project is S1.7 billion. and will provide high speed road across fo interior
Sindh-especially near the towns of Matiari, Nawabshah, and Khairpur. The project will require the
construction of seven interchanges, and 25 bridges on the Indus river and indication canals. The planned
route of the motorway runs roughly parallel to the existing National Highway and Indus Highway at
various portions. In July 2016, the Pakistani government announced that the project would be open to
international bidders on a build-operate-transfer basis, with Chided and South Korean companies
expressing interest in the project.

Western Alignment

The Westerns Alignment of CPEC is depicted by the red line. The 1.153kilometer route willlink the
Brahma Bahtar Interchange of the MI Motorway with the city of Gwadar in Balochistan province. The
portion depicted by the orange line between Basima and Shahdadkot is sometimes regarded as part of
the Western Alignment. The CPEC project envisages an expanded ungraded road network in the
Pakistani provinces of Baluchistan &khyber Pukhtunkhwa and western Punjab Province as part of the
Western Alignment Western Alignment project will result in the upgrading of several hundred
14ilomcteryworth of road into 2 and 4-lane divined highways by mid-2018 with land acquisition.
Sufficient upgrading parts of the road to a 6-lae motorway in the future.In total. thc CPECproject
envisages re- construction of 870 kMnres of road in Balochistan provynce alone of the Western
Alignment. of those 870ikdngtres ofaoad, 620 kidomctres havg ady been rebuilt as of

January 2016. The Western Alignment roadway ifhork will begin at thebahma Bahtar Interchange on the
MI Motorway near the towns of Burhan and Hasan Abdal in northern Punjab province.The newly
reconstructed Kk Highway will eonnect to the WesternAignment at Burhan, near where the new ilnre
long controlled-acoess Brahma Bahtar Yarik Motorway will Sindh Groundbreaking Sagar Doab for region,
projOZ5 O torway entering into Khyber the commence.The motorway will terminate near the town of
Yarik. just north of Dera Ismail Khan. will consist of 11 interchanges, 74 culverts, an Pakhtunkhwa
province. major bridges spanning the Indus, Soan, and Kurram Rivers.Total costs for the project are
expected to be S1.05 billion.

At the southern terminus of the new Brahma Bahtar-Yarik motorway, the N50 NationalHighway will also
be upgraded between Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Zhob in neighbouring Balochistan
province, with eventual reconstruction between Zhob and Quetta.The upgraded roadway will consist of
a 4 lane dual-carriageway spanning the 205 kilometre distance between the two cities. The first portion
of the N50 to be upgraded will be the 81 kilometre portion of the NS0 between Zhob and Mughal Kot,
with čonstruction works having begun in January 2016.Construction on this portion is expected to be
completed by 2018 at a cost of S86 million.While the project is considered a vital link in the CPEC's
Westem Alignment,the project's cost will not be financed by Chinese state-owned banks, but instead by
Asian Development Bank under a 2014 agreement which preceded CPEC,as well as by a grant provided
by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development.Heading south from Quetta, the
Western Alignment of the CPEC will continue to the town of Surab in central Balochistan as the N25
National Highway. From Surab, a 470kilometre long route known as the N85 National Highway will
connect central Balochistan with the town of Hoshab in southwestern Balochistan province near the city
of Turbat. This portion of roadway between Surab and Hoshab is 51% complete as of January 2016and is
expected to be completed in December 2016.

Renewable-energy projects

China's Zonergy company will complete construction on the world's largest solar power plant the 6,500
acre Quaid-c-Azam Solar Park near the city of Bahawalpur withan estimated capacity of 1000MW pected
to be completed in December 2016.Tbe first phase of theproject has been completauy Xinjiang
SunOasis. and has a generating capacityo100 NNThe remaining 900 y capacity will be installed by
Zonergy under CPĒOThe Judir Wind Power Plant, builoy the Turkish company Zorlu Enerji has already
begun l 56.4 MW of electricity to the govrpuent of Pakistan. though under CPECanother 25IW of
electricity are to be produced by theObese-Pakistan consortium United Energy Padsan and others at a
cost of S659 million.Anotheruntfam. the Davood wind power prpig s tnder development by HydroChina
at a cost ofS115 oonand will gegerate SAMNrelectricity by August 2016. SK Hydro Consortium is
constructfimgkhe 870 MW Suki KGhi Hydropower Project in the Kaghan Valley of Pakistan's Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province ata cost of S1.8 billion, SK Hydro will construct the pro ninancing by China'sEXIM
bank Fhe Sho billion 720 MW Karot Dam which is nterestruction is part of the CPECplan but is to be
financed separately by China's Silk Road Fund.Pakistan and China have also discussed the inclusion of
December 2015, no firm decSA 8 1 project.though as of the 4,500MW SI4 billion Dm kisthi officials
remain optimistic at its eventual inclusion.The $2.4 billion, 1,100 MW Kohala Hydropower Project being
constructed by China's Three Gorges Corporation predates the announcement of CPEC, though funding
for the project will now come from CPEC fund.

"Early Harvest" energy projects

As part of the "Early Harvest" scheme of the CPEC, over 10,000 megawatts of electricity-generating
capacity is to be developed between 2018 and 2020.While some "Early Harvest projects will not be
complete until 2020, the govermment of Pakistan plans to add approximately 10,000 MW of energy-
generating capacity to Pakistan's electric grid by 2018 through the completion of projects which
complement CPEC. Although not officially under the scope of CPEC, the 1,223 MW Balloki power plant,
and the 1480 MW Bhakki powerplants are also under construction, which along with the under-
construction 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Plant and 1,410 MW Tarbela IV Extensión Project will
result in an additional 10,000 MW being added to Pakistan's electricity grid by 2018 by a combination of
CPEC and non-CPEC projects.A further 1,000 MW of electricity willbe imported to Pakistan from
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan as pert of the CASA-1000 project, which is expected to be completed in late
2018.
Q.3 critically evaluate Afghanistan-Pakistan relaíions in the backdrop of
Pakistan's War against terrorism.
ANS: Afghanistan-Pakistan relations involye bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The
two neighbouring countries share deep historical andcultural links; each has declared itself an Islamic
republic and both have begome members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Relations between the two countries have been strained since 1947 when Pakistan gained
independence and Afghanistan was the sole country ote against Pakistan's admission into the UN
Afghanistan immediately armed separatist movgpnts in the nascent Pakistan and made irredentist clains
to lap wathes of Pakistani territogwhich prevented the emergence of 16récisinglo ies betygen the two
countries. Furthersions have arisen with various issues related ie the WAfghanistan (1978-present), and
wjjh the millions of Afghan refugees who have soughNélter in Pakistan since the start of that Waater
rights, the growing relations of India fghanistan. Bilateral relations betwecbengcountrics have becn
poor, beginningjirmediately after Pakistan became independent in AugukO Afghanistan's sole yqdabDkst
Pakistan's admission to the United Nations in 1947, due to ehan disconteht witkrepermanency of the
Durand Line Afghanistan immediately laid irredentist claims over Pashtun-dominated territories within
Pakistan, and deman otiation of the borderwith the aimef shiing it eastwards to the Indus River.

[7] de h Pakistani territoryShorly after Pakistani independence. Afghanistan materially supported the
failed armed secessionist movement headed by Mirzali Khan against Pakistan. Atgn KeCrhsk dvo states.
Pakistan prevented lórécisingove T 4onist movements within In 1952 the government of Afghanistan
published a tract in which it laid claim not only to Pashtun territory within Pakistan, but also to the
Pakistani province of Balochistan.Diplomatic relations were cut off between 1961 and 1963 after
Afghanistan supportcd more armed separatists in Pakistan, leading to skirmishes between the two
states earlier in 1960, and Pakistan's subsequent closure of the port of Karachi to Afghan transit trade.
Mohammed Daoud Khan became President of Afghanistan in 1973, Afghanistan-with Soviet support-
again pursued a policy of arming Pashtun separatists within Pakistan. The Pakistani military have
accused Afghanistin of sheltering various terrorist groups which launch attacks into Pakistan, while
Afghan authorities have blamed Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, for funding warlords and the
Taliban, and for basing terrorist camps within Pakistani territory to target Afghanistan. There is
considerable anti-Pakistan sentiment in

Afghanistan, while negative sentiment towards the Alghan refugees is widespread in Pakistan, even in
Pashtun-dominated regions. However, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai (in offie 2004-2014) has
described Pakistan and Afghanistan as "inseparable brothers" while also allcging that Pakistan uses
terrorism against Afghanistan, which is due to the historical, religious, and ethnolinguistic connections
between the Pashtun people and other ethnic groups of both countries, as well as to trade and other
ties. Each of the two countries features amongst the other's largest trading partners, and Pakistan
serves as a major conduit for transit trade involving andlocked Afghanistan.
Historical context

Southern and eastem Afghanistan is predominately Pashto-speaking. like the adjacent Khyber-
Pakhtunkhwa, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and northem Balochistan regions in Pakistan. This
entire area is inhabited by the indigenous Pashtuns who belong to different Pasitu tribes. The Pashtuns
were known as (Pathans in Pakistan and adia) and have lived in this reg for thousands of years, since at
least the Ist milleaniem B The Durand Lineprder was established after the 1893 Durand Line Agreement
betwerMortimcr Dutand of colonial British India and Amir A Rahman Khan of Afghanistanggfixing the
limit of their respective spheres of inguce. The single- page agreement, whidbestained seven short
articles was signed by RRid and Khan, agreeing not to exercise pokip interference beyond thc frontieg
befween Afghanistan and o34 what was then the British Indhopie Shortly after the demarcation of the
hrand Line, the Brilishegan connecting the region on its side of Durand line to the vast and expansive
Indian railway network. Concurrently, the Afridi tribesmen began to ri ms against the
British.creatingaope pfinstability between Peshawar and nd Line As sult, t@velacross thie boundary was
almost entirely hated, and the Pashtun tribes living under the British nule began to orient themselves
eastward in the direction of O mrKhan advocated unity with movement. prominent Pashthhnanitiu
ndian independence the nearly formed Dominion of India, and not a united Afghanistan - highlighting
the extent to which infrastructure and instability began to erode the Pashtun self-identification with
Afghanistan. By the time of the Pakistan independence movement, popular opinion among Pashtuns
was in support of joining the Dominion of Pakistan. Pakistan inherited the Durand Line agreement after
its independence in 1947 but there has never been a formal agreement or ratification between
Islamabad and Kabul. The Afghan government has not formally accepted the Duranmd Line as the
international border between the two states, claiming that the Durand Iine Agrecment has been void in
the past. This complicated issue is very sensitive to both the countries, The Afghan government worried
that if it ever ratified the agreement, it would've pemanently divided the 50 million Pashtuns and thus
create a backlash in Afghanistan. Pakistan felt that the border issue had been resolved before its birth in
1947. It also feared a revolt from the warring tribes which could eventually have brought the state down
as it happened when Ahmad Shah Durrani unified the Pashtuns and toppled the Mughal Empire of India.
This 18récising18on border has always served as the main trade route between Afghanistan and the
South Asia, especiaily for supplies into Afghanistan. Shortly after Pakistan gained independence in 1947,
Afghanistan erafted a two-fold strategy to destabilize the frontier, regions of Pakistan, in an attempt to
take advantage of Pakistan's post- independence instability. Firstly. it strongly aligned itselfwith
Pakistan'srival, India, and also the USSR. Secondly, it politically and financially backed secess jonist
politicians in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 1960s. In January 1950, the Afghan king. Mohammed Zahir
Shah, had an anti-Pakistan speech which was condemned by Pakistan's Liaquat Ali Khan, A serious
incident took place on September 30, 1950 when Pakistan claimed Afghan troons ld crossed into their
territory near Bogra Pass as a low-scale invasion. The Afghän govemment dewied involvement, gying
they were pro-Pashtunistan tribesmen 2Zahir Shalf méntiopdfn a 1952 speech the friengty feelings
towards Pakistan, but that the Pashtunistan isue Anhot be ignored.

The 1954 militaryt between Pakistan and the United States coneemed Aejhnistan and India, and it
broughfwghanistan closer to the Soviet Union but whilst meaining non- 1955, Afghan demonstratorshad
he Pakistani embaşshdonsulates 55 in Kabul, Kandahar alignment. The Afghan governmentdopced the
merger of West Pakistag Pies, and on March 30, and Jalalabad. Pakistan retaliated by osing the border,
aueednomic blockage. Diplomatic relations were restored in September. Again due to the Pashtunistan
issue, the two countries accused each other o dtispractices in 1961,-io August,the consulates in both
countries closed and relations han in Septcmber 1961L The situation as not defused until about
Afghanistan's policies place 4 aoion relations came to in the 19605, with up 1965. until the 1970s, when
the molene Pakistan; although, resentment against the Punjabi elite continued to develop. The Pashtun
assimilation into the Pakistani state followed years of rising Pashtun influence in Pakistani politics and
the nation's bureaucracy, culminating in Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Ishaq Khan-all Pashtuns, attaining
leadership of Pakistan. The largest nationalist party of the time, the Awami National Party (ANP),
dropped its secessionist agenda and embraced the Pakistani state, leaving only a small Pakhtunkhwa
Millat Party to champion the cause of independence in relation to both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Despite the weaknesses of the early secessionist movement, this period in history continues to
negatively influcnce Pakistani-Afghan relations in the 21 st century, in addition to the province's politics.

Contemporary issues

George Crile IlI and Charlie Wilson (Texas politician) with an unnamed political personality in the
background (person wearing the aviator glasses looking at the photo camera). They were the main
players in Operation Cyclone, the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency program
to arm and finance the multi-national mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War, 1979 to 1989.
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan began deteriorating again in the 1970s when Afghanistan
hosted Pashtun-Baluch militants operating against Pakistan under the leadership of National Awami
Party led by Abdul Wali Khan and in retaliation Pakistan started supporting Islamist movements against
the progressive and Soviet-influenced Afghan government of Mohammed Daoud Khan, and encouraged
the Islamists to rise up againsathe government. The figures included Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Ahmad
Shah Massoud-both members of the Jamiat-e Islami students' political society and the Haqganis, In
April1978, Afghan President Daeu Khan Was assassinated in Kabul during the self-declaredd Marxj Saur
Revolution. Tuvas followed by the execution of deposed Pakistani Prime Mister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Ap)
1979 and the assassination of Afghan President Nur Muhurhad Taraki in September 1979. er the Soviet
invasion of Afghanistan in Deccmber 190he United States joined Pakistan to coupker Soviet intluence
and advance ips own interestiufe region. In turn, Afghan, Indian SadSoviet intelligence agencies played
their roladadbpporting al- Zulfikar-a Pakistani leMitrpprist group resposible for the Math1981 hijacking
of a Pakistan International AirlihestPAplane A-ZulfiqarqmDelkistani left-wing 19récising19on formed in
1977 by NHE Muřtaza Bhbtto, kui of former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Its goal was to
overthrow the military regime that ousted Bhutto. After March 1981 A 7 laimed no further attacks, The
Bhutio family and Pakistani military dictator Zia-13qsared a common enemy @ Zu Waš the ond
supporting attacks against the Afghan govenment. occupation in Afghanistan, ihekm C8 uges flecing the
Soviet crossed back and forth. Pakistan became a major training ground for roughly 250,000 foreign
mujahideen fighters who began crossing into Afghanistan on a daily basis to wage war against the
communist Afghanistan and the Soviet forces. The mujahideen included not only locals but also Arabs
and others from over 40 different Islamic nations. Many of these foreign fighters married local women
and decided to stay in Pakistan, among them were radical Muslims such those of Saudi-led Al-Qaeda and
Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood as well as prisoners from Arab countries. Relations between the two
countries remained hostile during the Soviet-Afghan War Afghan President Babrak Karmal refused to
improve relations with Pakistan due to their refusal to formally recognize the PDPA govemment
Following the death of Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq in 1988, U.S. State Department blamed WAD (a
KGB created Afghan secret intelligence ageney) for terrorist attacks inside Pakistan in 1987 and 1988.
With funds from the intermational comimunity channeled through the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Pakistan hosted over 3 million Afghans at various refugee camps,
mainly around Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The United States and others provided billions of
dollars in humanitarian assistance to the refugees. There were no regular schools provided for the
refugees but only madrasas inwhich students were trained to become members of the Taliban
movement When the Soviet Union began leaving Afghanistan, during the Presidency of Mohammad
Najibullah, the UNHCR and the intemational community assisted 1.5 million Afghan refugees in
returning to Afghanistan. Pakistan were also thought to have played a part in thé attempted coup in
1990 against Najibullah's govenment. Although the victorious mujahideen formed a govemment in 1992
through ahe Peshawar Accords, Pakistan remajned unhappy with new leaders Rabbani and Massoud,
including their foreign policy of maintaining friendly relations with India as during the communist era.
Pushing for a "trustedDiendly govermment in Afghanistan, the Pakistani intelligence stpricd funding
Hekmatyar-thegaly mujahideen coumander not to sign the Accords-to fight agust the new Afghan
governnc in hopes that he would win and install a new goernmen Through Pakistani fundingkmatyar's
forces sieged Kabul city with dhousands of oets for three years, killing thoušanda However upon
realizing that Hekmatyar was unaha fo take power in Kabul, Pakistan look&eewhere. The Taliban
movement had just fougawith the help of then-Pakistani Interior MMaistgrNaseerullab Babar, and the
Pakistorifelligence threw its weight behind the new movefi rgund Sopteuber 1994 Ehban movement
captured the Afghan city of Kandahar and begii fhslong conquest wituietp from Pakistan. The Taliban
claimed that they wanted to clean Afghanistan from the warlords and criminals. According to Pakistan
and Afghani n Ahmed Rashid. "between 1994and 1999. an estimated few Pakistanis volunteer tmed
foughLin Afghanistn kecping the Taliban regime in power. The role of the Pakistani military during that
time has been described by some international and Pakistani support troops a m O 1also reweal the role
of Arab

In late 1996, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan emerged and established close relations with
neighbouring Pakistan. However, the relations began to decline when the Taliban refused too endorse
the Durand Line despite pressure from Islamabad, arguing that there shall be no borders among
Muslims. When the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was toppled and the new Afghan government was
formed, President Hamid Karzai began repeating the previous Taliban statement. "A line of hatred that
raised a wall between the two brothers."

The Karzai administration in Afghanistan has elose relations with the Pakistan's Awami National Party
(ANP) and the Pakistan People’s Party(PPP). In 2006 Afghan President Hamid Karzai wamed that "Iran
and Pakistan and others are not fooling anyone" when it comes to interfering in his country "If they
don't stop, the consequences will be that the region will suffer with us equally. In the past we have
suffered alone; this time everybody will suifer with us... Any effort to divide Afghanistan ethnically or
weaken it will create the same thing in the neighboring countries. All the countries in the neighborhood
have the same ethnic groups that we have, so they should know that it is a different ball game this time
The Durand Line border has been used in the last decade as the main supply route for NATO led forces
in Afghanistan as well as by Taliban insurgents and other militant groups who stage attacks inside
Afghanistan. The American govemment decided to rely on drone attacks, which began to negatively
aftect the US-Pakistan relations At Torkham, between Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan and Khyber
Pukhtunkhwa in Pakistan.

In 2007, Afgintelligence captured Muhammad Hanif the Faliban spokesman During his interrogation ith
was récorded, Hanif elaimed that the Taliban leader was byiug kept in Quetta under e protection of the
ISIPakista denied the clainis. Relations have bere more strained after the Afghan govanmeni began oóyly
accusing Pakistan of using îstSAspy network in aiding the Taliban and other milias Pakistan usually
denies these allegatioh bbi has said in the past that it does not have fulodtrol of the actions of the ISI.
There have beenudimber of reports about the AfghanistaPakistan skirmishes, which usually ocur when
army sold jn hot pursuit chasipgsbyents who cross the border back and forth. This leads to
tensiohsbetwéen the two stduk-especially after hearing reports of civilian casualties.

After the May 2011m a bin L.aden in Pakistun many prominent Afghan figures began being assassin tc
inaling Mobammed DaudDaud, Amad Wali Karzai, JanMohammad Khan, Ghulam Haider Hamidi,
Burhanuddin Rabbani and others. Also in the same year, the Afghanistan-Pakistum stgrms Pakistani-
based Haqqani net hertha6k phact krod Nehhfstaid. this led to the United States warning Pakistan of a
possible military action against the Haqqanis in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The U.S. blamed
Pakistan's govemment, mainly Pakistani Army and its ISI spy network as the masterminds behind all of
this.

"In choosing to use violent extremism as an instrument of policy, the government of Pakistan, and most
especially the Pakistani army and ISI, jeopardizes not only the prospect of our strategie partnership but
Pakistan's opportunity to be a respected nation with legitimate regional influence. They may believe
that by using these proxies, they are hedging their bets or redressing what they feel is an imbalance in
regional power. But in reality, they have already lost that bet." -Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, told Radio Pakistan that "the attack
that took place in Kabul a few days ago, that was the work of the Haqqani network. There is evidence
linking the Haqqani Network to the Pakistan govemment. This is something that must stop." Other top
U.S. officials such as Hillary Clinton and Leon Panetta made similar statements. Despite all of this, Afghan
President Hamid Karzai 22récisi Pakistan as Afghanistan's "twin brother".Such words in diplomatic talks
mean that Afghanistan cannot turn enemy against the state of Pakistan to please others, The two states
are working together to find solutions to the problems affecting them. This includes poşsible defence
cooperation and intelligence sharing as well as further enhancing the two-way trade and abolishment of
visas forholders of diplomatic passports to facilitate visa free travel for the diplom from the two
nations."
After the May 2017 Kabul attack, the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) claimed that the
blast was planned by the Afghan insurgent group Hagqani Network, and reiterated allegations that
those elements had support and presence across the border in Pakistan. Afghan President As Ghani
stated that Pakistan has instigated an ndeclared war ofggression" against the cony. Pakistan's Foreign
Ministry spokesman. Nafees Zakaria rgNcred the Afghan allegationas "baseless".

In 2015, Inter-Srs Intelligence and National Directorate of Sceurity indn memorandum of understanding.
Udg the memorandum of understanding. both nationDeCed to fight terrorism together andbo share
intelligence information On 16 MG2015, Pakistan army launched a daring operagign to save the life of
an injured Afgha soldier on the Afghanistan side of the bordersdier was injured ipghdhbeth the militants
and he was evacuated by the Pakistan militaryTtere have been instdudswhere Afghan soldier injured in
fighting the militants near the Pakistan Afghanistan border are sent to Pakistan for treatment. In July
2010,a Mem mfundorstanding (MoUSMas rca hed beween Pakistan and construction by U.S. Secretary
of rail of tracks in S 21d Railways (PR), the which has Afghanistan for the Afghan-Pak Transit Trade
Agreement (APTTA), which was observed been in the making since at least 2005. In October 2010, the
landmark APTTA agreement was signed by Pakistani Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and
Anwar ul-Haq Ahady, Afghan Ministry of Commerce. The ceremony was attended by Richard Holbrooke,

U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and a number of foreign ambassadors, Afghan
parliamentarians and senior officials. The APTTA allows Afghan trucks to drive inside Pakistan to the
Wagah border with India, including to the port cities of Karachi and Gwadar In November 2010, the two
states formmed a joint chamber of commerce to expand trade relations and solve the problems traders
face, The APTTA agreement has taken effect after several Afghan trucks delivered fruits from
Afghanistan to the Wagah border with India in June 2011. With the completion of the APTTA. the United
States and other NATO states are planning to revive the ancient Silk Road. This is to help the local
economies of Afghanistan and Pakistan by connecting South Asia with Central Asia and the Middle East.
The APTTA is intended to improve trade between the two countries but Pakistan often delays Afghan-
bound containers, cspecially after the 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan. In July 2012, Afghanistan and
Pakistan agreed to extend APTTAto Tajikistan in what will be the first step for the establishment of a
North- Souh trade corridor. The proposed agreement will provide facilities to Tajikistan to use Pakistan's
Gwadar and Karachi ports for its imports and exports while Pakistan will enjoy trade with Tajikistan
under terms similar to the transit arrangement with Afghánistan. Trade between Pakistan and
Afghanistan is expected to reach S$5 billion by 2015 Afghanistan's economy is one of the fastest growing
Cconomies in the world. A 2012 World Bank report added, "In contrast, Afghanistan's econemy grew
robustly by about 11 percent mostly due to a good harvest.

Towards the of the same year, both the governments of Afghanistan and Pakisan drafted plans to talk
tqtjie Taliban Cooperation beten thetwo countries includes possible defençe eooperatiognd intelligence
sharing as well as uher enhancing the two-way trade and abolhshnent of úy for diplomats line, Khurshid
Mahmud KasdrStsan diplomat who seiA he 551 Minister of Foreign from the two nations Confederation
proposu> In order to solve the dispuainly centered around the bordes ie ith the Durand Affairs of
Pakistan (2002-2007), Suyshat"at one time seudax efforts were made at govermment level for a Pak-
Afghan Confederation", 23récising that these initiatives were taken during the time of President
MolnDaoud Khan. generally copsideredtobe agti-Pakistan for his galvanization of the Rasusan isue Aslam
Khuttak, à politician who also served as an ambassador to Afghanistan, talked about this process in his
book A Pathan Odyssey, and says that Prime Minister Malik g Te tohstitutional Head of State", pShe
tormer also agrecihyfohkon ZA z both agreed with the proclaiming that "after all, for some time after
independence, we had a Christian Queen (Elizabeth ). Now, we would have a Muslim man!"" As per
Kasuri, the United States supported the idea as well. He blames the failure of the project to the
assassination of Daud Khan and the advent, in 1978, of the pro-Soviet PDPA party and Nur Muhammad
Taraki. Afghan scholar Hafizullah Emadi says that "the initial blueprint suggested that both sides would
maintain their internal autonomy, but in the matter of defense, foreign policy, foreign trade and
communication, there would be a central govemment. The prime minister would be by rotation." He
also explains the failure of the proposition 1skandar Mirza was replaced by General Ayub Khan, after a
coup d'état in 1958, an ethnic Pashtun who "regarded himself as the leader of the Pashtuns in Pakistan,
and believed thaf the Pashtuns in Afghanistan should join Pakistan under his leadership" instead of a
confederation. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto rejected the idea because "an economically underdeveloped
Afghanistan would not benefit Pakistan." In his diaries, in an observation dated to 9 January 1967, Ayub
Khan noted that "it is people from the Punjab like Feroz Khan Noon and Amjad Ali who keep on
emphasizing to me the need to make up with Afghanistan."

President Zia-ul-Haq too was for such confederation. "Charles Wilson recalled a map that Zia had also
shown to him in which overlay indicated the goal of a confederation embracing first Pakistan and
Afghanistan and eventually Central Asia and Kashmir. Zia further explained about the Pakistan-
Afghanistah confederation in which Pakistanis and Afghans oould travel freely back and forth without
passports." General Akhtar Abdur Rahman, considered Zia's right-hand man and more importantly the
DG-ISI (1979-1987), himselfa Pashtun, "also shared Zia's vision of a post-Soviet"Islamic Confederation
composed of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir and even the es of Soviet Central Asia. Even more
thapconfedetation, recently declassified C1Adocuments point out, in 1954, the Afghan govemnent
approached the US in order to heve a mergor with Paisthn, being threatened by the 8oyiet Union's
cconomic envclopment, Pakistan's then PON Minister Mohammika i Bogra was skeptical of a toal merget
but the idfa confederation in itself, on the other hahmwas already loating around as "the CIA rhinted
that there had been some talk in Afghan armdhPakistani official circles of some sottgf Confederation."
Some analysts have noted thfo day Pakistan and AAbhn have already been amalgamated into a single
geographifel unit during'the Dutami Empire (1747-1826). For instance, scholar Muhammad Shamsuddin
Siddiqi says that "Ahmed Shah's empire with its power base in Kanda aater transferred to Kabul
incorporated Kashm Sind and Baluchistan"and dhus "tho Durani empire bears the closest resemblance
to Pakistan'", while others have noted that "since the Durrani Empire included the present-day Pak klim
Ummah have all come national self-determination, md nie tio K4tory, the principle of into
line",explaining the interconnected geopolitics of both countries, its latest example being the AfPak
doctrine, theorized under the Obama administration from 2008 onward, concluding supported the idea
as well. He blames the failure of the project to the assassination of Daud Khan and the advent, in 1978,
of the pro-Soviet PDPA party and Nur Muhammad Taraki. Afghan scholar Hafizullah Emadi says that "the
initial blueprint suggested that both sides would maintain their internal autonomy, but in the matter of
defense, foreign policy, foreign trade and communication, there would be a central govemment. The
prime minister would be by rotation." He also explains the failure of the proposition 1skandar Mirza was
replaced by General Ayub Khan, after a coup d'état in 1958, an ethnic Pashtun who "regarded himself as
the leader of the Pashtuns in Pakistan, and believed thaf the Pashtuns in Afghanistan should join
Pakistan under his leadership" instead of a confederation. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto rejected the idea because
"an economically underdeveloped Afghanistan would not benefit Pakistan." In his diaries, in an
observation dated to 9 January 1967, Ayub Khan noted that "it is people from the Punjab like Feroz Khan
Noon and Amjad Ali who keep on emphasizing to me the need to make up with Afghanistan."

President Zia-ul-Haq too was for such confederation. "Charles Wilson recalled a map that Zia had also
shown to him in which overlay indicated the goal of a confederation embracing first Pakistan and
Afghanistan and eventually Central Asia and Kashmir. Zia further explained about the Pakistan-
Afghanistah confederation in which Pakistanis and Afghans oould travel freely back and forth without
passports." General Akhtar Abdur Rahman, considered Zia's right-hand man and more importantly the
DG-ISI (1979-1987), himselfa Pashtun, "also shared Zia's vision of a post-Soviet"Islamic Confederation
composed of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kashmir and even the es of Soviet Central Asia. Even more
thapconfedetation, recently declassified C1Adocuments point out, in 1954, the Afghan govemnent
approached the US in order to heve a mergor with Paisthn, being threatened by the 8oyiet Union's
cconomic envclopment, Pakistan's then PON Minister Mohammika i Bogra was skeptical of a toal merget
but the idfa confederation in itself, on the other hahmwas already loating around as "the CIA rhinted
that there had been some talk in Afghan armdhPakistani official circles of some sottgf Confederation."

Some analysts have noted thfo day Pakistan and AAbhn have already been amalgamated into a single
geographifel unit during'the Dutami Empire (1747-1826). For instance, scholar Muhammad Shamsuddin
Siddiqi says that "Ahmed Shah's empire with its power base in Kanda aater transferred to Kabul
incorporated Kashm Sind and Baluchistan"and dhus "tho Durani empire bears the closest resemblance
to Pakistan'", while others have noted that "since the Durrani Empire

the present-day Pak klim Ummah have all come national self-determination, md nie tio K4tory, the
principle of into line",explaining the interconnected geopolitics of both countries, its latest example
being the AfPak doctrine, theorized under the Obama administration from 2008 onward, concluding
that Afghanistan and Pakistan should be the aim of common security policies considering their
similarities.

Q4 How media can play an effective role in building soft image of

Pakistan across theglobe?

ANS: Media persons need to be careful during five coverage of the issues of sensitive nature like bomb
lasts, suicide attacks and other sort of terrorism incidents. This was stated by speakers during the media
workshop 25rganized by the Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC), here on Friday. All the television
channels have signed a code of conduct regarding live coverage and it should be fulfilled accordingly,
said a senior electronic media person Mohsin Raza while speaking on the occasion. The Pakistan
Tobacco Company (PTC) 25rganized "Media Persons Capacity Building Workshop. The motive behind the
workshop was to find out ways through which media could play a positive role at this time when
Pakistan was victim of terrorism and international conspiracies. Responsible media can protect the
mational interest by removing misconceptions of the world community regarding Pakistan. The trainer,
Mohsin Raza, said that Media persons needed to enhance their skill and expertise to meet the
international standards. To achieve this all they have to go a long way, he added. Earlier, Syed Khurrum
Shah, Manager External Communication thanked the media persons for paying visit to the PTC and for
participating in the workshop. During the workshop, Media consultant Shahzad Lodhi said The PTC is
committed to keep aiding media over its business expansion, proocdures and activities. PTC do arrange
meeting with media persons every year. While talking to ThéNation, the External Conmnication
Manager Hina Ahmed said, The PTCis grateful to mediN men for visiting our fiegbffices. We have an
open policy and we are following all the pgdired international stards. We keep encouraging media men
so that thoy.can pla their role to protect the nationaaterest Talking to TheNation Manager
CorporateRegdagty and administrative Affais Muhammad Anees said, We have 1300
employeegfmuiding contract employees, who are hag at this filed office. We have excellent Std
Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding ployccs welfare and developmentje fúrther added. Employees
Union is also verf ig this office We arp-olodg the International Standard Organisation (ISO) rules strictly.
WEave zero toleruncelo total quality management (TQM) and over employees welfare. As a policy
matter, we discourage child labour and strictly published instructionsmcing is harmful to the under-ãged
boys-be further maintained. During the visit it wansa that the labours were working in a challenging
environment. To was given to the labours may R nkotine polluted control harmful the make the labours
safe from plant noise air plug were placed by the PTC. However, No mask nicotine poll for the labours
working at primary and secondary processing plants. The PTC has been operating in Pakistan since 1947.
Its contribution in term of foreign investment has been playing a vital role in the economy. British
American Tabacco, the parent company of PTC, has been running the business for over 100 years. The
PTC pays Rs 30 million in excise duties and taxes to the Govemment of Pakistan and is also playing very
vital role by providing employment to the people of Pakistan.

Presenting Soft Image of Pakistan Media has a significant contribution in disseminating eduçation and
information especially that is related to new technologies and developments It also provides a medium
for promoting distant leaming where it harnesses sectarian harmony by presenting different points of
view from renowned scholars from different schools of thought. By presenting a better image of
Pakistan media is helping in attracting foreign direct inivestment in Pakistan. Speakers at a media
conference held here on Saturday underlined the need of exploiting the social network for giving the
country's positive message to World as well as developing the society on optimistic line, says a press
release Image-building of the country, keeping high the good human vnlues and social ethics should be
the dominating features in inter-personal communication, they said while addressing conference that
was arranged by Allama lqbal Open University (AIOU) in collaboration with the social media network
'Positive Pakistan'.

The conference was presided over by the University's Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Shahid
Siddiqui. It was addressed among others by the eminent journalist Syed Talat Hussain, qbal Khari. It was
columnist Dr. Mujahid Mansoori and President of Positive Pakistan Abio well-attended by the students
and social media activists from all over the country. They also call for encouraging credible social media
that helps the youthi's brpught-up on positive directo. Elements of patriotism. positive thinking and
sense of respysbility should be the hallmark Dhe social media's use. While operating the twitter
aecounAaèe-book and other instrumentshe social media. credibility and authenticity of the contnys
must be ensured, they asserted

Dr. Shahid Siddiqui inhispresidentiat nddress noted that today the meRas emerged as most powerful
social institutiduig çontribules a lot in the nation's builßijn Task. He briefed the audience about the
consistenf egof the A1QU in ppPTOs ositive attitude among the youth. Various initiatives were taken in
the recent years for construction and dissemination of knowledge through r0 rdiased activities, Serving
ihe söciety has boen the major priority in academic pursuits he e empbasized that the users of the soe
ial media should strictly handling Syed Talat of Hussain social media 2 BATTperience rationale the
approach way of in adhere to the principle of self-accountability. messaging and communicating through
the media's network. He also spoke about the importance of the media in term of its impact on the
society.

He said the media's activists must follow some basic norms and ethics for achieving the ultimate
objective of promoting positive national image and serving the society. Dr. Mujahid Mansoori
appreciated the AIOU and its Vice Chancellor for promoting high the University's academic standing and
building its positive image among the people. The University's academic achievements in the last three
and half years were highly remarkable, he added.

The social media has translated the concept of global village through its wide-access and diversity. The
media has eased the inter-personal communication at all levels. It is imperative to develop positive
thinking among the youth to take benefit of the emerging media's trends, he added

The speakers appreciated the working team of Positive Pakistan' for highlighting the bright image of the
country across the globe and raising the voice of the péople on various society's related issues. The
social media's activists were given awards and trophies for their outstanding work. A panel discussion on
various aspects of the new media was also arranged on the occasion. Chairman the AlOU's department
of Mass Communication Dr. Saqib Riaz thanked the audience for their positive feed-back and discussion
on the role of the social media

Q.5 Describe the role of Pakistani national and private television

channels in highlighting Kashmir issue.

ANS: India-inistered Kashmir has been gripped by violeat protests 0yer theggst couple of months,
claimugltens of lives. DWexamines how the unrest is being covered hedia outlets in both India
angakistan It was in the earlymrning of September 18that four commaado-style gunóey attacked an
army base in India-arinistered Kashmir killing 17 Indinn soldiers. An oldier died in hospital later. The
deadly attack took ptaoetime when dhe uirest an the Mysihymjority region was making headlines all
over the ian Kashuir has þeef etfa major security lockdown for over two months as a consequencafof the
massive antgbvérnment protests that were sparked following the killing of a young rebel commander by
government troops Immediately after the inesault on the army base in Uri, logated te the west of the
state's capital Srinagar, Ind nticians started blaming Pakistan for orehestrating the attack. India's Interior
Minister Rajnath Singh condemned Pakistan as "a terrorist state" and called for it to be internationally
isolate hat rk too early to blame someone E wasn't long before PakistaneeoeikdihenMis tne same
opinion. without even holding a proper investigation into the attack.

However, it didn't stop mainstream media in both countries from joining the angry rhetoric with
headlines like "Pakistani media's bizarre conclusions about Uri terror attack" and "Uri is Pathankot-like
Indian false flag operation."

A controversial role

"On the whole, media in Pakistan and India are playing a yery negative role and are basically
warmongering for their respective governments," says Garga Chatterjee, a Kolkata-based commentator
on South Asian politics. "Pakistani media is in denial mode while Indian media is in finger-pointing mode,
both with absolutely no evidence to back up their claims," he told DWW. Basharat Ali, a blogger based in
India-administered Kashmir, believes that media outlets in India and its arch-rival Pakistan have always
been used by their respective governments to project official stances on the Kashmir conflict

"For the Indian media, the problem in Kashmir is sponsored by Pakistan, a position taken by successive
governments in India ever since the conflict began," Ali told DW. "They always distort facts and
obfuscate reality When people watch falsehood being spread against them, their anger only multiplies."
he added. Indian newspapers, Ali said, also have a lot of correspondents in India-administered Kashmir
while Pakistani newspapers are mostly dependent on news agencies as they don't have any reporters on
the ground. "Pakistani media reports underline the growing human rights violations in Kashmir to attract
global attention towards the problem. And that's preuisely the position taken by the Pakistani
government" the blogger noted. Ever since theDrtition of India in 1947, Kashmir has remaingd as one
ofthe mpig areas of conflict betwe he two uclear-armed nations of South Asia. They have fough two of
their three wars since partiion oyer the territory, which they both clainain full uthule in part. Baba Umar,
a Duyabased independent journalist covering the Kashmr unóssays Kashmiris living in the India-
adujqistered region consider Indian media as a"publiefolafions machine" of

Kashmir attack tarnishes local instf gehcy image India has accused Pakistan of orchestrating a deadly
attack on jts soldiers in Kashmir. The assault is likely to di ar mon fromanti-india protess in paris of
Kashmir and highlight the foreign militancy iss 2016),UL Kashmiri separatist is blocked from leaving
India, and arrested "There are huge pro-independence demonstrations going on at different places in
Kashmir, something Indian media won't show to its people or the world," he told DW. adding that "the
media have allowed themselves become a veritable arm of the state and its military might." Umar
pointed out that, despite being repeatedly attacked by the authorities, Kashmiri local media are doing a
good job with regard to covèring the unrest, which has been continuing for more than two months and
killed over 70 pcople. "Mobile phone, landline and internet services remain curbed throughout the
region and sometime ago police even raided newspaper offices, seizing thousands of printed copies."
Chatterjee criticizes the coverage of both countries' television media, in particular. "National television
media is playing a very pro-war role while the regional media in both countries seem to have less
interest in the conflict between New Delhi and Islamabad. That is a good sign" Chatterjee said. No fact-
checking? The Indian media's coverage of the Kashmir eonfict has often been mared by controversy with
a senior journalist of a major TV channel recently resigning after accusing the network of fabricating his
reports on Kashmir. The reporter claimed that the channel laad forced him to prepare biased reports
favoring the Indian government's stance on Kashmir

"We all know as journalists what the role of media should be in calming tempers, but it's no longer the
case when it comes to the coverage of Kashmir by ndian modia" Umar claimed mentioning tesignation
of the Indian journalist Media analystslack of fact-checking on the partof Tndian an Pakistanedspapers
when it comes to the kanir issue They cal on mainstream mediaoutlets in botytions to play an active role
in minimipg the ongoing unrest. "Mainstream media shauai be cognizant ofthe fact that tndia and Pakire
armed with nuclear weapons and shdileiucate their audience about the hugely destructive effects of a
nuclear conflict," Chatterjee si Media should critiçaletamne claims made by their respective armies and
governments Fhuth and realism shbulddrive public opinion, not Jingoism.n ians oftheto dodairiées. habe
tde Teiter to blame cach other for the violence in Kashmir. As a result, hashtags like #UnitedAgainstPak
and

#Frustratedindia However, not everyone are trendingO johingahé Klandë gdmorndbbsai mediad After
the attack on the army base in Uri, Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, raised
questions about the tents and huts used at the military base as it emerges that 14 out of the 18 soldiers
killed were trapped in burning tents. Abdullah believes the death toll could have been much lower if the
army had been provided with flame retardant tents

Some diplomats are tweeting on the issue as well with a bid to calm the unrest between the neighbors.
Sherry Rehman, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US, tweeted against any possible military answer
to the Uri attack. She stressed that war wouldn't solve anything. But, for Basharat Ali, social media are
something almost unreachable to bloggers and activists living in Kashmir at the moment as the mobile
phone services there are blocked for more than two months. "Whatever is happening on social media iš
done by Kashmiris living outside Kashmir," he said. The Indian government's decision to limit intemet
access in Kashmir has drawn widespread criticism on social media. Khurram Parvez, a Kashmiri hüman
rights activist who was also active on Twitter, was arrested after being disallowed from attending a UN
Human Rights Council meeting recently. And Facebook has been accused of renmoving posts on the
unrest by prominent Kashmiri activists, analysts said.

"A Kashmiri boy was recently arrested and his bail denied for liking a post on Facebook, said Baba Umar,
adding: "The Indian state and its forces don't want anyone to question their wrongdoings inside
Kashmir. But despite restrictions, social media usets, dspecially on Twitter, are offering a strong
response to the statist narratives on Kashmir " An advice issued on 10 August by the Pakistan Electronic
Media Regulatory Authority, commonly known as PEMRA, asked Pakistani broadcasters to not air any
cclebratory programmin Eid as well as on Pakistan and India's independence daysy PEMRA said topathe
broadcasters should express solidarity with the Kashmipréthren" in the wake of the revocion of Article
370 by the Indran govemment and not "huryhè sentiments" of Kashmiris and Payistanis. Furhermore,
the regulator said that aedin chadngs can turn their logos to black and aitK(done in the past on days of
nationml tragedies n ufourning) and run programmes that proja he "two-nation theory" and
bighight"Indiaaatities against

Muslims and minorities Mi and in Kashmir A But such "advice" needs to b oied, especially in
liakraiproblematic narrative Pakistani regulators want to push. To begin with, the t heory, which Pakisian
propajgated for years following the country's independe eBritish coloniäl tulein 1947stopped being valid
when then The idea in 1971, behind with the the two-nat S mr lt kould not live with together. West But
Bangladesh was carved out of Pakistan.

Pakistan despite the fact that both were Muslim-majority region Second, highlighting Indian abuses
against Muslims and other minorities in India when Pakistan's own track record in dealing with religious
minorities is quite poor exposes its hypocrisy. The Pakistani constitution discriminates against pon-
Muslims and persecutes Ahmadis, a Muslim-minority sect, that is not allowed to call itself Múslim by law
those who do are prosecuted, if they are lucky enough. On most occasions. the Ahmadis face the wrath
of a radicalised Pakistani public that opts for mob justice to deal with those who dare to publicly identify
themselves as Muslims in the country.

Moreover, Pakistani Christians and Hindus and even Shi'ite Muslims are often targeted in hate- crimes
by extremist Sunni Muslims (who are a majority in the country). and very rarely do these religious
minority groups get justice. In one such recent case. Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who spent nearly nine
years on death row in Pakistan after being falsely convicted for blasphemy, had to leave the country
once the courns acquitted her because she was not safe in Pakistan despite being declared innocent.
Notwithstanding the fact that Kashmiris in India are living through oppressive conditions, especially post
the revocation of Article 370, which has escalated the tensions in the region. Pakistan's hue and cry over
what is happening there rings quite hollowagiven its own history in dealing with Kashmir, especially in
the areas under its control. Starting from 47. when the Pashtua tribals at the behest ofthe Pakastan
government invd the region, which many say initiated the confliewith Inde to how Pakistan annexed tm
Gilgit-Baltistan region from Kashmir and took away ipecial status in the 1970s, Islamabadk sRolicies
towards Kashmir haye been oppressive te Many in Gilgit-Baltiskah pgion have been decrying the same
issue thaahmiris may face in India the changing of tMoAogul demography. Pakistan has been lgtaccused
of settling in Sunni extremist groups in stf minated areas in Gilgitain region to counter any potential
Shi'ite rebellion, especiay ih the aftemath of ld 9 Iranian Revolution, which saw Pakistani state becoming
paranoid about its minority Shi'ite population. And Pakistan's Kash msvery independent either- t hias its
ewn govemment but that government is answat15 Kashmir Council thatis headed by the Pakistani Prime
Minister. Moreover, no candidate can legally contest elections in Pakistan's Kashmir if heor she does not
swear an oath tpE inkr region and the religious So. given Pakistan's own doduleshfkn Tn des minorities in
the country, PEMRA must review its advice.
Pakistan for the last 70 years has been indoctrinating its public with anti-India rhetorie and has created a
generation of youth that see India as enemy number one. It did so mainly for two reasons-to send
jihadis to Kashmir so that a low-intensity conflict with India is kept alive. Second, by ensuring that an
Indian threat always exists, Pakistan Army could justify its huge budgetary demands at home and shape
the country's foreign and domestic security policy. But if Pakistan truly wants peace in the South Asian
regiön, as it keeps claiming, it should stop controlling and engineering a narative aguinst India, especially
on days like the Independence Day. Instead, the country's policy-makers should realise that such days
give oppotunities to overcome the differences, and they should focus on celebrating the freedom from
the British colonial masters rather than highlighting partition of the sub-continent. South Asia can only
progress if everyone shuns divisive politics and comes together to find a common ground to live
together, in peace.