India’s ‘No first use of nuclear weapons’ ambiguous

Pakistan has established itself as a serious candidate for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG). Answering questions during weekly news briefing in Islamabad today, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that support for the membership of the NSG is result of active diplomacy by Pakistan. He said increasing number of countries are following non-discriminatory approach and avoiding any formula to favour a specific country. There is also growing recognition of the fact that 2008 exemption to India neither benefited non-proliferation regime nor objective of strategic stability in South Asia. The spokesman expressed the confidence that members of the NSG would bear in mind the need to prevent further erosion of non-proliferation regime and preserving credibility of the NSG as a rule-based organization. He said Pakistan has expressed its openness to measures for strengthening non-proliferation objectives to the NSG. This includes proposal for binding bilateral agreement with India on non-testing. Asked to comment on Indian Defence Minister's statement about no first use of nuclear weapons, the Spokesman said Pakistan believes the ambiguous “No First Use Declaration” is not verifiable and amounts to nothing. It can't be a substitute for verifiable arms control and restraint measures proposed by Pakistan's standing offer of Strategic Restraint Regime.

The spokesman said such a statement by Defence Minister of a country that repeatedly and constantly heightens tension and with aggressive posture should be a matter of concern not just for countries of the region but also a threat to global peace and security. He said signing of nuclear deals by some countries is a matter of concern as it is only reinforcing arrogance and belligerence with which India conducts itself in the region and beyond. Responding to questions, the spokesman said Pakistan is very actively and forcefully taking up on every occasion and every forum the issue of grave human rights violation by Indian forces in Occupied Kashmir and the need for resolution of the longstanding conflict. He said India is heightening tension on Line of Control and the Working Boundary to hide its crimes against humanity in Occupied Kashmir.  To another question, he said dates for visit of Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah's visit to Pakistan are being worked out. The spokesman said trilateral meeting of Pakistan, China and Russia would be held next month in Russia to discuss implications of Afghan situation for the region. The spokesman reassured that appropriate arrangements are being made to ensure uninterrupted running of Pak-Turk schools keeping in view interests of students as well as employees. He pointed out that these schools were being run by an organisation registered as charity in Turkey. After banning of the organization in the country of registration and therefore, its branches abroad have ceased to exist. He said the Government is conscious of the importance of continued smooth functioning of these schools.

Iran overtakes Saudi Arabia as top oil supplier to India

Iran overtook political rival Saudi Arabia as India's top oil supplier in October, shipping data showed, just ahead of a producers' meeting this month to hammer out the details on output cuts aimed at reining in a global glut.

Iran used to be India's second-biggest oil supplier, a position it ceded to Iraq after tough Western sanctions over its nuclear development programme limited Tehran's exports and access to finance. But India's oil imports from Iran have shot up this year after those sanctions were lifted in January. In October they surged more than threefold compared with the same month last year, rising to 789,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to ship tracking data and a report compiled by Thomson Reuters Oil Research and Forecasts. That compares to 697,000 bpd supplied last month by Saudi Arabia. Over the whole January to October period, though, Saudi Arabia still holds India's top supply spot, at an average of 830,000 bpd versus Iraq's 784,000 bpd and Iran's 456,400 bpd. Iran's surge to the No.1 spot is due partly to less available crude from Saudi Arabia, which has increased its capacity to refine oil instead of just exporting more crude.“Saudi Arabia's refining capacity has increased over time so it is not in a position to increase its exports further, whereas Iran is better placed to raise its output and sales to India,” said Ehsaan Ul Haq of UK-based consultancy KBC Energy.The surge is also thanks to Iranian price discounts, which attracted purchases from India's programme to build up its strategic petroleum reserves (SPR).Last month India took in 2 million barrels of Iranian crude for the SPR stocks, and another 4 million barrels is expected to be shipped in November.In the first seven months of its fiscal year, between April and October, India imported 523,200 bpd from Iran, compared to 249,100 bpd for the same period a year ago.

Returning buyers

Indian refiners including Reliance Industries Ltd, operator of the world's biggest refinery complex at Jamnagar, that had stopped imports from Iran during the sanctions period have also returned as buyers of Iranian oil.Iran produces almost 4 million bpd of oil and exports 2.4 million bpd. Tehran's exports dropped to 1 million bpd during sanctions, down from a peak of almost 3 million bpd in 2011, before tougher Western sanctions were implemented.Gaining the top position as oil supplier to the world's third-biggest importer, even if only for one month, comes at a sensitive time.The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is due to meet on Nov. 30 to finalise a planned production cut aimed at propping up prices, which continue to languish below $50 per barrel due to oversupply. Exemptions to the planned cuts were given to Libya and Nigeria, where output has suffered from conflict, and sanctions-hit Iran. Given Iran has now pipped de-facto OPEC leader Saudi Arabia in India, those exemptions might be more difficult to defend during the upcoming meeting.

UN food agencies call for urgent action to address southern Madagascar’s worsening food insecurity

$67 million needed in food aid and farming support for upcoming planting season

Rome/Antananarivo, 18 November - Farmers in southern Madagascar, hit by three years of devastating drought, urgently need more support so they can plant crops in time for the December and January planting seasons, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said today. They stressed that more funding is required to provide this support and help address southern Madagascar's worsening food insecurity. FAO will start distributing plant cuttings and seeds next month, targeting some 170,000 farming families in the most food-insecure districts of the south. At the same time, these same families will receive food or cash as part of an ongoing WFP relief programme so they can sustain themselves until the next harvest in March/April. WFP has been distributing food to people in the areas of greatest need since June and cash in places with functioning markets since July. "The planting season offers a small window of opportunity for local farmers to restore agricultural production. Thousands of families are already facing hunger. Missing the planting season now will result in a serious food and livelihood crisis, and render their situation even more desperate," says José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General.Some 850,000 people - about half the population of the south - are facing hunger and need urgent humanitarian assistance, according to latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) findings. These indicate that food and nutrition security could deteriorate even further in coming months unless humanitarian action is rapidly scaled up. Overall, some 1.4 million people are estimated to be food insecure in 2016/17 in the three southern regions of the island.

FAO is sourcing sweet potato and cassava cuttings as well as a variety of drought-tolerant seeds for smallholder farmers to plant. Tools will also be distributed and support offered to families with livestock. "As I saw recently in the south of Madagascar, farmers are in a dire situation," says WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin. "But, through a joint response, our two agencies can begin to turn this situation around, not only by providing immediate relief but by giving communities the means they need to feed themselves." While WFP and FAO have secured funds to help launch their joint planting assistance programme, they cannot reach all the drought-hit farming families without more funding. Out of $22 million needed, FAO has only received $4.5 million. WFP's drought relief operation, which runs till March 2017, is facing a $50 million shortfall out of a total of $82 million required. The lack of sufficient rains brought about significant declines in the production of maize, cassava and rice production in the south of the island earlier this year. Meanwhile, rising prices continue to reduce people's purchasing power and erode the food security of the most vulnerable. Many households have adopted survival strategies, eating less often, consuming seeds, and selling animals, agricultural tools and even land.

FAO's response

FAO's immediate agricultural response is targeting 850,000 people (170, 000 small-scale farming households) in the worst-affected districts. The assistance combines provision of quick-maturing and drought-tolerant seeds and root crops (cassava and sweet potatoes). Farmers will also receive tools to replace those that may have been sold during the current extended hunger season. Support to livestock production will also be provided through supplementary feeding of livestock and animal health-related activities.

WFP response

WFP is scaling up its ongoing food and cash relief operations to reach nearly 1 million vulnerable people by the end of this month. At the same time, WFP is expanding its nutrition programme to prevent and treat malnutrition among more than 200,000 pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under five, while continuing to assist some 230,000 school children with daily hot meals.

Senators fear China may use CPEC to enhance trade with India

Some lawmakers expressed concern on Wednesday over the possible use of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by China to enhance trade with India. During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning and Development, some lawmakers were of the view that China was investing in the CPEC project to explore new vistas of trade with different countries right from neighbouring India to Central Asian states and Europe. Chairman of the committee Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi endorsed a point of view of a senator that with improved rail and road links with India through Munabao and Amritsar under the CPEC, China would expand its trade not only with Central Asian states and European countries but also with India to economically strengthen its eight underdeveloped provinces. “China will definitely use the CPEC to expand trade with India because one who invests always watches one’s interests first,” Mr Mashhadi said. He said China’s trade relations with India were far bigger than with Pakistan as China had inked $100 billion trade agreements with India last year. “Irrespective of sour Pakistan-India relations, China will do trade with Indian through the CPEC,” Mr Mashhadi said. Members of the committee asked railway authorities to lay rail tracks called ML-2 and ML-3 that link Pakistan with Iran and Afghanistan and Central Asian states. “These projects must be on the priority of China to reach these destinations,” Senator Saud Majeed said.

However, railway officials informed the committee that they were focusing on improving the existing rail tracks called ML-1 from Karachi to upcountry as a majority of the people lived in the areas falling in alignment of ML-1. Senator Sirajul Haq said that the government should give priority first to those projects which were beneficial to the people of Pakistan and then it should safeguard interests of China. He was of the view that if the people of less developed areas in Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) did not benefit from the CPEC, they would have no other option but to take up arms to earn their livelihood. “If economic conditions of ignored areas are not improved, people living in those areas will be compelled to fight against anybody for only Rs2,000,” the Jamaat-i-Islami chief said. The officials of Pakistan Railways informed the committee that all rail projects being executed under the CPEC were planned by both Pakistan and China and the former alone could not go for any project on its own. “Both countries have joint working groups which plan and finalise projects,” they said. At this, Senator Haq said that recently some of his colleagues had visited China for discussions on the CPEC where they were informed by Chinese authorities that Pakistan had the sole right of planning and decision-making about CPEC projects and China had nothing to do with it. Senator Mohammad Usman Khan Kakar said that Pakistan Railways had not taken even a single step forward. “We have not gone beyond what we inherited from the British rulers,” he regretted. He suggested that plans for new railway tracks in Sindh and Balochistan (ML-2 and ML-3) must be implemented immediately because these were the routes which would make Pakistan economically strong. “We have abundance of natural resources like gold, copper, silver, marble and granite in these areas which can be marketed to Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian states through rail routes,” he said. The committee was informed that a majority of electricity generation projects started by the government would be completed between 2018 and 2020.

Gulen’s group threat as serious as Al Qaeda, Daesh:

Warning that religious cleric Fethullah Gulen’s organisation could harm Pakistan if the group was allowed to carry out its activities, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday sought enhanced cooperation with Pakistan in the ongoing war against terrorism.

“I wholeheartedly believe that [Gulen’s] organisation will be eliminated as soon as possible without harming brotherly Pakistan,” said the Turkish president during his record third address to the joint sitting of parliament.

Mr Erdogan, who has previously addressed the Pakistani parliament twice when he was prime minister, expressed “deep concern” over increasing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue, saying “Turkey stands ready to make any effort possible to this end”.

“We should eliminate these killers — who have no other skill than to shed Muslim blood — from the Islamic world and from all over the world, as soon as possible. Otherwise, neither Turkey, Pakistan, the world of Islam, nor humankind will attain peace,” he warned.

Turkish president assures of support on Kashmir issue

“If we cannot overcome our problems hand-in-hand as believers of this holy religion, we cannot save Muslims from the pit of impunity that they have fallen into.”

Describing the US-based cleric’s group as Fethullah Gulen’s Terrorist Organisation (Feto) and equating it with Al Qaeda and Daesh, Mr Erdogan declared that these terrorist organisations were “the agents of the war carried out against Islam, which are only and solely harming Muslims”.

“I would like to state once again that Feto is a bloody terrorist organisation posing a threat not only to Turkey, but to all countries in which it operates,” he said, claiming that the organisation was being operated from Pennsylvania — where Fethullah Gulen lives in exile — and has a network in 120 countries.

“I appreciate the recent decisions taken by the Pakistani government in this direction and I thank you for your strong support in our fight against Feto,” Mr Erdogan said, referring to Pakistan’s recent decision to expel the staff of Pak-Turk schools, which are run by elements allegedly linked to Gulen, who is considered the main architect of the failed military coup that shook Turkey in July.

Amidst desk-thumping by the parliamentarians, the Turkish president pointed out that Pakistan was the first country to stand with Turkey after the July 15 coup attempt.

Mr Erdogan was of the view that the terrorist organisations tried to find a basis for themselves by playing up divisions and differences among Muslims. “In order to save Muslims from this servile situation, we have to eradicate all means of exploitation; from sectarianism to ethnic discrimination,” he said.

Terming relations between Turkey and Pakistan of an “exclusive nature far beyond diplomatic contacts”, he called for strengthening cooperation in the fields of trade and investment.

The Turkish president thanked the Pakistani nation for their support and assistance during the War of Dardanelles and the 1999 earthquake in his country.

The Turkish president also stressed the need for better relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, saying: “This cooperation is indispensable not only for the peace and security of the region, but also for the economic potential of this [area] and carrying out important infrastructure projects.”

Talking about the Kashmir issue, he said the latest developments in Kashmir once again demonstrated the importance and the urgency of the solution of this problem.

“We are aware of the distress and suffering of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters. The international community should exert further efforts in order to solve this issue which has political and humanitarian dimensions, according to justice and law,” he said.

“We wish that Pakistan and India take into consideration the demands of the Kashmiri people to find a solution to the Kashmir issue through direct dialogue.”

Earlier, in his welcome speech, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq declared Mr Erdogan “a most respected brother, a trusted friend, a visionary leader of the Muslim world, a statesman and the most popularly-elected president of Turkey.”

“The credit goes to your inspiring leadership that the heroic people of Turkey, especially the brave speaker and the courageous members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, rose in one voice to protect and preserve their constitution and democracy,” the speaker said.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) lawmakers boycotted the session to protest against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his alleged corruption. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was also not seen among the distinguished guests in the galleries where three governors — as the ailing Sindh governor was unable to attend — and three chief ministers were seen sitting besides the three services chiefs, including army chief Gen Raheel Sharif.

Joint press conference

Earlier, addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the visiting Turkish president thanked the Pakistan government for expelling Turkish teachers from Pak-Turk schools around the country.

He urged Turkey’s other friends around the world to emulate the Pakistani example by acting against Gulen’s institutions and organisations in their countries.

Mr Erdogan recalled that Turkey too was taking steps to curb the Gulen Network. The Turkish government has, since July, suspended, dismissed or detained at least 110,000 people, including soldiers, judges and teachers, who it believed to be supporting the botched coup. The country has also further closed more than 130 media outlets and detained journalists and opposition lawmakers.

Western countries have accused President Erdogan of using the coup as a pretext to stifle dissent at home.

On the occasion, PM Sharif hoped that that Turkey would continue to march towards peace, progress and prosperity.

The two leaders held one-on-one talks and also led their respective sides at delegation-level meetings before the press interaction.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, State Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry attended the talks.

Navy says prevents Indian submarines from entering Pakistani waters

The Pakistan Navy on Friday said it had prevented Indian submarines from entering Pakistani waters.

"The Indian Navy, in order to fulfil its nefarious designs, was deploying submarines. The Pakistan Navy, alert and using its extreme skill, prevented Indian submarines from entering Pakistani waters."

"Pakistan Navy fleet units detected the presence of Indian submarines in the southern parts of Pakistani waters, mimiced their behaviour and restricted their activity," the statement said.

The Pakistan Navy prevented the Indian submarines from being successful in their attempts to keep their presence a secret, the statement said, adding that the Navy had constantly pursued the submarines and pushed them back.

"This is proof of Pakistan Navy's extremely skilled anti-submarine warfare unit," the Navy said. "The Pakistan Navy is fully prepared to defend its borders and capable of responding to any aggression befittingly."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up a drive to isolate Pakistan diplomatically after the Uri army base attack in September. Hours after the attack occurred, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed Pakistan a 'terrorist state' and accused Pakistan of involvement.

The Uri attack occurred days before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was set to address the United Nations General Assembly regarding Indian human rights violations in held Kashmir.

Following the attack, India claimed it had conducted a cross-border 'surgical strike' against 'launch pads of terror' in Azad Jammu and Kashmir — a claim Pakistan has strongly rejected.

Since then, both countries have intermittently exchanged fire over the Line of Control, with seven Pakistan army soldiers becoming the latest in a series of casualties in the cross-fire confirmed by the Pakistan Army. Pakistan has lodged several protests with India over repeated violation of the ceasefire agreement and targeting of civilians and soldiers along the border in the past few weeks.

Pakistan maintains that India is attempting to divert the world's attention away from atrocities committed by government forces in India-held Kashmir.

Pakistan and India have, most recently, locked horns over Kashmir since Indian forces stepped up a crackdown against protesters after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by government forces in July.