Across Sindh, including Karachi and Hyderabad, protests were held on the first day of Eid demanding the freedom of hundreds of Sindhi workers who were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces. Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh and Sindh Sajagi Forum organized a central protest camp in front of the Hyderabad Press Club. Led by Sindhi writer Taj Joyo, central leader of Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh Sohni Joyo, Marvi Kandharu, Sindh Sajagi Forum leader Sarang Joyo, advocate Mohib Azad Leghari, and other political and social workers, the camp saw the participation of families of missing persons, including Ayub Kandharu who has been missing for six years.

Meanwhile, another protest camp was established at the Karachi Press Club by Sindh Sabha leader Inam Sindhi, colleague Asghar Jamali, and uncle Hussain Bakhsh Dahri. The protestors later joined a rally with Baloch Missing Persons, while Sindh Sabha and Jasqam set up additional protest camps in Jamshoro, Kandhkot, and Tando Mohammad Khan to advocate for the freedom of missing persons.

According to the press release, the so-called national and Pakistani media kept missing from the press club due to coverage of the Sindhi Missing Persons protests across Sindh. Therefore, the leaders recorded their protests on the online social media channels. They expressed that they have no hope of justice from the state and its institutions, asserting that the Pakistani state and its agencies are complicit in the forced disappearances of Sindhi workers. The leaders appealed to the United Nations, Amnesty International, and other international human rights organizations to shed light on Pakistan’s suppression of national movements in Sindh and Balochistan and address the state’s heavy-handed operations and human rights abuses in these regions.

A Gurudwara in Sukkur, Sindh has become the new target of radical Islamists. While they commonly target Hindus and their daughters, this time they targeted a Gurudwara. They broke into the Gurudwara in order to disrupt the ongoing Kirtan. They resorted to coercion, and dishonoured the Gurugranth Sahib, a sacred scripture of Sikhism. The perpetrators also threatened the devotees and attempted to prevent religious events from taking place. In a video message, one of the devotees raised questions about the Pakistani constitution by quoting the ideas of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He questioned whether this was the same Pakistan where Quaid-e-Azam had stated that everyone would be free to practice their religion.

Despite the threatening environment, authorities have not registered any complaint against the accused. In recent times, Sikhs have become increasingly susceptible to violent attacks throughout Pakistan. Just a couple of days ago, two Sikhs were shot within a 24-hour period in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in one fatality. These events demonstrate the consistent threat of persecution faced by religious minorities in Pakistan.

In a recent conference titled “China’s Tibet Policy Under Xi Jinping,” organized by the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy (CCAS), experts discussed China’s aggressive strategy along the borders with India. It was revealed that China is constructing approximately 400 villages near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India and is also building similar villages in the no man’s land at the Bhutanese border. These Chinese border villages, which combine civilian and military personnel, are seen as posing both security and cultural threats to India.

Jayadeva Ranade, President of CCAS, highlighted the concern that India’s border regions are gradually thinning out, providing an opportunity for China to encroach upon Indian territories in the future. Additionally, Tsewang Dorji, a Research Fellow with the Tibet Policy Institute (TPI), explained that these border villages serve as China’s “eyes and ears” as the Chinese border forces regularly interact with the local residents. Notably, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been indoctrinating the villagers by stating that their predecessors guided the Chinese army during the 1962 war with India, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation.

Chinese vision of unified nation, culture and language

One of the notable speakers at the conference was Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration, who shed light on the potential impact of a peaceful resolution to the Tibetan issue on global politics. Tsering expressed concerns about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision of establishing a unified nation, culture, and language, potentially at the expense of other nationalities within China. He stressed that Tibetans have a deep-rooted historical and cultural connection with India, going back over 2,200 years.

Tsering elaborated on the historical ties between Tibet and India, highlighting that Tibet is an extension of Indian culture rather than Chinese culture. He emphasized the profound influence of Indian thought and teachings, particularly Buddhism, on Tibetan society. According to Tsering, Tibetans have been shaped by Indian philosophy, including principles of peace, non-violence, and compassion, which are also espoused by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Furthermore, Tsering underscored China’s ongoing efforts to sever the cultural and historical links between India and Tibet. Despite these attempts, the connection between Tibetans and India remains strong, with Tibetans considering India as their holy land. Tsering reiterated Tibet’s historical independence, pointing out that Tibet existed as a sovereign state alongside empires such as the Ming, Qing, and Manchu during various periods throughout history.

Addressing the environmental implications, Tsering emphasized the significant impact of China’s infrastructure development in Tibet. The construction of airports, roads, and railways not only brings more people into Tibet but also accelerates the retreat of glaciers, affecting downstream water flow. As Tibet serves as the water tower of Asia, the consequences of such developments extend to countries like Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and several Southeast Asian nations, potentially leading to future water and food security challenges.

China using AI for Tibetan surveillance

Tsering also highlighted China’s extensive use of artificial intelligence for surveillance in Tibet, creating an Orwellian system of control. Under this system, individuals and their families can be targeted based on the actions of a single visitor. Tsering urged the international community to recognize the strategic, environmental, cultural, and historical significance of Tibet. He emphasized that dealing with China solely through sanctions is insufficient, and instead, the world must stand up for the principles of freedom. Tsering proposed that a non-violent and middle-path approach could pave the way for resolving the Chinese-Tibetan conflict.

As tensions between China and India persist along their shared border, the concerns raised in the conference shed light on the potential ramifications for both regional security and cultural heritage. Recognizing the historical links and preserving the unique identity of Tibet is crucial for maintaining peace and fostering understanding in the region.

In a recent statement, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the positive impact of India’s ‘Make in India’ concept on the country’s economy. According to RT, Putin praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing the initiative, stating that it had a visible effect on India’s economic growth. The Russian President made these remarks during an event held in Moscow.

Putin said, “Our friends in India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a great friend of Russia, a few years ago presented a concept ‘Make in India’ and it had a very visible effect on the Indian economy.”

Drawing inspiration from India’s success, Putin urged his own country to promote domestic products and brands. RT reported that he highlighted India as an example to encourage similar efforts in Russia. This endorsement reflects the growing strength of the bilateral relationship between Russia and India.

Moreover, Russian Ambassador Denis Alipov emphasized the robustness of the “special Russia-India strategic partnership” during a state reception in New Delhi commemorating the National Day of the Russian Federation. Despite ongoing attempts to disrupt relations, Alipov affirmed that the partnership between the two nations continues to grow stronger than ever.

He added, “The indispensable truth however is- the special Russia-India strategic partnership has shown strength and we keep growing stronger than ever”.

The recognition from President Putin and the reaffirmation of the strong bilateral ties by Ambassador Alipov underscore the significance of the strategic partnership between Russia and India and its potential for further collaboration in various sectors.

The persecution and exclusion of Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan is an undeniable truth. Once again, this sect is facing threats from Islamic fanatics in the country. They have been barred from celebrating the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Adha.

In a significant development, DSP of Hafizabad issued a legal notice on behalf of the Home Department and Deputy Commissioner. The notice orders all the police stations to ensure that no Ahmadiyya muslim performs the ritual sacrifice known as Qurbani. Furthermore, the notice demanded imprisonment for any Ahmadiyya individual found participating Qurbani. Similarly, the Lahore Bar Association and District Bar Association of Sargodha also issued notices restricting Ahmadiyyas from celebrating Eid and engaging in sacrificial offerings. These oppressive measures have also been enforced by the occupying forces in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK).

Basically, the distressing sequence of events attempts to justify that sacrifice is an integral part of Islam. And that Ahmadiyyas, being considered non-Muslims, are prohibited from performing sacrifices. This radicalization is thriving under the influence of extremism propagated by Pakistan. The sacrifices made by the Ahmadiyyas are deemed blasphemous, subjecting them to potential trials.

These occurrences vividly demonstrate the complete disregard for minority rights and the flagrant violation of human rights in Pakistan, an issue that the clerics and government of Pakistan openly endorse.