Shifting alliances as Pakistan manages relationship with US

In this file photo, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, left, welcomes Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif for their talks in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (AP)
Updated 27 February 2018
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Shifting alliances as Pakistan manages relationship with US

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan navigates its troubled relationship with the United States and scrambles to avoid being blacklisted for doing too little, too late to stop terror funding, regional alliances are shifting and analysts ponder whether a cozier relationship with countries like Russia will complicate efforts to move toward peace in neighboring Afghanistan.
Russia, analysts say, is motivated by fears of a growing presence of Daesh militants in neighboring Afghanistan and has warmed up to Pakistan as well as to Taliban insurgents battling the upstart Daesh group affiliate known as Khorasan Province, the ancient name of an area that once included parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia.
In the latest move to strengthen ties, Russia last week named an honorary consul to Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, where IS has established its headquarters. The IS is also present in northern Afghanistan’s border regions with Central Asia, causing further consternation in Moscow.
Russia’s honorary consul, Mohammad Arsallah Khan, who belongs to a powerful business family in Pakistan’s northwest, said economic development is the best weapon against extremism. To that end he said he will promote increased commerce with Pakistan’s neighbors, including Russia, which currently accounts for barely $500 million in trade.
“I think this whole region is a bit of a mess, which I realize is one of the great understatements. Extremists have been taken lightly before and we are where we are because of that,” said Khan in an interview in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Reflecting on his business-based strategy, Khan said, “when you can give people a way of earning a living, they will turn away from terrorism, away from extremism.”
The appointment reflects a stark turnaround in Pakistan’s historical relationship with Russia.
In the 1980s, Pakistan and the US were united against Russia as the Soviet Union sent 150,000 soldiers into Afghanistan to prop up its communist ally in the Afghan capital, Kabul. At the time, Pakistan, with US backing, used Peshawar as a staging arena to arm and deploy Islamic insurgents, referred to as mujahedeen — or as President Ronald Reagan often called them, “freedom fighters” — to wage war on Russia. After 10 years, Russia failed to win the war and on Feb. 15, 1989, left Afghanistan in a negotiated exit.
For some, Russia’s cozying up to Pakistan is a bit of a “poke in the eye” to the US, still embroiled in the Afghan conflict that is now in its 17th year and is Washington’s longest war, costing more than $122 billion, according to its own special Inspector General on Afghan Reconstruction.
Still, Petr Topychkanov, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said Russia worries about the US presence in Afghanistan.
“Russia is concerned about the long-term presence of the US and its allies in Afghanistan, and therefore it’s in Russia’s long-term interests to have an inside view of the situation in Afghanistan,” he said, saying that Pakistan provides the viewing platform.
Daniel Markey, senior research professor in international relations at John’s Hopkins University, said Russian relations with Pakistan aim to solve two problems for Moscow. First, to blunt the threat of IS from Afghanistan. Second, to undermine US influence, he said.
“The point is that Russia and Pakistan probably have more in common with respect to the war in Afghanistan than the United States has with either __ and this is a real turnaround from prior history.”
Last week Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Washington of failing to go after the Daesh group in Afghanistan.
In response, Washington’s senior diplomat for South Asia, Alice Wells, accused Russia of ignoring anti-IS offensives launched by US and Afghan forces in eastern Afghanistan, while at the same time pursuing them in new havens, particularly in northern Afghanistan.
Wells suggested Russia “should unequivocally support the Afghan government,” if it wants to end the conflict in Afghanistan, a thinly veiled reference to allegations of Russian support for the Taliban.
The linchpin in Washington’s Afghan strategy is to put pressure on Pakistan to close safe havens used by Taliban fighters, most notably the Haqqani network, blamed for the more brazen and deadly attacks on Kabul.
Pakistan denies organized camps exist on its territory, though it says insurgents move throughout the country among the Afghan refugee population of 1.5 million. Pakistan also assails Afghanistan for allowing anti-Pakistan militants to have territory from which they plot and carry out attacks against Pakistan.
Despite closer ties with Russia and a heavily invested China, for Pakistan even a bad relationship with the US is better than no relationship at all, said Andrew Wilder, Asia programs vice president at the US Institute of Peace.
“Pakistan losing the US as a strategic partner due to Pakistan’s Afghanistan policy, and ending up having to rely solely on China, is not a foreign policy success story for Pakistan — it’s a major foreign policy failure,” he said. “Pakistan’s relationship with the US, even in its current weakened state, is still far more important in economic, diplomatic and security terms for Pakistan than its relationship with Russia.”
Although Pakistan was not mentioned in the final communique that followed last week’s Financial Action Task Force on terror funding, a motion by Washington to have Pakistan put on a global watch list prompted the task force to demand that Islamabad prove it is doing enough to curb terror financing by the time they meet again in June. Most analysts said the deadline was an indication that even its deep friendship with China was not enough to counter US pressure.
“We shouldn’t overstate how much Beijing and Moscow can compensate for US aid cuts and sanctions,” said Michael Kugelman, Asia Program deputy director at the US-based Wilson Center. “China is not a charity and does not provide assistance on demand; it only provides support — including to key allies like Pakistan — when it serves its interests. Additionally, the extent of Russian support for Pakistan to this point is unclear.”


PM Sharif says nation stands with security forces after killing of militants amid surge in attacks

Updated 9 sec ago
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PM Sharif says nation stands with security forces after killing of militants amid surge in attacks

  • PM says government is committed to eradicating militancy after security forces kill three in northwest
  • The development comes amid rising violence in Pakistan that has witnessed deadly attacks recently

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday the nation stands firmly with its security forces as the military announced the killing of three militants in two separate operations in the country’s northwest amid a sharp rise in violence.
Pakistan’s military also injured three combatants during intelligence-based operations conducted in Khyber and South Waziristan districts on Nov. 21-22.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), two militants were killed in an operation in Bara, Khyber district, while another was killed and three injured during an attempt to infiltrate Pakistan from the Afghanistan border.
The ISPR reiterated Pakistan’s call for Afghanistan’s Taliban-led interim government to prevent its territory from being used for violent attacks against Pakistan, emphasizing the country’s commitment to securing its borders and eradicating militancy.
“The enemies of humanity will continue to face failure in their evil designs,” the prime minister said in a statement released by his office after the ISPR shared the information. “The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the brave soldiers of our security forces in the fight against terrorism.”
Sharif added his government remains committed to eradicating militancy and ensuring the complete elimination of extremist violence in the country.
The ISPR’s announcement comes amid escalating violence in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, which has witnessed multiple deadly attacks in the past week.
In the latest assault on Thursday, gunmen attacked vehicles carrying minority Shiite community members in KP’s Kurram district, triggering deadly sectarian clashes that have so far killed 64 people.
Prior to that, militants targeted a checkpost in KP’s Bannu district during the week, killing 10 army soldiers and two paramilitary Frontier Constabulary personnel.
Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, during a visit to Peshawar on Friday, vowed decisive action against militant groups and emphasized the need for synchronized operations to dismantle militant networks.
Pakistan’s other western province of Balochistan has also seen a resurgence in militant activity this year.
On Tuesday, the prime minister chaired a meeting of civil and military leaders that approved a “comprehensive operation” to counter separatist insurgents in Balochistan.
The government’s latest actions underline Pakistan’s struggle to address growing instability along its borders and in remote regions, where a combination of militant activity and weak governance continues to pose significant challenges to security forces.
 


Punjab chief minister suspends top hospital officials over AIDS outbreak during dialysis

Updated 29 min 34 sec ago
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Punjab chief minister suspends top hospital officials over AIDS outbreak during dialysis

  • Action comes after 25 patients in Multan contract AIDS due to reuse of disposable dialysis kits
  • Maryam Nawaz visit Nishtar Hospital, emphasizes stricter compliance with medical protocols

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has suspended six officials at Nishtar Hospital Multan, including the medical superintendent, for severe negligence that led to the spread of AIDS among dialysis patients, state media reported on Saturday.
According to local news outlets, the negligence involved reusing disposable dialysis kits and dialyzers, failing to conduct mandatory AIDS and hepatitis tests every three months and improper adherence to medical protocols.
Hospital officials acknowledged that 25 patients contracted AIDS after undergoing dialysis using equipment previously contaminated by infected individuals.
“Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited Nishtar Hospital Multan and suspended six officials, including MS Nishtar Hospital and the head of the nephrology department, on severe negligence,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“She took action against doctors and nurses for spreading AIDS during dialysis,” it added.
AIDS, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), attacks the immune system and leaves individuals vulnerable to infections and certain cancers. In Pakistan, the social stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS has led to significant underreporting, with UNAIDS estimating approximately 290,000 people living with HIV in the country as of 2023.
According to Pakistan’s Geo TV, the chief minister inspected the hospital during her visit and criticized its poor compliance with standard operating procedures.
She described the situation as “criminal negligence” and expressed dissatisfaction despite the government’s allocation of resources to the health sector.
“It is unacceptable that patients who come to government hospitals for treatment end up contracting AIDS instead,” Geo quoted her as saying.
Public health facilities in Pakistan face a severe trust deficit, with many patients preferring private hospitals despite their high costs. Poor management, insufficient oversight and a lack of adherence to medical protocols continue to erode confidence in the public health care system.
The Punjab chief minister emphasized the need for stricter compliance with protocols and greater accountability for medical staff to prevent such incidents in the future.
She also inspected cardiology and other wards during her visit.


Authorities in Pakistan’s northwest push for ceasefire as Kurram clashes kill 64

Updated 23 November 2024
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Authorities in Pakistan’s northwest push for ceasefire as Kurram clashes kill 64

  • KP administration sends a high-level delegation to the restive region to consult local elders
  • Provisional spokesman denies the delegation’s helicopter came under fire while landing

PESHAWAR: The death toll in days-long sectarian clashes in Pakistan’s northwestern Kurram district has risen to 64, authorities said on Saturday, as the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) announced it was striving for a ceasefire and would develop its strategy to address the situation in consultation with local elders.
The violence in the restive tribal district bordering Afghanistan began on Thursday when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying members of the minority Shiite community, killing 41 people.
Clashes intensified over the next 24 hours, with sporadic gunfire reported in multiple areas of Kurram, leaving 23 more dead and at least 86 wounded, according to local officials.
“The provincial government is making serious efforts for a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the Kurram conflict,” KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who chaired a meeting via video link to discuss the situation, was quoted as saying in an official statement. “A ceasefire in the area is essential to move toward resolving the conflict.”
“The provincial government will formulate its plan of action in light of consultations and proposals from local elders,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the KP administration dispatched a high-level delegation to Kurram to assess the situation and engage with tribal leaders. Local media widely reported that the delegation’s helicopter came under fire while landing, a claim the provincial authorities denied as “baseless.”
“We landed safely and held meetings with tribal elders and officials of the district administration in Kurram,” said provincial government spokesman Muhammad Ali Saif in a video statement. “There was no such incident [of firing on the helicopter].”
Former parliamentarian Sajid Hussain Turi, who was part of the delegation, also dismissed the reports as “propaganda,” urging media outlets to verify information before circulating.
The delegation met with Shia elders in Parachinar, the district’s main town, to seek proposals for ending the violence and is scheduled to meet Sunni elders in Sadda on Sunday, officials said.
The clashes mark one of the deadliest incidents in Kurram in recent years, following outbreaks of sectarian violence in July and September that killed dozens.
Gandapur described Friday’s attacks as “deeply regrettable and condemnable” and said the government would fulfill any legitimate demands from both sides to prevent further bloodshed.
“Establishing peace in the region is currently the provincial government’s top priority,” he added.
Shop owners in Parachinar have announced a three-day strike in protest against the violence, as residents report an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty across the district.


Pakistan’s anti-terror body warns of militant threat to opposition protest in Islamabad

Updated 23 November 2024
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Pakistan’s anti-terror body warns of militant threat to opposition protest in Islamabad

  • NACTA alert says Taliban militants have entered Pakistan, may target Imran Khan’s party rally
  • PTI has urges people to join Sunday’s protest in the capital to secure Khan’s release from prison

KARACHI: Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has warned of potential militant attacks targeting former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s protest march, according to a classified alert shared with provincial officials earlier this week.
The alert, issued on Thursday but revealed in the media on Saturday, cited intelligence from “multiple sources” indicating that militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan and infiltrated major cities.
Referring to the TTP as “Fitna Al Khawarij (FAK),” the alert warned that its fighters could target participants of the PTI protest.
“Sources have confirmed that FAK elements are planning to conduct such activities in public/political gatherings; most likely upcoming PTI protest/march as opportunity to exploit for their vested interest,” the alert, in possession of Arab News, said.
A senior NACTA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed its authenticity.
The PTI has called on its followers to march on Islamabad on Sunday to demand Khan’s release, as he has been imprisoned for over a year.
The march also aims to protest alleged electoral manipulation in February’s general elections and to highlight concerns over judicial independence, which the government has denied.
The Taliban have not officially responded to the alert regarding their potential involvement in attacks. However, the militant group has previously maintained that it has a policy of not targeting ordinary citizens.
The government has already urged the PTI to call off the protest, citing an Islamabad High Court ruling that instructed authorities to engage with the party and ensure no disruptions in the capital ahead of a major foreign delegation visit next week.
According to Pakistan’s foreign office, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko will arrive in Islamabad on a three-day visit starting Monday to discuss economic collaboration between the two countries.


KSrelief officials join global delegation meeting PM Sharif to boost Pakistan’s polio fight

Updated 23 November 2024
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KSrelief officials join global delegation meeting PM Sharif to boost Pakistan’s polio fight

  • Shehbaz Sharif says his government will not rest until the ‘scourge of polio’ is completely eradicated
  • Pakistan has reported 52 polio cases since the beginning of the year, mostly from KP and Balochistan

KARACHI: Officials from Saudi aid agency KSrelief, as part of a Global Polio Eradication Initiative delegation, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss strengthening Pakistan’s vaccination campaigns, tackling polio challenges and securing support for a polio-free future, according to an official statement released on Saturday.
Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains the last polio-endemic country in the world. The South Asian nation’s polio eradication campaign has faced serious challenges, with a significant spike in reported cases this year amid militant attacks on polio teams, prompting officials to reassess their approach to combating the crippling disease.
Pakistan reported two new polio cases from Dera Ismail Khan in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province a day earlier, bringing the total number of cases to 52 since the beginning of the year.
“Pakistan hosted a high-level delegation from the GPEI for a second time this year from Nov. 20-22,” the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program (PPEP) said in a statement, adding that the meeting reflected the highest level of political commitment to eradicating polio in the country.
The delegation included two senior KSrelief officials along with World Health Organization, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF representatives.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to the delegation for supporting Pakistan, emphasizing that the country considers the eradication of polio a top priority.
“A strategic National Emergency Action Plan is being implemented to reverse the virus surge, and all chief ministers and secretaries are providing direct oversight and working in coordination to fight the current polio outbreak,” Sharif was quoted as saying.
“The Government of Pakistan will not rest until we have ended the scourge of polio from our borders,” he added.
The delegation also visited metropolitan Karachi during their stay in the country, where its members met with female frontline health workers to discuss the challenges they face and explore ways to address them, the statement said.
Of the 52 polio cases reported in 2024, 24 were from Balochistan province, 13 from Sindh, 13 from KP, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad, the federal capital.
Poliovirus, which can cause crippling paralysis, particularly in young children, remains incurable and continues to threaten human health as long as it is not eradicated. Immunization campaigns have succeeded in most countries and have made significant progress in Pakistan, but persistent challenges remain.
In the early 1990s, Pakistan reported approximately 20,000 cases annually, but by 2018 the number had dropped to eight. Six cases were reported in 2023, and only one in 2021.