India would remember Pakistan's surgical strikes for ages to come

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif Thursday visited a jirga in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency as part of his farewell tours, Inter-Services Public Relations reported. Addressing the tribal elders, the army chief said that if Pakistan were to conduct a surgical strike, India would remember it for ages to come. He also lauded tribal elders for their to security forces support against terrorism.Earlier, General Sharif laid the foundation stone of Shahid Afridi Cricket Stadium at Bara.

Why the world needs secularism

Secularism simply asks for the separation of religion and the government. It basically says that the same exact same law should exist for everyone, be it a Muslim, Christian, Hindu, etc.The most dreaded and feared word in Pakistan these days is ‘secularism.’ If some poor unsuspecting soul even mentions it by mistake, virtual knives, swords, and a bombardment of insults are catapulted towards him without fail. This comes not only from those who adhere to the extremist way of thinking but also the so-called moderates. “You liberals, libtards” is usually how their argument starts and ends too with not much else in the middle.The majority of the people seem to associate secularism with being atheist, being against Islam, blasphemous, having no morals, being out of control drunkards, and there being no law to keep things in control. They also seem to think that kids will end up marrying their own parents due to secularism. (True story!)

 They could not be further from the truth.

So what exactly is secularism?

This term was first used by a British writer George J. Holyoake in 1851. He wanted a social order, which separated religion from it. This did not mean that everyone could dismiss or criticize religion (Christianity in his references).

He stated:

'Secularism is not an argument against Christianity, it is one independent of it. It does not question Christianity; it advances others.'In politics, secularism simply asks for the separation of religion and the government. It basically says that the same exact same law should exist for everyone, be it a Muslim, Christian, Hindu, etc.This means that the state would remain neutral and no one will be privileged or be at a disadvantage based on their beliefs (or lack of). The state would not throw its weight behind any one particular religion or give preferences. Secularism ensures that all the problems are solved rationally by just scrutinizing the bare facts. There are no personal biases or emotions involved.  This ensures equality for all, regardless of what sect or faith he belongs to. This also breaks down the barriers of caste and class as well.

It does not mean that people will be told not to practice their faith, or mosques will be pulled down, or women told to walk naked on the streets (as this is usually what most are concerned about – women and their clothing). It will not ask everyone to abandon their religion either. In even simpler terms, it means that there will be one civil law for all. Everyone will be equal before it. There will be no discrimination on the basis of religion. This will not only lead to protecting the rights of religious minorities but also add to democracy. Another positive aspect of secularism is that it ensures that religious groups don’t get to interfere in affairs of state. For example, in a secular setting, after Pakistan passed the Women’s Protection Bill, our active and extremely vocal Council of Islamic Ideology would have had no say. The way they have been advocating and demanding the right to beat women, they would have no room to. They would have no choice but to accept and abide by the law that women cannot be beaten up. Again, this does not mean secularism is against religion but rather against those who abuse it. We have many such scholars in our country who twist religion to further their own power over people and to acquire wealth. Secularism would put a stop to that. The exploitation would stop. Take for instance, the people who tried to beat up singer turned cleric Junaid Jamshed at the airport. They would in fact be punished for taking the law in their own hands and not ignored like they were. There would also no longer be false blasphemy cases against anyone; no more making up stories against Muslims and non-Muslims just to settle personal scores. Even if you still remain defiant and adamant that secularism is a curse, then you need to take a step back and look at what is happening in the world of today.

In just one week of Ramadan this year, terrorists killed –

15 in Somalia,

43 in Yemen,

45 in Istanbul,

10 in Syria,

40 in Kabul,

22 in Dhaka,

140 in Baghdad.

In just one week. 7 days! And I am not even talking about Boko Haram, Germany, Nice, or the other people dying on daily basis. Yes, we Muslims are the biggest victims of terrorism. They have killed more Muslims than anyone else, which is why we need to take a step back and reflect on what is going wrong. India and Bangladesh remain secular on paper, but they have also suffered because they have acquiesced to extreme elements.  People are killing others over eating beef, while others from educated rich backgrounds are killing those who simply can’t recite verses from the Quran. There are those who kill others because they think them kafirs.  In an ideal secular setting, every person who does this would be punished by law. Another example would be of the US, if President elect Donald Trump follows through on his anti-Muslim rhetoric the US will step away from its secular foundations. There are people on social media who tell students to book their professors/educators for blasphemy without fear. There are those who come on TV and incite violence. There are those who wish to see women locked at home and never come out of their four walls. There are those who think there is dignity in honor killing. There are those who think Mumtaz Qadri was a hero and gave him the funeral of one. They even built a shrine in memory of him. And the worst is that regular people like you and me, with access to the news, Internet and education are the ones who become apologists for them all. They make excuses. They don’t realize that every time they justify the actions of terrorists/extremists they only give them more power to do even more destruction. Today it was a café, tomorrow it will be your own home. If we don’t want extremists to take over our country and turn it into their own personal kingdom, if we don’t want them to sit on thrones shouting “off with their heads” every time someone opens their mouth, if we don’t want to see the literal version of Game of Thrones around us, secularism is the only way to ensure that does not happen. 

It is no longer poor helpless kids who are becoming terrorists because they needed money, were disillusioned about life, were confused or were brainwashed at madrassas. They are rich, they are educated, and they dream of becoming terrorists because they see nothing wrong in taking the life of another. Terrorists killed 120 kids in Pakistan, and there were still those who defended them and made excuses for them. Secularism is the one way to push them back, to break them and take away their power. When there is no religion in the state for them to abuse, there is not much they will be able to do. Again, this does not mean one will be not be able to practice their religion. Secularism in fact is the best guarantee of freedom of religion or belief as it does not curtail religious freedoms in any way.“Those who use religion for their own benefit are detestable. We are against such a situation and will not allow it. Those who use religion in such a manner have fooled our people; it is against just such people that we have fought and will continue to fight.” – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Pakistan exercises maximum restraint despite LoC violations'

Pakistan has exercised maximum restraint despite the continued ceasefire violations from the Indian security forces along the Line of Control (LoC), said the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. “However, we cannot tolerate deliberate targeting of innocent civilians particularly children and women, the ambulances and the civilian transport,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday while chairing a meeting on situation after the bus massacre near Neelum valley by the Indian security forces.  The meeting also reviewed situation along the LoC in the wake of continued unprovoked firing by the Indian security forces.  The PM was briefed on the prevailing situation along LoC particularly after the unprovoked ceasefire violations on November 23 by the Indian occupation Forces in Dhudnial sector, by intentionally targeting a civilian bus and subsequently the ambulances going for the rescue of the injured people. The meeting reiterated its condemnation of the bus massacre and re-affirmed its political, diplomatic and moral support to the people of Indian Held Jammu & Kashmir in their just and legitimate struggle for the exercise of their right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC resolutions. The meeting urged the international community to take note of the intentional targeting of civilians and increasing number of civilian casualties. The meeting called upon the international community to play its active role in diffusing the deteriorating security situation along the LoC which has been deliberately escalated by the Indian side. Rich tributes were paid to the jawans of Armed Forces of Pakistan who laid down their lives while defending their motherland yesterday. The meeting deplored the belligerent targeting of the ambulance which was rescuing the affectees of the attack on the bus, as a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law. The meeting agreed that India is deliberately trying to divert the attention of the international community from the grave human rights violations, massacres and atrocities being committed by the Indian security forces against the innocent and defenceless Kashmiris in the Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. The PM reiterated that, “Kashmir issue is an unfinished agenda of the partition; we will never abandon our Kashmiri brethren in their freedom struggle.”The meeting was attended by Advisor to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, SAPM Tariq Fatemi, NSA Lt. Gen. (R) Nasser Khan Janjua, DG ISI Lt. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Ch. and other senior government officials.

India harmed Saarc forum:

Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz Wednesday said India had impaired the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) forum with its unilateral decision of canceling a scheduled conference.On participation in the upcoming Heart of Asia Conference in India, the adviser said Pakistan was deeply related with Afghanistan and did not want to remain disconnected.In an interview, however, he made it clear that Heart of Asia was not a bilateral conference rather it was related to what was happening inside Afghanistan.To another question, Sartaj said the incumbent government had effectively raised the issue of Indian-held Kashmir at every forum, including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).He said all missions and government’s representatives had been very vocal over the issue. Sartaj informed that a separate cabinet meeting would be held soon over the grave situation in held Kashmir.“It is very significant movement. It is a new kind of Intifada, led by the new Kashmiri generation who are carrying Pakistani flags and demanding liberation from illegitimate Indian rule,” he noted.

CPEC investment soars to $55bn after new Chinese loan

The government has secured an additional $8.5 billion of investment from Beijing as part of the countries' joint energy, transport and infrastructure plan, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday.That is on top of the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which focuses on road building and energy infrastructure to end chronic power shortages in Pakistan and to link China's landlocked north-west with the deep-water port Gwadar on the Arabian Sea.Some $4.5 billion of the additional investment will be spent on upgrading tracks and signaling on railway line from Karachi to Peshawar and increase the speed on the line to 160km per hour from the current 60-80kph, Ahsan told Reuters in an interview.Another $4 billion will go toward an LNG terminal and transmission line, he added. "This has now all been approved, so this is an additional $8.5 billion to the $46 billion we had already, so we are now close to $55 billion," Ahsan said.The International Monetary Fund said in June that repayments and profit repatriation from large-scale investments such as CPEC could add to Pakistan's medium- and long-term risks, predicting that the country's gross external financing needs would rise to $15.1 billion in 2018/2019 from $11.4 billion in the current financial year.But Ahsan said those risks would be countered by the economic boost the investment would give to industries such as steel, construction and engineering, pushing future annual growth to above six per cent.In July the IMF upped its forecast for growth in Pakistan to five per cent from 4.7 per cent in the fiscal year to June 2017, citing China's investment plans."As the economy grows, our capacity to undertake the responsibilities of repayments also improves. What really matters is that all of that investment is going into productive sectors," Ahsan said.Under CPEC, a number of new economic zones will be created along the corridor. Pakistan hopes that some industry will relocate from China, due to cheaper wages and production costs, Ahsan said."Our preferred mode is joint ventures, because that will give a stake to both Pakistani and Chinese enterprises so now our government is actively promoting business-to-business links," he added.