Russian Revised Nuclear Doctrine- Lessons for Pak-India relations

December 28, 2024

Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world and has been discussing changes to its nuclear policy since September.

Scenarios in which nuclear weapons could be deployed now include:

Critical threat to Russian sovereignty
Aggression by a non-nuclear state; supported by a nuclear state. It will now be treated as a joint attack, and;
Ballistic missiles targeting Russia

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signed the new doctrine hours after Ukraine launched US-supplied tactical missiles “ATACMs” into Russian territory. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov briefed the media on the issue” The fact that several ATACMs were used in the Bryansk region, of course, it’s a signal that they want to escalate and it is impossible to use high tech missiles without Americans. Putin has said this many times”

It is important to note that the USA and Russia hold 88% of the world’s nuclear arsenal and without any arms control treaty in effect between them, the prospects of arms control between them and the world at large are very bleak. A year into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia suspended the New Start Treaty a 2010 agreement with the US to reduce nuclear arms, citing America’s involvement in the conflict.

Donald Trump is weeks away from assuming office and he promised to end the war in 24hrs. However, he did not specify how it would be done. Any kind of rapprochement with Russia would be highly unlikely given the current scenario. But Trump’s diplomatic unpredictability will likely benefit Russia. Trump’s stance of extracting equal funding of NATO by European allies and his policy pledges of non-intervention, trade protectionism, and America first will likely irk Western European allies.

Before delving into Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine’s implications for Indo-Pak relations. We first need to understand why nuclear doctrine exists. The US and Russia have their own that they review periodically and other nuclear powers do too. They serve basically different purposes because of the difference in the bureaucratic systems of governance of every nuclear power. For example, the US is a more legalistic society with a two-party system. When there is a change of party in power, these doctrinal documents that have been legally adopted still carry on. But in Russia it’s very different, Russia adopted publically published military doctrines including nuclear posture doctrine. These documents play a very important role because they play as a nuclear deterrent. The nuclear doctrine is usually used for brinkmanship. Since the beginning of the nuclear age, brinkmanship has been used for deterrence.

As far as India and Pakistan are concerned their nuclear doctrines are an important factor in maintaining regional stability. Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine is India-specific and its deterrence posture is defensive where whereas India has a more open-ended nuclear doctrine with no mention of any potential adversary. Both India and Pakistan are defacto nuclear powers as both states are not signatories of NPT. Their relations in the realm of nuclear politics will definitely have regional and international implications. Following are the lessons both India and Pakistan can learn from the revised Russian doctrine and its consequent impact on relations with the US and its Western European allies.

The first lesson is about maintaining credible deterrence without having to engage in arms race. This highlights the importance of maintaining qualitative improvements in the nuclear arsenals. Maintaining credibility is key here. In the context of recently revised nuclear doctrine, Russia says that nuclear strikes could be justified by aggression against the Russian Federation by any non-nuclear state with participation crucially or support of a nuclear state. Russia is maintaining the credibility of deterrence in the wake of Ukraine using US-supplied ATACM on Russian territory. This clearly meant to deter the US and its continued support for Ukraine. This is a stark departure from Russian nuclear doctrine back in October 2022 when there was more nuclear saber-rattling than maintaining credibility of nuclear threats.
This kind of confrontational situation between Russia and the USA reveals the risks involved in escalation dominance strategies. There were multiple calls between US and Russian counterparts during the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Both secretary defenses Loyld Austin and Sergei Lavrov as well as General Mark Millie and General Valery Gerasimov to clarify what Russian nuclear doctrine was. Gerasimov talked about three circumstances that could breach the nuclear threshold. Such as threatening the stability of the regime, Foreign powers attacking with WMD, and Tactical nukes that could be used to offset catastrophic battlefield losses. The US intelligence community at that time estimated there was a 50% chance that the Russians would be willing to use tactical nukes. And now under the new doctrine, the use of Western non-nuclear missiles by the Ukrainian army against Russia may lead to a nuclear response. Both Russia and USA seek escalation dominance in order to outmaneuver each other in this conflict. India and Pakistan should have in place de-escalatory protocols, including enhanced communication channels, to prevent nuclear brinkmanship.

Russia’s changing relations with the USA reflect how geopolitical shifts can influence nuclear doctrines. Russia has also maintained that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons of mass destruction used against it or its allies or in the event of aggression use conventional weapons that threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia or Belarus. The point to be noted here is that Belarus is mentioned by name. There is a degree of ambiguity in terms of who is meant by Russia’s allies. Does that include China and also perhaps Iran? The fact that they are not named by name is by intention. So the western world will keep guessing who cannot be attacked or should not be attacked otherwise Russia might step in. What is even more interesting is that a lot has been talked about article 11 of a joint attack but Article 10 in the Presidential Decree 991. Article 10 says that aggression of one state which is a part of a military bloc or alliance is considered as aggression of the entire bloc. So it’s not just the US or Ukraine it’s also NATO that has influenced Russian nuclear doctrine. So does this mean NATO members will also alter their nuclear doctrine? This will definitely trigger an escalation spiral where the deterrent posture is altered by one state might trigger something in other states. The lesson for India and Pakistan is that both must adapt to regional and global geopolitical dynamics to ensure their deterrence postures remain credible and contextually relevant.
Lastly, the Cold War lessons between the USA and Russia emphasize that mutual vulnerability gives rise to strategic instability. India and Pakistan should recognize that nuclear deterrence is not about achieving dominance but ensuring mutual restraint and stability. India and Pakistan can work towards a more stable deterrence relationship that reduces the risk of conflict escalation, enhances crisis management, and aligns with global efforts to prevent nuclear winter.

Authors Bio:

Qurat-ul-Ain Shabbir is a Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies AJK. She is also pursuing PhD in Defense and Strategic Studies from Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. Her area of research area is Human security and the civilian use of nuclear technology.

Hira Bashir is an Associate Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies AJK. She is doing MS IR from Muslim Youth University Islamabad. Her area of research is the Civilian Use of Nuclear Technology.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this article/Opinion/Comment are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk (DND). Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of the DND Thought Center and Dispatch News Desk News.

Afghanistan always ruled by foreigners except for a brief period of the Durrani Empire

December 28, 2024

DND Report

There has been a cliché that Afghanistan had never been ruled by foreigners and it is also contrary to history that Afghans defeated invaders. This cliché was deliberately developed by British historians and the same fabricated history had been texted in history books even after the British empire left the subcontinent. This is also a cliche that Afghans do not allow ‘foreign boots’ on their soil because this soil had always been under the soles of running horses of invaders and foreign rulers.

Historically, Afghans ruled Afghanistan only for a short period of the Durrani Empire (1747–1823), and that too with the direct support of the British Empire that wanted a buffer state between the Russian Empire that was extended to Central Asia while the British Empire was slicing Muslim rulers and local princely states with the active help of Afghan invaders for extending British Empire in the Indo-Subcontinent. Afghans were encouraged and financially supported by British Army officers and undercover agents to attack Punjab which was the only place left resisting British forces. In Hazara, British officers used a ‘religious card’ against Sikh rulers because Hazara was unconquerable to British forces that had already cleansed other parts of the Indo-Subcontinent.

Before going into detail about the ruthless defeats Afghan faced from Sikh rulers, one should have a look at over 3000 years of history of Afghanistan to understand that the clichés ‘Afghanistan had never been ruled by foreigners” is categorically contrary to historical perspectives.

Afghanistan had been under the control of many empires, including the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Maurya Empire, Arab Muslims, the Mongols, Uzbeks (Amir Taimur—Babar—Mughal Empire), Takht-e-Lahore of Raja Ranjit Singh, the British Empire and for a short period under the Soviet Union.

In 3000 years of history, Afghans had always been ruled by foreigners except for some years of the Durrani Empire (1747–1823) and that was too with the direct support of the British Empire the modern independent state of Afghanistan was also a gift of the British Empire for addressing its concerns of the rising influence of Russia in Turkestan.

While reading the history of Afghanistan it should be remembered that the Ghaznavid dynasty was neither a Pushtun dynasty nor an Afghan dynasty rather it was a Persianate Muslim dynasty of Turkic mamluk origin (Turkic origin from the Eurasian Steppe) that ruled Afghanistan as Ghaznavid Empire from 977 but in 1040, the Seljuq Turkmens defeated the Ghaznavids at the Battle of Dandanaqan, which resulted in the loss of Ghaznavid territories in Iran and Central Asia.

Punjabi youth killing Afghans in Sikh-Afghan wars — Punjab youth killing Afghans in Sikh-Afghan war

Historically, the modern state of Afghanistan began in the 18th century with the short-lived Durrani Afghan Empire (1747–1772). Maharaja Ranjit Singh did not let Afghans enjoy their hegemony and an 18-year-old boy from Gujranwala (Punjab) launched an offensive over Afghans that ended with the death of Ranjit Singh.

To understand what Afghan looters were doing with Punjab, one should review the poetry of Sufi saints Waris Shah (1722 – 1798 ) and Bullah Shah (1680–1757) who expressed that Afghans had not only been looting Punjab rather they were raping women and children of Punjab irrespective of their religious background and they looting every home that had money or grain. This could be a reason that the poetry of Sufi Punjabi poets had been discouraged by British rulers because their poetry indicated the true face of British-backed Afghan looters.

After receiving reports of the mass slaughtering of Afghans Ahmad Shah announced ‘Jihad’ (holy war) against the Sikh Army but his Jihad March towards Punjab was defeated in 1764

On 12 January 1748, Ahmad Shah Durrani with the alleged financial support of British army officers invaded and occupied Lahore, and the Mughal governor of Lahore, Shah Nawaz Khan, fled to Delhi. Lahore was left at the mercy of Afghans and the majority of the city was burnt down after looting. This backdrop compelled the youth of Punjab to stand against barbaric attacks of Afghans who were financed and supported by British Army officers who had no courage to fight in Punjab. After invading Lahore, Ahmad Shah Durrani tried to march further but was defeated at the Battle of Manupur (March 1748) by the Mughals in alliance with Sikh youth who stood to protect the Mughals against the Afghan-British alliance. Ahmad Shah Durrani ran away from the Manipur battleground and fled back to Kandahar and contacted British army officers to help him again to attack Punjab. However, his fleeing to Kandahar was quite heavy for Afghans as Sikh forces under the command of Charat Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and Ala Singh butchered thousands of Afghans as they were running towards Afghanistan. This instant and amazing run away of Afghans injected confidence among the youth of Punjab that they could defeat Afghans wherever they were around Punjab. Ranjit Singh formed his proper force under the title of “Dal Khalsa” in a ceremony at Amritsar in March 1748. A complete retake of Lahore was celebrated in Lahore on 12 April 1752.

On 11 November 1757, Afghans lost the ‘Battle of Gohalwar’ that was under the command of Timur Shah Durrani, son of Ahmad Shah Durrani he had to run and while trying to cross the Chenab and Ravi rivers, thousands of Afghan soldiers drowned and rest were arrested and massacred by Sikhs. In 1761, Afghans again attacked Lahore and recaptured and ruled Lahore for two months, and in May 1761, the Sikh army defeated the Afghan army. In September 1761, Afghans tried to capture the birthplace of Ranjit Singh near Gujranwala but lost over 4,000 men and faced defeat and ousting of the remaining commanders of Durrani’s, eventually bringing the entire territories from the Satluj to the Indus, under Sikh control along with Jalandhar Doab, Sarhind, Rachna and the Chaj Doabs.

In 1838, Ranjit Singh marched into Kabul with his troops to participate in a victory parade after restoring Shah Shujah to the Afghan throne

In October 1762, Ahmad Shah Durrani again attacked Amritsar but was again defeated by the Sikhs. In November 1763, Sikh forces planned a different kind of strategy to induce Durrani armies to advance upon them near Sialkot, which led to the ‘Battle of Sialkot’. Encircled by Punjabi youth, Afghans could not break the three-circled attacks of the Sikh Army and they were butchered and the massacre of Afghans continued for three days. It was one of the most horrific killings of Afghans in Punjab. After defeating the Afghans at Sialkot, the Sikh Army decided to get hold of areas where Afghans used to hide after attacking cities. A series of ‘run-and-kill’ continued and Sikhs got control over all adjoining areas such as the towns of Malerkotla and Morinda and Rohtas Fortress. The reports of the mass slaughtering of Afghans in Sialkot, Malerkotla Morinda, and Rohtas Fortress enraged Ahmad Shah and he announced ‘Jihad’ (holy war) against the Sikh Army and asked other Muslim rulers to join him against Sikhs but his Jihad March towards Punjab was defeated in 1764. In 1765, Ahmad Shah himself marched again to Punjab but again ran away to Kabul at night when Sikh forces encircled his camp.

Facing a series of attacks on Punjab, Ranjit Singh decided to ruin Afghanistan from where attackers used to come. By that time, Afghans again attacked Punjab and lost their glory forever through a series of military victories of Sikhs and treaties that started from the “Battle of Kasur in 1807”.

The first major success of Ranjit Singh in his plan to get hold of Kabul was defeating Afghan chief Qutb-ud-Din, at the Kasur-Depalpur battles. After consolidating his Army, Ranjit Singh decided to throw Afghans out of Kashmir, Srinagar Hazara, and Kashmir. Ranjit Singh conquered Hazara, the country west of Kashmir and in 1819, Ranjit Singh fought the Battle of Shopian in 1920 and defeated the Afghans and got hold of Kashmir and Srinagar. Now Ranjit Singh had control over Hazara, Kashmir, and Srinagar and he kept putting pressure on Afghan forces as he had already encircled them from three sides. After encircling Afghan ruling areas, Ranjit Singh decided to attack Kabul from where looters used to attack the subcontinent. Under immense pressure, British-backed Afghans had to sign a “Tripartite Treaty” with Ranjit Singh, and in 1838 Shah Shujah, the ruler of Afghanistan, and the British Raj allowed Ranjit Singh’s army to enter Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass to reinstall Shah Shujah (now as Sikh-backed ruler). In 1838, Ranjit Singh marched into Kabul with his troops to participate in a victory parade after restoring Shah Shujah to the Afghan throne.

Ranjit Singh was the first Indian in a millennium to turn the tide of invasion against Afghans, the traditional conquerors of India. He became known as the Lion of the Punjab. After Sikh rule in Afghanistan, the British got hold of Afghanistan out of the third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 and installed British-backed ‘The Kingdom of Afghanistan’ in 1921.

The British Empire had a significant role in the establishment of a nation-state in Afghanistan and Ahmad Shah Durrani, the founder of the Durrani Empire, had many contacts with the British Empire The Great Game and Afghanistan by Cynthia Smith) and by British intervention Durrani elite sponsored literature and organizations that promoted the official narrative of ‘Afghan Nationalism’. The process of formation of Afghanistan as a nation-state started with the Treaty of Gandomak (1879) signed between the British Empire and the Afghan Amir, Yaqub Khan. It was when the responsibility of designing the foreign policy of Afghanistan was bestowed to the British. Later, during the reign of Abdur Rahman Khan (1880-1901), the boundaries of present-day Afghanistan were demarcated by the British and Russian empires to create a buffer zone with minimal involvement of the Afghan rulers. The Treaty of Gandomak was also the first official agreement wherein the British Empire used the term Afghanistan to refer to it as a nation-state. This treaty also paved the way for the empire to strengthen Abdur Rahman Khan so that it could reacquire control from the Durrani tribe who lost rule to Sikhs. This consolidation and centralization of authority favoring the British Empire would ultimately address its concerns about the rising influence of Russia in Turkestan.

Annual Review-2024 of Pakistan Army provided by DG ISPR

December 28, 2024

Monitoring Desk: The year 2024 Review of Pakistan Army provided by DG ISPR in his press conference includes following pointers:

59,775 successful intelligence-based operations were conducted against terrorists and their facilitators in 2024.
More than 169 operations are being conducted daily to deal with terrorism.
925 terrorists of Fatna Al-Khuraj were killed.
73 most wanted terrorists were killed during these operations.
The most wanted terrorists include Mian Syed Arif Qureshi alias Ustad, Mohsin Qadir, Attaullah alias Mehran, Fida-ur-Rehman alias Lal, Ali Rehman alias Taha Swati and Abu Yahya.
As a result of the best strategy of state institutions, 14 wanted terrorists have been included in the mainstream.
383 brave officers and soldiers were martyred during counter-terrorism operations in 2024.
The fabric and evidence of terrorist incidents go back to the sanctuaries of terrorists in Afghanistan.
Work is progressing rapidly under the Western Border Management Regime.
72% of the area in the tribal districts has been cleared of landmines.
On the special instructions of the government, a crackdown is also underway against smuggling, electricity theft, drugs and hoarders.
815,000 illegal Afghan residents have returned since September 2023.
India We are well aware of the threats on the eastern border from India.
There have been 25 ceasefire violations, 564 speculative fire incidents, 61 airspace violations, 181 tactical air violations by India.
This year, several false flag operations were carried out by the Indian government.
The Pakistan Army is fully capable of giving a befitting reply to any Indian aggression on the LoC.
We will continue to provide political, legal, diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiri people.
The Indian government is openly committing state terrorism.
Indian state terrorism includes extrajudicial target killings abroad, including the target killing of Sikhs of Indian origin.
Minorities in India, especially Muslims and Genocide is being committed under a well-planned conspiracy of Christians.
The welfare projects are completed by the army with the cooperation of the federal and provincial governments, DG ISPR
In 2024, 6500 Outreach programs were launched by the Pakistan Army in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Under ”Ilm Tolu Da Para”, more than 7 lakh students were provided educational facilities.
The establishment of more than 113 medical camps in the health sector is also a link in this chain.
Out of the 140 km long railway track between Sibi and Harnai, 93 km of the railway track was opened after 17 years after repair.
Kachhi Canal, after the completion of the work, is irrigating 65 acres of land in the first phase from November 2024.
So far, 15825 acres of land has been brought under cultivation under the Green Pakistan Initiative Program.
Pre-induction training was given to 11,071 soldiers of 31 units this year.
Eight different international joint exercises were organized this year.
PATs competitions were also organized in February this year, in which teams from 12 countries participated.
Pakistan Navy also participated in 25 multilateral exercises this year.
Air forces of 24 countries participated in Exercise Industrial 2024 to be held in October.
The long-term War Games strategy was completed this year.
Remember, a safe Pakistan is a strong Pakistan.

Security Crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa links with administrative failure and corruption

December 28, 2024

Monitoring Desk: During the year 2024, the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was under the grip of lawlessness, terrorism, tribal feuds, and the collapse of its administrative structure.

Kurram district events are glaring examples of the law and order situation; that is the foremost priority of any province under the 18^th Constitutional Amendment is the least priority of the KP government. In Kurram, at least 124 people have been killed and 178 injured in tribal clashes and due to the government’s negligence, shortage of food and medicines has made the life of the people more difficult under unbearable winter. When sectarian-cum land dispute in Kurram district remerged, the provincial government was too busy arranging protests and marches towards the capital city of Islamabad. The provincial government had been more interested in how to invade the federal capital of Pakistan instead of focusing administrative resources to mitigate the unbearable problems of the public in the Kurram district. The law and order situation had been alarming in KP and 383 personnel of security forces were martyred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during January 2024-December, indicating the deteriorating law and order situation in the province.

Is it not a senseless, shameless and inhuman act of CM Gandapur to lead protest leaving 80 dead bodies in clashes of Kurram district? — Is it not a sheer shameless act of Gandapur to lead a protest leaving 80 dead bodies in clashes in Kurram district?

Strangely, instead of spending more on law and order and policing, provincial government administrative decisions demoralize the police force. The Police Act 2017, which was designed to free the police from political interference, has been rendered ineffective by recent amendments. The police’s autonomy has been abolished, and powers have been transferred back to the Chief Minister.

If we look at how the province is being run, one can find that this province has become a glaring example of administrative mismanagement, financial irregularities, and security crisis that occurred during the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There is a long list based on facts that can be shared about how in the last ten years, these problems have become a major obstacle to public welfare and provincial development.

Audit reports reveal that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa treasury suffered a loss of Rs 152 billion, which is a result of fraud, mismanagement, and illegal expenditure. As many as Rs 84 billion was lost due to misclassification of development expenditure, while Rs 13.29 crore was spent on fake payments and Rs 51.46 crore was spent on suspicious transactions. Interestingly, Government vehicles worth Rs 8 million are missing from the transport pool and nobody knows where they are parked or who is using them. In the meantime, a Debt crisis has intensified and the province’s debt has reached Rs 725 billion, which is expected to reach Rs 2,555 billion by 2030. The annual interest payment is Rs 355 billion, which is equal to the development budget. Audit reports claim that the above-mentioned loans were mostly spent on unnecessary and shoddy projects. Illegal appointments in the Health, Education, and Tourism sectors cost over Rs. 6 billion losses to the province till December 2024.

According to media reports, the Education structure is on the verge of financial as well as administrative collapse and the KP Universities Amendment Bill 2024 has added fuel to the fire as it replaced the Governor with the Chief Minister as the Chancellor (of universities). This move has paved the way for political appointments in higher education institutions and jeopardized academic freedom.

Audit reports indicate that important development projects, such as tourism infrastructure, suffered severe delays and overspending of Rs 2.68 billion. The cost of water and sanitation projects in DI Khan and Bannu was increased by 600 percent, which is unnecessary and unjustifiable.

Will the Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi help an overseas Pakistani who is a victim of fraud in Pakistan?

December 26, 2024

Islamabad, Pakistan: In October 2024, the Parliament of Pakistan passed the Establishment of Special Court (Overseas Pakistanis Property) Act, 2024, which is a landmark legislation protecting the property rights of overseas Pakistanis.

This act facilitates swift and efficient resolution of property disputes involving overseas Pakistanis. Overseas Pakistanis can file petitions through digital platforms, including e-filing. The special court will allow evidence to be presented through video links or other legally acceptable modes, supervised by officials from Pakistan’s High Commissions or consulates. Cases filed in the special court will be disposed of within 90 days, thereby providing speedy justice, preventing delays in the cases, and ultimately safeguarding the interests of overseas Pakistanis. However, such facilitation has not been granted to Overseas Pakistanis who do business and invest in Pakistan through their relatives, and at the end of the story they are victims of fraud at the hands of relatives. Such as the case of an entrepreneur Roman Khan who seeks Justice after being cheated by close family members.

An American national of Pakistani origin, Roman Khan, a successful entrepreneur, singer, and well-established businessman, has recently come forward with allegations of being cheated in business by close family members in Pakistan. Khan has approached Pakistani authorities, including the Police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), with substantial evidence and has formally submitted applications against those involved. He awaits what kind of treatment he will receive from authorities and he has appealed to Interior Minister Naqvi, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistani Ch Salik Hussian, and the government at large to help him out in punishing culprits who swindled his hard-earned money.

In an email to Dispatch News Desk (DND) News Agency Islamabad, Khan expressed his determination to hold the culprits accountable and recover the significant losses he has suffered. “This is not just about me; it’s about setting an example for others who face similar challenges. Justice must prevail,” he said.

Roman Khan plans to travel to Pakistan soon to personally pursue his case and ensure that legal proceedings are carried out effectively. He highlighted the unfortunate trend of overseas Pakistanis being defrauded in business dealings, often by people they trust the most.

The incident sheds light on the challenges faced by expatriates investing in Pakistan, raising concerns about the need for stronger safeguards to protect their interests. Khan’s resolve to fight for justice serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and the role of authorities in safeguarding the rights of overseas Pakistanis.

Pakistan responds to EU, US & UK by convicting 60 more perpetrators of 9 May incidents that includes ten years imprisonment for Imran Khan’s nephew Hassan Niazi

December 26, 2024

Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan has responded well to the European Union, United States, and United Kingdom by convicting 60 more perpetrators of the 9 May saga which also includes ten years imprisonment for Imran Khan’s nephew Hassan Niazi.

Sequel to the announcement of the May 9 punishments in light of the Supreme Court’s decision, the Field General Court Martial has promulgated the punishments to the following remaining 60 culprits after examining all evidence, ensuring the provision of all legal rights to the convicts, and completing due process and the appropriate legal proceedings.

1. Hassan Khan Niazi s/o Hafizullah Niazi, 10 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
2. Mian Abbad Farooq s/o Amanat Ali, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
3. Raees Ahmed s/o Shafi Ullah, 6 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
4. Arzam Junaid s/o Junaid Razzaq, 6 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
5. Ali Raza s/o Ghulam Mustafa, 6 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
6. Raja Danish s/o Raja Abdul Waheed, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in GHQ attack incident.
7. Syed Hassan Shah s/o Asif Hussain Shah, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in GHQ attack incident.
8. Ali Hussain s/o Khalil ur Rehman, 7 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in AIMH Rawalpindi attack incident.
9. Zahid Khan s/o Muhammad Nabi, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in PRC Mardan incident.
10. Sohrab Khan s/o Riaz Khan, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident.
11. Brig (Retd) Javed Akram s/o Chaudhary Muhammad Akarm, 6 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
12. Khuram Liaqat s/o Liaqat Ali Shahid, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Multan Cantt Checkpost incident.
13. Zakir Hussain s/o Shah Faisal, 7 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Chakdara Fort incident.
14. Ameen Shah s/o Mashter Khan, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident.
15. Fahim Sajid s/o Muhammad Khan, 8 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in PAF Base Mianwali incident.
16. Hamza Sharif s/o Muhammad Azam, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident.
17. Muhammad Arslan s/o Muhammad Siraj, 7 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
18. Muhammad Umair s/o Abdul Sattar, 6 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
19. Noman Shah s/o Mehmood Ahmad Shah, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
20. Ikram Ullah s/o Khanzada Khan, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident.
21. Muhammad Ahmed s/o Muhammad Nazir, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident.
22. Pirzada Mian Muhammad Ishaq Bhutta s/o Pirzada Mian Qamar ud Dind Bhutta, 3 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Multan Cantt Checkpost incident.
23. Muhammad Abdullah s/o Kanwar Ashraf Khan, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in GHQ attack.
24. Amjad Ali s/o Manzoor Ahmed, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident.
25. Muhammad Raheem s/o Naeem Khan, 6 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.

26. Ehsan Ullah Khan s/o Najeeb Ullah Khan, 10 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in PAF Base Mianwali incident.
27. Muneeb Ahmed s/o Naveed Ahmed Butt, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident.
28. Muhammad Ali s/o Muhammad Boota, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident.
29. Sami Ullah s/o Meer dad Khan, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident.
30. Mian Muhammad Akram Usman s/o Mian Muhammad Usman, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
31. Mudassir Hafiz s/o Hafeez Ullah, 6 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
32. Sajjad Ahmed s/o Muhammad Iqbal, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
33. Khizar Hayat s/o Umar Qiyaz Khan was involved in the incident of 9 years rigorous imprisonment in the Bannu Cantt.
34. Muhammad Nawaz s/o Abdul Samad, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident.
35. Muhammad Bilal s/o Muhammad Afzal, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in PAF Base Mianwali incident.
36. Muhammad Suleman s/o Said Ghani Jan, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident.
37. Asad Ullah Durani s/o Badshah Zada, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident.
38. Ikram Ullah s/o Shah Zaman, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Chakdara Fort incident.
39. Muhammad Farrukh s/o Shams Tabriz, 5 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident.
40. Waqas Ali s/o Muhammad Ashraf, 6 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
41. Ameer Zohaib s/o Nazeer Ahmed Sheikh, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
42. Farhad Khan s/o Shahid Hussain, 7 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in AIMH Rawalpindi incident.
43. Izzat Khan s/o Awal Khan, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident.
44. Asher Butt s/o Muhammad Arshad Butt, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident.
45. Saqlain Haider s/o Rafiullah Khan, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident.
46. Muhammad Salman s/o Zahid Nisar, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident.
47. Hamid Ali s/o Syed Hadi Shah, 3 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Multan Cantt Checkpost incident.
48. Muhammad Waqas s/o Malik Muhammad Khalil, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident.
49. Izzat Gul s/o Mirdat Khan, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident.
50. Haider Majeed s/o Muhammad Majeed, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
51. Gp Capt Viqas Ahmed Mohsin (Retd) s/o Bashir Ahmed Mohsin, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident.
52. Muhammad Ilyas s/o Muhammad Fazal Haleem, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident.
53. Muhammad Ayaz s/o Sahibzada Khan, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Main Gate FC Cantt Peshawar incident.
54. Raees Ahmed s/o Khaista Rehman, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Chakdara Fort incident.
55. Gohar Rehman s/o Gul Rehman, 7 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Chakdara Fort incident.
56. Naik Muhammad s/o Nasrullah Jan, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident.
57. Fahad Imran s/o Muhammad Imran Shahid, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident.
58. Sufayan Idrees s/o Idrees Ahmed, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident.
59. Raheem Ullah s/o Bait Ullah, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident.
60. Khalid Nawaz s/o Hamid Khan, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident.

The trial of 9th May accused under military custody, has hereby been concluded under the relevant laws. All convicts retain the right to appeal and other legal recourses, as guaranteed by the Constitution and law.

As expected on December 22, 2024, the European Union expressed over the sentencing of twenty-five civilians by a military court on 21 December in Pakistan. EU indirectly threatened Pakistan to withdraw the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status if Pakistan would not reverse the decision against PTI’s followers. Pakistan’s Foreign Office did not respond to the EU’s strong statement while the UK’s statement called on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and withdraw convictions against followers of Imran Khan. This statement of the United Kingdom is yet to get a response from the Pakistan Foreign Office.

UK statement on Pakistan’s internal legal matter over the award of punishments to 9th May culprits was taken as “Absolutely Unacceptable” by the majority of academia, journalists, and even certain quarters of government of Pkistan.

They believe that the UK in an absurd and uncalled-for statement has raised objections over the trial of civilians in the military courts in Pakistan. Coming from a country which after the racial riots of 29 July 2024 in the Southport area of the UK, prosecuted over 200 people including three infants in a few days on the indirect charges of even posting on social media and handed down severe punishments after one of the worst crackdowns on its people following the riots.

All those who were convicted for their part in the violence were sent to prison within no time. Out of 54 convictions, 47 adults and 3 minors were given custodial sentences. Those who pleaded guilty were tried under a fast-track procedure; the others were remanded in custody.

Penalties were particularly severe for those not directly involved in the riots, but who even incited violence on social media. In Northampton, a 26-year-old man who had called for the burning of hotels and law firms helping migrants was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.

What the UK did to its people through severe crackdown was way overboard but Pakistan never raised any objection over it, being the UK’s internal matter, rather provided full support in identifying the culprit who was involved in spreading fake news.

Now, it’s ludicrous on the part of UK authorities to falsely point to a fair and established legal process being followed in Pakistan. Since 9 May 2023, 9th May culprits have been awaiting justice. After a lapse of over one and half years, Pakistan is concluding the long-due trials of the culprits against whom solid evidence and proof exist. The trials were conducted per the constitution and law of the land.

Needless to say, legal processes and laws vary from country to country as per the dictates of the ground. The trial of civilians in the military courts in Pakistan is a legally established process in Pakistan’s judicial system which takes its legal cover from the Constitution of Pakistan and the relevant laws of the land.

The UK will be better served by minding its own business, focusing on playing its long-due role over raising its voice on severe and worst violations of civil and political rights of the people of Gaza & Palestine, it must stop Israel from committing genocide.

The UK must avoid meddling in internal legal matters of Pakistan that too on the behest of Goldsmiths as Pakistan will not listen to any such absurd and uncalled-for political meddling from another country”.

AZAL plane crash updates: 32 individuals have survived the crash Azerbaijan Airlines flight from Baku to Grozny

December 25, 2024

Monitoring Desk: Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry issues statement on AZAL plane crash, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement reads:

“On December 25, an “Embraer 190” aircraft operated by “Azerbaijan Airlines,” on flight J2-8243 from Baku to Grozny, was directed towards Aktau city due to the necessity for an emergency landing and subsequently crashed near Aktau. The causes of the crash are currently under investigation.

There were 67 people on board, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members. Initial reports indicate that 32 individuals have survived, with some in critical condition.

Following the directive of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, a state commission chaired by Prime Minister Ali Asadov has been established to investigate the causes of the plane crash. Additionally, in response to the tragic accident, a delegation led by the Minister of Emergency Situations and the Minister of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan has been dispatched to Kazakhstan.

From the outset of the incident, the Consulate General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Aktau has been actively working at the scene. In coordination with the Kazakh authorities, emergency rescue teams have been conducting urgent and operational measures.

AZAL plane crash updates. Photo by Azernews

Islamabad Bureau adds:

DND News Agency expresses profound grief over the sad incident of the crash of a commercial flight resulting in the death of passengers. During this difficult time, DND News Agency staff stands in solidarity with the survivors and their families and offers our thoughts and prayers for their swift recovery. May Allah have mercy on the souls of the departed and grant strength to those grieving their loss!

EU and UK statements on awarding of punishments to 9th May culprits are “Absolutely Unacceptable”

December 24, 2024

Islamabad, Pakistan: As expected a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson of the United Kingdom on December 23, 2024, expressed concerns over the conviction of 25 vandals who attacked state institutions on May 9, 2023.

Since the Pakistan Foreign Office did not respond to any reaction over the European Union’s statement on the same issue, it was expected that a series of statements would now arrive from European countries in favor of former prime minister Imran Khan and his followers.

On December 22, 2024, the European Union expressed over the sentencing of twenty-five civilians by a military court on 21 December in Pakistan. EU indirectly threatened Pakistan to withdraw the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status if Pakistan would not reverse the decision against PTI’s followers. Pakistan’s Foreign Office did not respond to the EU’s strong statement.

The UK’s statement called on the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and withdraw convictions against followers of Imran Khan. This statement of the United Kingdom is yet to get a response from the Pakistan Foreign Office.

Suppose Pakistan had a proficient and swift team sitting in the Foreign Office of Pakistan. In that case, it should have responded with such a statement as ‘a glaring attempt of the EU as well as of the UK government to interfere in domestic issues of Pakistan’. Pakistan could respond to the EU and UK governments as follows:

“UK statement on Pakistan’s internal legal matter over the award of punishments to 9th May culprits is “Absolutely Unacceptable”.

The UK in an absurd and totally uncalled-for statement has raised objections over the trial of civilians in the military courts in Pakistan. Coming from a country which after the racial riots of 29 July 2024 in the Southport area of the UK, prosecuted over 200 people including three infants in a few days on the indirect charges of even posting on social media and handed down severe punishments after one of the worst crackdowns on its people following the riots.

All those who were convicted for their part in the violence were sent to prison within no time. Out of 54 convictions, 47 adults and 3 minors were given custodial sentences. Those who pleaded guilty were tried under a fast-track procedure; the others were remanded in custody.

Penalties were particularly severe for those not directly involved in the riots, but who even incited violence on social media. In Northampton, a 26-year-old man who had called for the burning of hotels and law firms helping migrants was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.

What the UK did to its people through severe crackdown was way overboard but Pakistan never raised any objection over it, being the UK’s internal matter, rather provided full support in identifying the culprit who was involved in spreading fake news.

Now, it’s ludicrous on the part of UK authorities to falsely point to a fair and established legal process being followed in Pakistan. Since 9 May 2023, 9th May culprits have been awaiting justice. After a lapse of over one and half years, Pakistan is concluding the long-due trials of the culprits against whom solid evidence and proof exist. The trials were conducted per the constitution and law of the land.

Needless to say, legal processes and laws vary from country to country as per the dictates of the ground. The trial of civilians in the military courts in Pakistan is a legally established process in Pakistan’s judicial system which takes its legal cover from the Constitution of Pakistan and the relevant laws of the land.

The UK will be better served by minding its own business, focusing on playing its long-due role over raising its voice on severe and worst violations of civil and political rights of the people of Gaza & Palestine, it must stop Israel from committing genocide.

The UK must avoid meddling in internal legal matters of Pakistan that too on the behest of Goldsmiths as Pakistan will not listen to any such absurd and uncalled-for political meddling from another country”.

The National College of Business Administration & Economics offers a Certification program in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

December 23, 2024

Lahore, Pakistan: National College of Business Administration & Economics (NCBAE) Main Campus is offering an Introductory Level Certificate in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) that is incredibly efficient and many therapists report significant breakthroughs in a single session.

Interested persons can contact Dean of Social Sciences Dr Asir Ajmal by sending an email at asirajmal@gmail.com

Legal implications of Movement of Civil Disobedience and sending remittances through illegal means

December 23, 2024

Islamabad, Pakistan: In 2014, the founding chairman of PTI Imran Khan announced a movement of Civil Disobedience. He burnt utility bills and ordered his followers not to pay utility bills to the state. He also announced that his followers living abroad should bypass legal banking channels and practice illegal means such as Hawala and Hundi to send money to their relatives in Pakistan. His statement was used against Pakistan thereafter when FATF was investigating the system of fund transfers to and from Pakistan.

At that time he was supported by all all-powerful cadre of the country therefore the government of former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif could not take any legal action against him for abetting the public to exercise illegal means of transfer of money to Pakistan. Even then when he was all all-powerful and practically untouchable person in Pakistan, nobody among his followers stopped paying utility bills and his movement of civil disobedience failed within a month. The time has changed and the power cadre that brought him in power is no longer available to him. His popularity had nosedived and his engross in the masses had vanished away. Now he is living with only lofty claims and statements and his latest call for civil disobedience would face the same fate that he is facing himself in jail.

There is no doubt left that the agenda of Imran Khan and his anarchist party is to harm the state and undermine its economic interests which have yet not changed. Even during his tenure as Prime Minister, Imran Khan made decisions that harmed the Pakistani economy, the consequences of which the nation is still suffering.

For some time now, he has been repeatedly threatening that if his demands are not met, he will call the nation for civil disobedience and will also prohibit Pakistanis living abroad from sending remittances through banking channels and following the illegal way of Hawala and Hundi to send money to their relatives in Pakistan. He knows his actions and his call for civil disobedience are not only against the country’s legal framework but can also seriously damage the economic stability and national unity and would also place overseas Pakistanis in danger when they use illegal means of transferring money from abroad to their country of origin. Due to such of his actions, his political opponents have reasons to claim that he has become an enemy of the country’s growing economy.

Let’s look at the civil disobedience movement in Pakistan. The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees public freedoms such as expression and peaceful assembly, but such activities that threaten national stability or affect the economy do not have any legal protection. Calls for civil disobedience, such as not paying taxes, not paying electricity and gas bills, etc., are considered illegal acts because they can disrupt public order or harm the economy.

The time will tell what action the sitting government of PMLN will take against him for instigating the public against the state. This time, PMLN will have no excuse to let him harm the economy. Last time in 2014, PMLN claimed it could not take any action against him as power cadres were playing him for the country as well as against the PMLN government of 2014.

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