World

The sound of silence

Written

3 years ago

Jan 29, 2021 08:02 PM

Nauman Rashid

Sun Tzu said "Strategy is the art of winning half of the battle before the first bullet is fired”

Nauman Rashid

Diplomacy is more akin to strategy, as it stays silent till the time it has achieved a considerable number of its objectives. The Biden road map whilst Middle East is getting clearer by the day. Pre-election stance of Mr Biden following a more pro engagement policy towards Iran, is further strengthened by the appointment of Ms Wendy Sherman as assistant secretary of state who was once the lead negotiator for the Iran deal, shows a clear intent of rapprochement and engagement by US on the issue of Iran. These optics are likely to necessitate a mainframe shift in policy milieu vis a vis Iran among rest of the countries in Middle East. Spearheading the campaign is Qatar, who's Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani is recently being seen urging Arab nations to enter in to a dialogue with Iran. Qatar holds the largest US military base in the region and has recently been invited back to join GCC at the behest of KSA. Qatar also holds a Turkish base which grew predominantly during the years of her blockage by its Arab neighbors. KSA has also sensed that the change of guards at US is likely to usher a different era of US policy, thus are in the process of making mends with in the region. This scenario has benefitted countries like Turkey, Qatar to flex their reach and assume more dominant role within the region. It is more likely that arms race for better qualitative and quantitative hardware is going to surge in the region. KSA has already the third biggest Defense budget in the world after US and China; Qatar has significantly improved its air force and ground forces within last two years, Israel is already a military power in the region and their recent surge in west bank has already brought them condemnation from EU etc is also gearing up, considering the changing scenarios. There concerns are further aggravated by, the change in US policy towards Iran.

Pakistan has achieved a tremendous foreign policy boast in the region .It has become a stairway to a new block under the aegis of China and through close cooperation with Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Qatar. The recent high level exchange of visits between the political and military hierarchy of these countries has paved way for a sustainable and enduring relationship within the new block. This will also help Pakistan to highlight foreign policy flash points to include the plight of besieged Kashmiri nation and Indian atrocities to a wider audience.

US policy for Indo- China, however is likely to remain unchanged. A recently declassified document dating back to only a month ( white House security brief Indo china dated 5th Jan 2021) clearly sees India as a US proxy in the region to quintessentially act as a counter weight against china and look after US interests in the region. A 20 years strategic pact with India by the trump administration , which entails intelligence gathering and other mil hardware assistance is likely to flourish in the coming days , as the trade wars between the two powers is going to intensify and India who is already humiliated by the recent skirmishes with china will surely but slowly will try to muster maximum US support against china .

The near future is likely to witness an aggressive posturing in the entire region of Middle East and South East Asia. Re-engagement of world powers with Iran, is likely to unite Middle East, however Israel will try to create some back channel efforts to stir Iran quagmire. Indo china situation will inflate in the coming months, as Biden will settle down and focus on china. Pakistan s position diplomatically is going to strengthen, however will be embroiled in Afghanistan parleys once the exit strategy is finalized. Today's silence would be heard in coming times.

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Regional

Governor KP pays visit to Thandakoi Bazar in Peshawar city, meets with shopkeepers

Haji Ghulam Ali appeals to take possible precautions including implementation of safety measures.

Published

9 hours ago

Apr 28, 2024 09:44 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Peshawar: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali Sunday visited the historical Sarkai Gate (Thandakoi) market in the inner city and met with the shopkeepers, traders and people from different walks of life.

In order to be safe from financial losses, he also appealed to take possible precautions including implementation of safety measures.

The local population, business community, shopkeepers expressed their happiness and paid tribute to the Governor to visit the inner city.

The traders, shopkeepers and people from different walks of life appreciated the Governor for visiting and meeting with common people. It is for the first time that a Governor suddenly reached among the common people that is why (Haji Ghulam Ali) has earned the title of People’s Governor across the province.

The citizens and businessmen expressed their happiness seeing the governor suddenly present in their midst and also informed the Governor about various problems and difficulties they are faced with.

The people of the area said that Governor Haji Ghulam Ali not only met with the people himself, but also given easy access to the political and social personalities, including the general public to the Governor’s House, which is highly commendable.

Meanwhile, the Governor shook hands with the shopkeepers, met with them and got information about their problems and issues. He assured of his full cooperation to solve these problems on priority basis.

The people, traders and shopkeepers thanked the Governor who himself came and met with them to listen to their problem. It was for the first time that a Governor without any protocol, visited the inner city and met with the common people of the historical walled City Peshawar.

Business

Two-day ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum’ to start on May 2

The forum is organized at the initiative of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who will participate in the event.

Published

9 hours ago

Apr 28, 2024 09:55 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Islamabad: The third two-day, ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum” (TIIF) will be held on May 2-3, this year in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

The forum is organized at the initiative of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who will participate in the event. Two-day 'Tashkent International Investment Forum' to start on May 2.

Meanwhile, 30 businessmen and investors from different sectors from Pakistan will participate in the third Tashkent International Investment Forum, in which mutual economic and investment meetings will be held between the two countries, said a release issued here.

More than 2500 investor’s, delegates from different countries and various businessmen will participate in the ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum, ‘who will discuss the promotion of investment and regional business.

The TIIF aimed at attracting foreign companies, investors and development partners to expand their activities as well as implement new projects and programs.

TIIF will serve as a unique platform of regional importance to promote business contacts with emphasis to such areas as digital transformation, transport connectivity, infrastructure development and green growth.

The Tashkent International Investment Forum will be the region’s largest international platform for discussing strategies to enhance Central Asia’s role in the international investment market.

This event will create a new international platform for Central Asia, which will attract leaders of major investment, financial and economic organizations and companies interested in finding new growth points in the dynamically developing market of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile addressing the business community in Federation Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) here, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Oybek Arif Usmanov said the ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum’ to be held on May 2 under the patronage of President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The ambassador highlighting the importance of ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum’ said that in this forum, foreign investors and businessmen will gather in Tashkent, to discuss bilateral and multilateral investment and business opportunities.

He said that many agreements regarding investment and businesses will be signed during the forum, which will not only promote global investment but also businesses in the region.

Oybek Arif Usmanov said that major investment institutions and investors of the world will participate in the ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum’ which would provide a huge opportunity for multilateral cooperation to the partners.

He said, it would be great opportunity for FPCCI to participate in this international forum and become a part of the international investment.

The Uzbek envoy said that there will be G2B and B2B meetings in the Tashkent Investment Forum.

“We need to start the Afghanistan-Pakistan corridor for smooth trade and economic activities, ” he said.

He said that direct flights will be started from Islamabad and Lahore soon and we are committed to resolving visa issues as well to provide facility to the local business community.

Meanwhile, President FPCCI, Atif Ikram Sheikh said that Tashkent International Investment Forum is a pivotal forum for global investment, which has great opportunities for Pakistan’ businessman in various sector, in which the participation of Pakistani businessmen is extremely significant.

Atif Ikram said that Uzbekistan is an important trade partner of Pakistan with which Pakistan’s economic and trade relations are extremely important.

President FPCCI said that at the end of 2023, mutual trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan was $387 million, which is an increase of 130 percent, compared to 2022, and adding that in the first quarter of 2024, the bilateral trade between the two countries was $104 million, which is 107 increases as compared to same period last year 2023.

He said Pakistan’s exports with Uzbekistan have increased gradually in the previous years, which has to be further increased.

He said that bilateral trade can be promoted in textile, pharmaceutical, rice, machinery, agriculture machinery, electromechanical and other sectors.

“We have to explore different avenues to further promote bilateral trade,” he added.

The high-ranking officials and business leaders from China, US, European Union, Gulf countries, Central Asia, South Asia and other regions will participate in the Forum with arrangement of bilateral, G2B and B2B meetings.