Baloch freedom fighters killed 12 Pakistani military personnel in a major strike conducted on Thursday, April 23 at Mand in Balochistan. The strike was conducted by BRAS (Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar) which is an alliance of four armed Baloch organisations that are fighting for an independent Balochistan. The four Baloch armed organisations under the umbrella of BRAS are– Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), Baloch Liberation Army, Baloch Republican Army and Baloch Republican Guard.
Baloch Khan, the official spokesperson of BRAS (Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar) gave details of their attack on occupying Pakistani forces. In its statement BRAS has officially taken responsibility for the attack carried out on Thursday in the mountainous regions near Chak Aaap and Sheeraz in Mand, Balochistan.
In the fierce attack BRAS freedom fighters eliminated at least 12 members of Pakistan’s military. The multi-pronged attack was carried out simultaneously on a Pakistani military outpost and a convoy.
“The Pakistani troops targeted today have been involved in a military operation against civilians for more than a week now in different areas of Kech, Balochistan. In fact, the convoy targeted today was on its way to target a locality. Different localities have so far been shelled with gunship helicopters and many houses have been burnt by Pakistani military,” said Baloch Khan, spokesperson of BRAS.
The Pakistani troops were also accompanied by criminals and religious extremists. The fact that Pakistani military and such elements are carrying out joint atrocities is a confirmation that Pakistani state has not only given full backing to such elements but also uses them against Baloch civilians. BRAS has already launched “Operation AasRech” against such elements and they will continue to be targeted along with Pakistani military. The war of liberation against Pakistani military and their agents will continue until Balochistan’s freedom.
“BRAS reiterates that freedom fighters of BRAS will continue to defend Baloch civilians against any Pakistani aggression,” BRAS spokesperson Baloch Khan added.
The Coronavirus pandemic is all set to change the world. Nope, I am not talking about the newly hyped “Work from Home (WFH)” culture or about the never ending trade wars among super powers. I am, in fact, pointing towards a much bigger change that takes place after decades of decadence in civilizations.
Yes, it’s the
world order that’s changing. And the novel Coronavirus, aka the novel
ChinaVirus, has only expedited this change. So in this post-Corona world the
earlier economic models will give way to newer businesses, and, importantly,
international boundaries will be redrawn.
In the post-Cold
War system, soft power rested within a bunch of haloed institutions such as the
WHO (World Health Organisation), UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council)
and others under the tutelage of UNO. These soft power centres are now
wobbling. Even multilateral trade bodies such as the WTO (World Trade
Organisation) that had been under severe strain will now face fresh
irritants.
Coronavirus pandemic
has only accentuated these strains such that the fissures are now visible as
large cracks. And, as these cracks widen the older world order will give way.
It’s no longer a question of “If”, not even “When” because the novel
Coronavirus has already ushered in this change, which is underway. The real
question to ponder upon is “How” will the world order change and “What” shape
it could take in the future.
Indicators
US President Donald Trump withholding the funding of WHO is one of the decisive blows. The symbolism of Trump’s action is momentous. Already there were loud murmurs over WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom’s mishandling, misreporting and blatant favouring of China about Coronavirus and its origin during the last couple of months. Despite new age media organisations and social media being awash with exposes of Dr Tedros’s partisan behaviour, the mainstream media took it upon itself to defend Tedros’ actions. Just when this mainstream media had managed to cement the narrative that Dr Tedros is a ‘saint’ who along with Communist China was working to save humanity from the deadly Coronavirus, President Trump spoiled the party. On April 14, President Trump announced that the US will withhold over $400 to $ 500 million grants-in-aid to the WHO. The world was stunned at this announcement that came in the middle of a global pandemic. US is the major donor nation to WHO. At $40 million, China gives a mere one tenth to WHO, when compared with US’ grants. Yet, if the WHO chief Dr Tedros has blatantly favoured China then it points to severe accountability issues within WHO and that’s the underlying message in Trump’s diktat.
Dr Tedros Adhanon, Director-General WHO. Dr Tedros is an Ethiopian politician who has been accused of gross mishandling the Coronavirus pandemic.
US
withholding funds to WHO is a major embarrassment that has put a big question
mark over its credibility, and also on its future. Mind you, WHO is no small
organisation, its representatives sit on member nation’s government health
panels and even have a say in deciding the health policies of member countries.
Well, WHO is
just the beginning, it’s the first loose brick that could be pulled out from
the decrepit wall of United Nations. US under President Donald Trump has
understood China’s gambit of infiltrating international organisations with its
sympathisers and (mis)using these platforms to expand its influence. This is part
of China’s statecraft.
The next in line could be UN’s Human Rights Commission. Trump had already given indications that UNHRC has been compromised. In fact, almost all big brand global human rights organisations have become the den of radical Islamists and China-backed communists and their dismantling will be the next in line.
These changes will not stop here. American
and European Universities where China could plant its ‘scientists’ and ‘research
scholars’ to siphon off research of importance will now come to a halt. China’s
stratagem of enriching itself with the invention of others will now fall flat.
It would not be able to enrich itself by copying the scientific achievements
and stealing away the patents. That time is passé.
Another
major indication has come in from Japan. The Japanese government minced no
words when it announced that it is doling out a $2.2 billion package for its
companies to move their production bases out of China. Samsung, the South
Korean tech giant announced to halt mobile production in China. Several other
multinational corporations are in the process of shifting their production
bases outside China.
European corporate
giants that have seen their businesses suffer due to Coronavirus pandemic are also
expected to harden their stance. Further, in yet another move with great
symbolic significance, Julian Reichelt, Editor-in-Chief of Germany’s largest
newspaper Bild has sent a bill of $165 billion (Euro 150 billion) to China as
claims for damages to the German economy. The point is not about the locus standi
of Germany’s claims on China, rather about an indication of the mood in Europe.
Ditto for Italy, France, Spain and UK that have literally been brought to their
knees due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Unlike
China’s totalitarian Communist regime, Europe is a vibrant democracy where the
masses have seen through the real face of China and its virus. Popular opinion
is heavily anti-China in Europe. As and when this Coronavirus is tamed, the
European business conglomerates will pull out of China and scout for different
regions across the world. The potential suitors could be East Europe, India,
Vietnam, East Asia and parts of Latin America and Africa. Already corporate
boardroom discussions are centred on shifting manufacturing bases out of China.
With corporate biggies stepping out of China the smaller ones will follow suit
resulting in a direct impact on the employment prospects of over 180 million
people that mainland China employs in export related jobs.
As these
changes take effect they will provide enough ammunition on ground to fuel a
widespread discontentment across China.
How?
The trickle
down effects of these changes will have an adverse impact on the core of
production ecosystems built diligently across China. In the post-Corona world
order with production bases shifting out of China in droves there’s bound to be
massive job losses within mainland China. This will create seismic waves for
the ruling communist party and for President Xi Jinping. Xi Jinping, CCP
(Chinese Communist Party) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been
ruling China with an iron hand and have managed to quell all dissent. Till now.
Supressing dissent will be much difficult this time. Pro-democracy protests in
Hong Kong will be come back with renewed vigour and will be ably supported by
mainland Chinese workers. Whether there will be a repeat of the 1989 Tiananmen
Square protests or even far greater than that is too early to predict. All will
depend on how cohesive Xi Jinping is able to keep the burgeoning People’s
Liberation Army together. Amidst all these fault lines, even a single spark of
dissent amongst the senior ranks of Chinese Army might cause China to implode.
Islamist-Communist
Nexus
The economic recession that was being brushed aside over the last couple of years is now staring in our face. Crude oil price is at a historic low. WTI (West Texas Intermediate) prices in the US touched the negative domain for the first time in history. Negative price meant sellers were willing to pay the buyers to lift crude oil stocks. This means OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) members (read Middle East Islamic nations) will be under pressure. It’s an open secret that radical Islamic fundamentalism across the world is funded by petrodollars. And these Islamic fundamentalists have always found support in Communist-controlled mainstream media groups. In the post-Corona world both will have their backs to the wall. Trump has already declared war against mainstream media by calling it “LameStream”. With petrodollars vanishing into thin air and China under severe strain, the Islamist nations and China will get closer to create a joint front or enter into a formal military alliance.
Snapshot of oil tankers stranded along the coastline across the world on April 22. It takes around $30,000 every day for each of these oil tankers to be kept in this condition. For the first time in history, pipes and tankers are full with oil but there are no buyers. Source: MarineTraffic
As a fallout
of this unholy alliance, Pakistan that’s virtually on the brink of economic
meltdown and has loaned its nation to China in the form of CPEC (China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor), will be willing to dance to the tunes of its Chinese
masters.
But there’s
a twist in this tale.
Pakistan is
staring at major upheavals across its two poles. On its North, the Pakistani Pashtuns
are getting restive and defying the authority of Rawalpindi. Pashtuns across
the practically defunct Durand Line in Afghanistan are increasingly associating
themselves with the demands of their Pashtun brethren on the Pakistani side. As
fault lines accentuate in this post-Corona world, Pashtuns will be at odds with
the China-Pakistan nexus.
Down South, the Baloch freedom fighters have stepped up their efforts to seek independence of Balochistan from Pakistan. Despite Pakistan Army’s desperate attempts to subjugate Balochistan, the Baloch freedom fighters keep striking at regular intervals on strategic CPEC locations. A few days ago Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) fired rocket missiles at the under construction Gwadar International Airport putting an abrupt halt to the Gwadar airport operations. Such attacks are likely to increase in post-Corona world that will ensure that the $60 billion CPEC remains a pipe dream for both Pakistan and China.
A freedom fighter of the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). The BLF strives to free Balochistan from Pakistan’s illegal occupation.
In the coming
months, both Balochistan and Pashtun movements that are already at odds with
the China-Pakistan nexus will gain momentum and redraw the international
boundaries in South Asia.
Postscript: The transition in world order will happen sooner rather than later. And this transition will be quite painful. As a marked departure from earlier changes, this time the distinction between opposing camps will not be water tight. Despite a surge in nationalism, division between opposing camps will be fuzzy and not according to the national boundaries. Individuals and groups who had thrived in the earlier set up, either from UN organs or with blessings from radical Islamist-Chinese nexus will form an alliance. The conflict will be about thoughts and ideologies.
Several friends, patients and others have been asking me to write about Corona. So much has been already written, spoken and debated about it as to fill all the libraries of the world. And yet, people are baffled and in disbelief, ignorant and even arrogant about it. After all, an apocalyptic situation has suddenly engulfed the world as never before in our memory.
The world has been deluged by invisible, ultra-microscopic particles stalking the globe like a phantom, unleashing a lethal armamentarium, killing humans everywhere, respecting no geographical boundaries, no religion or faith, no standing or status, striking the high and low equally, and the young and old; bringing humanity to its knees. It has become a leveller and has caused a pandemic of panic and grief and forced almost all nations to lockdown, to stay indoors, bringing life to a grinding halt everywhere.
It is worse than what befell eons back when Lord Vishnu had to take the Matsya incarnation to salvage mankind from total deluge. Pray, who is going to be the saviour in the present age of Kal Yuga, except the humans themselves! For that we need to create, what I call, a Corona consciousness, an understanding of the genesis, the nature, and the unforeseen consequences of this pandemic that may last several months, even a year or more.
What do we know about
Corona? What is COVID-19?
Well, it is a virus of the Coronavirus family that
has been around for a long time causing disease in mammals (including humans)
and birds. Viruses are notorious in that they change their form and character
like a person wearing different disguises. We call it a mutation. The present
pandemic is the result of a mutant variety that surfaced in China around
November 2019, so the name COVID-19. “Co”-corona, “vi”-virus, “d”-disease and “19”
for the year of discovery of this novel variety.
The name ‘corona’ derives from Latin which means a crown or halo-like the solar corona (around the sun). Viewed under the ultra-microscope, the surface of the virus particle is covered with club-shaped spikes giving it the corona shape. These are the spikes with which the virus hooks on to the lining of the respiratory tract of humans including the nose, air passages and lungs, where it multiplies in the cells to wreak havoc.
Microscopic view of a Coronavirus.
Imagine the Sudarshan Chakra of
Lord Krisna as it moves towards its target. So also does the Coronavirus move
from the breath of an infected person and travels in the air onto others.
Coughing and sneezing send it to a larger distance at a faster speed than
normal speaking or breathing which has a reach of 5-6 feet. That is why the minimum
social distancing advised is about two arm’s length. The virus may settle on
any surface and remain alive there for a variable period. An unsuspecting
person may touch it and carry it on hands, touch his nose, eyes or mouth
and get infected. He may go anywhere, touch another person or touch a doorknob
or a handle, the button of a lift or any other object. This is important to
know about the viral spread from human contact (contagion) which has the
potential to carry it wherever the vector (carrier) moves. Thus one infected
person may pass on the virus to any number of people directly or indirectly
resulting in an exponential community spread.
Despite the rapidly accumulating knowledge we
are still trying to understand the traits of the virus, as baffling as
understating human character. How long does it survive on different surfaces
and clothes, under different temperatures or in the atmosphere is still not
fully defined. The general observation that respiratory viruses are active in
winter gives us hope that summer, which has already set in, might diminish the
intensity and spread of this novel Coronavirus. The different rates of spread
in different countries, especially the relative moderation with which it has
unfolded in India so far has generated some hope that India will be spared the
devastating spell. Only time will tell. The early lockdown enforced in the
country has been pivotal in checkmating the spread somewhat. An extension for
some more time after the present 3-week curfew, might be in order. No doubt, it
has a huge immediate and longterm economic, social and political consequences,
but we may have to bite the bullet now rather than face the battery
later.
The incubation period, transmission as well as
the symptoms of the infection are variable too. It takes up to 2 weeks for the
virus after it enters the human body to cause symptoms. Therefore, if someone
is suspected to have been exposed to the virus a 2-week quarantine (isolation) is
mandatory. Remember, even an asymptomatic person can transmit the disease to
others.
Like most respiratory viral diseases such as the common cold and influenza, COVID -19 may not exhibit any symptoms in the victim. Others may have a mild illness — dry cough, fever, body aches — which may recover without any treatment. Such patients should watch their course. If there is any deterioration like worsening cough and breathing difficulty, they must report to the hospital immediately. Keep your family physician posted of the details all along; he might advise a test done. Online consultation is a useful first step. Only just around five to seven per cent may need hospitalisation and most of them recover with resuscitative measures like respiratory assistance or by inserting a tube in the air passages for ventilation and delivery of oxygen. A much smaller percentage go through a rapidly downhill course involving both lungs and death may supervene despite all efforts in these instances.
No drugs are effective as yet except for some anecdotal evidence of a few like anti-malarials and antivirals.
(Representational picture)
Scientists are seriously engaged in finding drugs to fight the virus, making effective vaccines to prevent healthy people from contracting the infection, and in creating test kits for speedy screening for the virus in patients, contacts, clusters, communities and even whole populations. It is a gargantuan task. Human and financial resources are limited, but there can’t be any compromises when a pestilence threatens the whole mankind.
Extensive human trials are going on. It may
take months to find the right answers. There is hope that a vaccine may be ready
by the end of the year. But, going by the rate of infection in different
countries, the Coronavirus could be lethal to hundreds of thousands of humans
by that time despite the untiring efforts of medical professionals engaged in
the fierce encounter with the greatest enemy of mankind.
Meanwhile, what about others, the common masses cooped up in their homes?
There may an opportunity waiting for us even
in this extreme adversity. Either we meekly succumb or stand up to the
challenge. It is time for sagacity, self-discipline and self-inquiry. Time
for action, not for depression and despondency. Find ways and means to cope
with the privations which are not going to last forever. Stay indoors. Maintain
social distance. Avoid social and religious congregations. God wants to be left
alone for some time and wants us to seek answers from self.
Patience is the watchword. Stay calm,
for panic never helps. It takes reason away, erodes confidence and diminishes
immunity. Spend time gainfully by working from home as far as possible (for
example, I make myself available to my patients through e-consultation, phone, and
WhatsApp). Learn anew the virtue of self-help by doing household chores that
were delegated previously to outside helpers. Observe the precautions about
hand washing, avoiding contact, using a mask when you have to go out. It is a
lot of bother but worth it. If masks are not available, fold a clean cotton
hankie several times, wet it slightly and fasten it around your mouth and
nose.
Don’t be misled by the unsubstantiated claims
about different diets, herbs, condiments, potions, drinks (hot, cold, lukewarm)
etc. that circulate in social media. Eat a normal diet; no change from your
routine.
Take time off to look at the sky, the
beautiful sunrises, sunsets and the star constellations. Enjoy the silence for
a while. Listen to spiritual music. Hear the birds sing in joy. Speak with the
flowers that bloom brighter, watch the gauzy butterflies. All these natural
gifts have suddenly sprung into renewed life, reminding us of the injustice we
have heaped upon them.
It is also time to revive family values and
bond together, spend precious hours with kids, indulge with parents and elders,
revive lost contacts with friends, reach out to the sick and needy. Physical
distancing can thus be bridged by emotional proximity.
More importantly, it is time to sit back and
introspect about the higher truths, about the meaning of life, about the unseen
hand of a higher entity that controls the world. The great scientists
that ever lived also believed in philosophical inquiry, the world view, and the
unifying theories that govern the cosmos.
It is also time for the world to wake up to the
quintessential moral philosophy of the Upanishads, ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam‘
(the whole world is one family). Time to put an end to tinkering with
biological agents like viruses, because any attempts at their weaponisation
(bio-terrorism) may boomerang, with a serious potential to consume its creators
like the fictional Frankenstein monster. This is believed to have happened in
Wuhan, the epicentre of the present pandemic.
It is also time for world leaders to unite and
put their heads together in the course correction of mankind. Through
unregulated development and the exploitation of natural resources along with
the rampant use of toxic chemicals and the massing up of effluents, humans have
caused untold environmental disasters and created conditions ideal for genetic
mutations in cells resulting in the high incidence of cancers and the emergence
of new strains of bugs — bacteria, fungi, viruses — new mutants, potent
scourges for mankind like the COVID-19.
Finally, let us pay our unbounded
gratitude to the doctors and other health professions, the brave warriors who
are firefighting at the front lines in the intensive care units of hospitals,
against heavy odds and at great personal risk. Many of them have paid the
ultimate sacrifice. Let us applaud
the services of others who keep the cogs of governance functioning
including the procurement of essential
supplies, manufacturing life-saving equipment and ensuring uninterrupted power,
water, and communication lines so vital in fighting this pandemic.
The world will not be the same after it emerges from this state of dissolution, the pralaya. A lot will depend on whether those, who survive it, will have learnt the right lessons, or will go back to their erring ways. The post-COVID-19 epoch is going to define a new Yuga, a new world order.
Baloch freedom fighters (Sarmachars) of the Balochistan Liberation Front fired two rocket shells of 107 mm at the under-construction Gwadar International Airport in the Gurandani area of the Gwadar district in occupied Balochistan. The rocket shells landed inside the construction site of the airport causing severe damages.
BLF spokesman Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack on Gwadar Airport.
In a media statement Major Gwahram Baloch said that the Balochistan freedom fighters (Sarmachars) fired two 107 mm rocket shells on the under-construction Gwadar International Airport which killed several security personnel and others that included the Chinese.
The construction site of Gwadar International Airport was severely damaged due to this attack and several security personnel and other operatives were killed. It needs to be understood that several Chinese engineers and laborers are constructing an international airport in the Gurandani area of Gwadar. This construction is being opposed by Balochistan freedom fighters who say that China, at the behest of Pakistan, is looting away rich natural resources of Balochistan. China and Pakistan are trying to complete this airport’s construction against the will of Balochistan and by forcibly occupying the land of Baloch people. The Balochistan freedom fighters do not accept these projects in Balochistan which is against the will of Baloch nation.
Major Gwahram Baloch said that such attacks will continue till the independence of Balochistan.
The 107 mm rocket shell that was fired by Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) on under-construction Gwadar International Airport.
In 2012, a young journalist named Sajid Hussain started receiving death threats for reporting on the unspeakable atrocities being committed in Balochistan against innocent locals by the Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies under its control. Having worked as assistant editor of ‘The News’ and city editor of ‘Daily Times’, he didn’t think much of it initially, but after his house was raided, family members interrogated and was tailed by suspicious persons, he did what any Balochi in his place have been doing for years — he quickly packed his bags and fled Pakistan.
But while Sajid Hussain was no coward, he wasn’t foolhardy either. Living in Balochistan had taught this young Baloch that the ‘agency’ (euphemism for Pakistan Army’s notorious spy agency, Inter Services Intelligence –ISI) is extremely sensitive to any criticism of the army and equally unforgiving while dealing with those it considers to be defaulters. The retribution is harsh and swift since ISI is the prosecutor, jury, judge, and the executioner!
In fact, the brazen level of lawlessness exhibited by Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in Balochistan is such that even the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) aptly refers to such cold blooded exterminations as Balochistan’s “kill and dump” policy! UNPO is an international membership-based organisation established to empower the voice of unrepresented and marginalised people worldwide and to protect their fundamental human rights.
Sajid Hussain’s fears at that time were understandable. Just three years ago, his uncle Ghulam Muhammad Baloch, (who founded the Balochistan National Movement or BNM), along with two other Baloch activists were abducted in broad daylight from the office of a lawyer in Turbat and their badly mutilated corpses were subsequently found dumped elsewhere. What’s surprising is that Ghulam Muhammad Baloch was killed even though he as part of a local committee of elders had secured the release of abducted UN worker John Solecki, less than a week ago. So, besides being a journalist fighting for securing the fundamental human rights of his own people, being the nephew of the BNM founder who was a ‘kill and dump’ victim aggravated Sajid Hussain’s vulnerability!
Another possible reason that may have persuaded Sajid to take the tough decision of opting for an unsure future by going into self-exile could be the revelation of Baloch Republican Party secretary-general, septuagenarian Bashir Azeem contained in 2011 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on ‘Enforced Disappearances in Pakistan’. In this report, it is mentioned that during his April 2010 “unacknowledged detention,” Bashir was told by a Pakistani official that “…even if the president or chief justice tells us to release you, we won’t. We can torture you, or kill you, or keep you for years at our will. It is only the Army chief and the (intelligence) chief that we obey.”
Though he was able to escape from Pakistan, but life in exile wasn’t easy and for the next five years, Sajid Hussain worked his way from Oman to United Arab Emirates and then to Uganda, before making it to Sweden where he was finally granted political asylum. As chief editor of the Balochistan Times news portal, he resumed exposing atrocities being committed against the Balochis, which most certainly would have enraged Rawalpindi. In fact, even the international media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which stands committed to the promotion of free, independent and pluralistic journalism and to defend media workers, had observed that the Balochistan Times “often crossed the ‘red lines’ imposed by the military establishment in Islamabad.”
So, when Sajid Hussain mysteriously disappeared on March 2 from Sweden, all fingers of suspicion pointed at the Pakistan’s military establishment and its spy agency ISI. Four weeks after Sajid suddenly vanished without any trace, president of RSF (Swedish Section) Erik Halkjaer said, “Considering the recent attacks and harassment against other Pakistani journalists in Europe, we cannot ignore the possibility that his disappearance is related to his work.” Head of RSF (Asia-Pacific desk) Daniel Bastard, has been more forthright by concluding that “everything indicates that this is an enforced disappearance” and his assessment is based on the logical reasoning that “if you ask yourself who would have an interest in silencing a dissident journalist, the first response would have to be the Pakistani intelligence services.”
Sajid Hussain’s disappearance isn’t a common case of abduction— it is the brazen manifestation of an organisation that is law unto itself and doesn’t care tuppence for international conventions on human rights. So much so that while responding to senior journalist Hamid Mir’s query regarding enforced disappearances in Balochistan, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the former Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (Pakistan Army’s media wing) had the unmitigated temerity to say, “We don’t want any person to go missing but where there is a war, you have to do a number of (unpleasant) things– as they say, everything is fair in love and war. War tends to be ruthless.” Even a ruthless Nazi butcher like Heinrich Himmler never made such an uncouth statement!
Unfortunately, the international community hasn’t taken note of this unabashed admission that completely exposes three perverted canons that Rawalpindi religiously follows in Balochistan. One, as far as Pakistan Army is concerned, it’s aim in Balochistan is not getting back misguided citizens into the national mainstream but a ‘war’. Two, since “war tends to be ruthless,” soldiers of Pakistan Army “have to do a number of (unpleasant) things,” and Three, whatever the Pakistan Army is doing in Balochistan is justified because “everything is fair in love and war”! That’s why Asia programme coordinator of New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Steven Butler’s view that “The disappearance of a journalist who focused on one of Pakistan’s most sensitive issues — human rights in Balochistan — and who escaped Pakistan because of threats he received, is especially concerning,” calls for due deliberation.
Tailpiece– Despite its abysmally low ranking of 145 out of 180 countries in the 2019 World Press Freedom Index of RSF, Pakistan doesn’t care. The UNPO openly accuses Pakistan Army for following a “kill and dump” policy in Balochistan, but Rawalpindi doesn’t care. RSF accuses the ISI of “enforced disappearances,” but this spy agency is impervious to slights. So, the international community needs to do more to put an immediate end to Pakistan Army’s bloody orgy in Balochistan. Turning Nelson’s eye on the ongoing human right excesses against innocent civilians in Balochistan doesn’t behove the international community, which is spending so much time, money and energy in just waxing eloquent on human rights for all.
God forbid, but if something untoward happens to Sajid Hussain, then we must have the moral courage to accept that we, by our silence and apathy are guilty of abetment in his “enforced disappearance”. Similarly, if we fail to humanise the Pakistan Army’s actions in Balochistan, then we too will the blood of innocent Balochi men, women and children on our hands!
CoronaVirus or the Covid-19 has become a part of our lives since the beginning of the new decade. We have now reached day 28 of the nationwide lockdown and as most of us go through incredible amount of adjustments during the lockdown, I am sure that most of us are also thinking about how our lives will need to change once this lockdown is lifted.
Every product or
service in our lives will now need to be categorised into Necessary, Essential
or Desirable.
Necessary
will include food items and household items needed to sustain and maintain our
lives.
Essential
will be good to have services and products which could improve our lives.
Desirable
will be products that are nice to have but those we can do without. Those that
do not have any impact on improving our lives.
Everyone’s definition
of necessary, essential and desirable will be different. These will be based on
our unique perspectives of the needs of our families.
All of us will have
our own prescriptions and our own ways of coping with the challenges that we
have already faced but more importantly, are likely to face in the coming few
months and years.
Much as people would like to believe that a cure or a vaccine is imminent, it is important to understand that the process of getting a new vaccine is very long. Once the first set of tests have been successful on animals, they need to be tested on human beings. Getting government approvals on human beings is expedited but if this does not work, most governments will stop the approvals and wait for “someone else” to take risks with their citizens. Even if the trials on human beings is successful, the time to commercialise a vaccine and make sufficient doses available for the world population is another challenge.
Most of us would have done a lot of introspection. Most certainly, we would have appreciated the dramatic reduction in air pollution, clear skies, the last “blood moon”, dolphin sightings near Mumbai and the pristine waters of the river Ganga.
Given all the time we
have been spending with our family and more importantly with ourselves, we have
all had a chance to do a reality check of what is important in our lives. It is
unlikely that most of us would have spent so much uninterrupted time with our
families for such a long period of time.
We would have learned
to give sufficient space to our family members in our homes. We would also have
started to appreciate how easy it is for most of us spend time with ourselves.
Most of us would have
also learned to do most of our work at home. While it is true that women have
had to face the brunt of this lockdown in terms of the work to be done, all of
us must have certainly understood what needs to be done at home and in our own
ways, we must have started to help.
It is only when the lockdown is removed, will we begin to understand and evaluate the huge impact this would have had on our nation’s economy. Many people will lose their jobs, and many will see salary cuts. Almost everyone will not get an increment or a bonus. Our EMI’s, (equated monthly installments) which have been deferred for a period of 3 months will need to be paid and there are likely to be serious defaults and repossessions.
What are the areas
that will see an impact?
Social distancing, a term we had not thought of a few months back, is now a reality. We have all become conscious and will be very careful before going into large crowds. In our own ways, we would have started to establish communication boundaries with our neighbours and friends, and these will stay well into the foreseeable future. What social distancing will do to malls, theatres, sports and to melas is anybody’s guess.
Focus on working from home will become much more viable. This will have an impact on office space, transportation and eating out. We have seen the ease of video conferencing. I have done my yoga classes and taken my flute lesson online and see no reason why this cannot be continued in the future.
Home entertainment will increase as we have already seen. However advertising of products will reduce since people will not buy easily, raising a question on economic viability of the programming.
Most of us will start looking for deals in everything we shop for giving an opportunity to retailers to launch their “white label” products.
Most people will start cutting back on non-essential items. Purchase decisions for non-essential items will be deferred for as long as possible.
Travel will change completely. People will be careful about getting into aircrafts and cruise ships will struggle to find passengers. This will have a serious impact on tourism, and everyone associated with this sector.
Luxury items will see a very serious demand curtailment.
While I do hope that
we will be able to get back to the pre-Corona days, it is increasingly looking
more and more difficult.
Over a period of time Covid-19 will become another kind of annual ailment. Not very different from cough, cold or influenza. Till all of us build the required immunity, we need to practice social distancing and stay safe.
We have to adjust to
the new normal and we have to accept the new reality fast. The time to indulge
in wishful thinking is over.
The most common
question we will ask ourselves before taking any decision, be it necessary,
essential or desirable, will probably be,
Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, seems to have taken over the task of spreading despicable anti-India propaganda that has, for decades earlier, been the responsibility of Pakistan Army’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR). He has uploaded a fake video on his Twitter handle accusing the Indian government of deliberately targeting Muslims of the country “as the world battles CoronaVirus.” The video is of a violent situation between government forces and some locals in Bangladesh a few years back. This obnoxious propaganda by the prime minister himself has elicited a prompt and very apt response for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “The bizarre comments the by Pakistani leadership are an attempt to shift focus from the abysmal handling of their internal affairs,” said Spokesperson of the Ministry External Affairs, India.
The situation of CoronaVirus combined with precarious economic conditions and political instability has put Pakistan into an existential crisis. Pakistan’s national figures of the CoronaVirus situation speak of a nationwide tally of 8,418 cases. Of these, 176 are reported dead and 1970 recovered. These numbers are grossly under-reported due to the iron grip that the Pakistan Army has on their media.
As the source of the worrisome body count of 3,265 dead given in the headline of news story itself, the writer has quoted, “official statistics from the city’s top administrative body,” later identified as the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) data. The 49-day time period is from February 20 and April 9 when the CoronaVirus situation had erupted in Pakistan. In the succeeding weeks, the numbers would have increased manifold. The author has gone further to give a cemetery wise data of the Central, West, East and Malir Districts of the city. Earlier, a number of media reports had mentioned a sudden spike in deaths in different hospitals in Karachi.
As expected, the Pakistani authorities have stayed tight lipped. There are no authenticated reports available that could link the cause of death to the CoronaVirus since no hospital has kept any record of tests conducted to ascertain cause of death. This situation is against all medical conventions. Even proper postmortems have not been conducted. Quite obviously, this is a blatant attempt by Pakistan to hide the actual figures related to deaths due to CoronaVirus which is very high in numbers.
More critical is the fact that the Pakistan Army, that was forced to come out and enforce the shut down has suffered widespread infection of the CoronaVirus. There are reports of many Army specific quarantine and isolation centers operating in places like Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan far away from the media glare. The cases have been divided into three categories, positive cases, Category-A cases and Category-B cases. The overall numbers are running in thousands.
A very serious allegation on Pakistan’s role in the spread of the CoronaVirus in Islamic nations worldwide has been made by a reputed Pakistani journalist, Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, who is a correspondent with The Diplomat and other prestigious publications.
In his article titled, “How Pakistan became a Coronavirus super-spreader to the entire Muslim world” carried by the news website Haaretz, the introductory paragraphs states, “On Sunday, the Gaza Strip reported its first two cases of CoronaVirus. The two Palestinian men had recently returned from Pakistan. They were among the 250,000 people that gathered in Lahore two weeks ago, to participate in the Tableeghi Ijtema…an Islamic event organised by the local Tableeghi Jamaat.” In addition to Palestine, those from Kyrgyzstan who attended the meeting have also tested positive,
According to the author, by the end of February Pakistan had already reported its first Coronavirus cases. Yet, the Government dilly-dallied in cancellation of the event to be held from March 11 to March 15. On March 12, the organisers were asked to disband the congregation. By then, around 250,000 people from all Islamic countries had already assembled, apart from Pakistanis in large numbers. These participants of the event have become “carriers” of the CoronaVirus and are instrumental for a burgeoning catastrophe in the Islamic world.
The Jamaat cited “rainy weather” and not the CoronaVirus as the reason for the closure which compelled Khuldune Shahid to state in his article, “The Tableeghi Jamaat’s reluctance to cite an infectious virus as cause for the disbandment is rooted in its regressive ideology, whose exponents have ranged from militant jihadists to radical preachers….”
The government of Pakistan continues to be wary of the mullahs and is not taking firm steps to stop mosque congregations even though countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey that hold many Muslim holy places have already gone into total shutdown of religious institutions. Imran is following this path because of his government’s weak response to the crisis, it has no money; the aid that is to come from outside will not be optimised since it does not have the requisite infrastructure in place to use it effectively. The government’s priority is to ensure the Islamic clerics that their money making shops will remain open. By doing so, it is looking for support from the clerics once the Corona balloon goes up. The deep state is attempting to put similar regressive thought in the minds of Indian Muslims. That is the intention behind the twitter post by the puppet Prime Minister Imran Khan. Instead of taking some affirmative action, the prime minister is looking out to stall negative media that, he feels, will damage irretrievably his already tottering political career. He is, therefore, turning media attention towards India.
While Prime Minister Imran Khan jumps from one mistake to another, demonstrating his total ineptness to deal with the situation, Pakistan remains headed towards a crisis of unimaginable proportions. For India, the situation in Pakistan should serve as a demonstration of what not to do under the prevailing circumstances.
A columnist of the New York Times made a cryptic but meaningful comment on COVID-19. He wrote, “The coronavirus is more like an earthquake, with aftershocks that will permanently reshape the world.” In the context of current corona pandemic, pragmatism demands that we focus on what shape the world economy, political structures and social institutions will take even if we are able to control the scourge in next six months. We need to visualize the new shape which the human civilization is likely to take in the near future.
Globalization concept of contemporary times supplemented by mind-boggling phenomenon of information technology made us complacent about the dangerous trend of aspiring for eco-colonizing ambitions nursed by neo-colonizing actors. The case merited serious thinking of all of its dimensions. What needs to be emphasized more than anything else is the destination to which globalization has dragged our species. The dense connectivity facilitated the rapid spread of the deadly virus. The inference is that this dense connectivity reflected through panoramic human assemblages (which also means convergence of vested interests) has to get dissolved if the survival of the human race is the purpose.
Medicos believe that numerous strains of
COVID-19 encircle the world which diminishes the chances of finding an
effective vaccine within the 12-18 months time schedule. At present, the system
adopted is to lay emphasis on stay-home and quarantine techniques but in poor
and densely populated countries vulnerability is greater.
Prime Minister Modi’s broadcast to the nation clearly reflected the serious conflict with which he, and perhaps also some more world leaders are seized. Its the painful choice between reopening notional economies and exposing the populations to further infection and disaster. The decision of extending the lockdown till May 3, was preceded by an intensive interaction between the entire national leadership, economic and financial experts and inputs from recognized institutions and individuals all in the background of the predictions made by global experts that the aggregate death toll could cross from under 100,000 at present to nearly one million or more.
At present all countries are self-isolating, commonly called social distancing. However, given the phenomenon of interdependence, the thrust of globalization trend, there could be ring-fencing from the physical exchange with others. The question is whether social distancing becomes the new lasting civilizational characteristic?
This may lead some of us to think of U-turn of our existing civilization. Civilizations are not made or unmade overnight. One thing is clear, and that is the near-collapse situation of traditional institutions of economy, international relationship parameters, social behaviour and community bookmarks. The closing down of world economic hubs, ceasing of supply and marketing chains, locking down congregational destinations (note the closing down of twin holy shrines of the Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia) etc. all point to the imperative of emerging new world order. The current American debacle with surgical masks and ventilators is a case in point. Emerging markets and developing countries are critical both as suppliers and markets. Their demise weakens the world economy as a whole.
Symptoms of change in world order are already there. President Donald Trump has made no secret of his displeasure of the WHO accusing its chief of failure in cautioning the world of impending crisis. The US has ordered suspension of financial support to the WHO. In knowledgeable circles it is believed that the WHO chief has given unnecessary leverage to China. He is unsuccessfully trying to defend himself. President Trump had already withdrawn US from the membership of the UN Human Rights Council saying the organization is politicized. The covert reference was to the overarching influence of China in all organs of the UN.
In a very significant development of last week, Japan Prime Minister announced a financial package of US$990 billion by way of a support fund for the Japanese factories and industrial units established in China for withdrawing from China and re-establishing in any other five prospective countries of which India has also been mentioned. A dependable source has said that 200 Japanese and 100 American companies in China have already announced they are shifting to some other countries to continue their economic activity. Japan has also announced financial support to such units of any country if they would be willing to shut down their units in China and reopen anywhere else in the globe.
The indication is that China will gradually but obviously lose its global economic centrality and multi-polar eco-financial centrality. It is in the offing. The South-East Asian countries are poised for an economic boost once the virus’ intensity subsides.
China’s economic recession will directly impact some of her mega global projects and fundamentally her world policy of economic expansion. The first casualty could be the Belt and Road programme of which CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) is a component. Secondly, China’s naval supremacy in the South Asian and China Sea region will receive a big setback. Henceforth, Chinese naval command of the Indian Ocean will increasingly feel to be anchored in hostile and not in a friendly and cooperative region.
More importantly, China’s domination of the UN is also likely to take a drubbing. The aims and objectives stipulated in the UN Charter, its structure and functionality can undergo a drastic change. In any case, the existing structure of regional and global strategies has to be pulled down. Nationalism is likely to supersede all other identities and denominations. Two largest religions of the world are on the verge of submitting to the supremacy of reason as the guiding force not die-hard conviction.
This is a view of how things are likely to shape in the aftermath of the epoch changing pandemic facing humanity. In a narrower sense, the legendary Dajjal has appeared from the East in the shape of a tiny invisible butterfly. It reminds us how the great Mongol Empire was finally brought down by invisible plague in the 14th century. Those who will survive the Doomsday will be the harbingers of a new world, new civilization, new cosmology and a new divinity.
Pakistan is in a miserable condition due to the spread of Coronavirus. When the Corona threat was creeping in, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan chose to stay in denial mode unwilling to impose lockdown on the plea that a poor country like Pakistan cannot survive without work. Ultimately the Pakistan Army took over and announced a lock down till April 15th, but by then the damage had been done. Today there are over 7,000 active cases across Pakistan with more than 135 deaths.
Active involvement by Pakistan Army has led to the Coronavirus creeping into its ranks. More and more soldiers are reporting sick. In order to hide the grim situation they are being quarantined, isolated and treated in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan, much to the distress of local population that is now facing an existential threat.
The rank and file of Indian Army, on the other hand has been kept away from public duty and has remained safe from infection. It’s so because police and civil administration in India have been able to control the situation admirably and support from the Army has not been required.
Imran Khan seems to have finally understood the gravity of the situation and has appealed to the international community for financial help. “For developing countries, apart from containing the virus and dealing with the economic crisis, the biggest worry is people dying of hunger as a result of the lockdown,” he said.
Pakistan’s two largest creditors, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have committed huge loans on humanitarian grounds and China too has provided massive medical aid. However, Pakistan’s chronic problem of not having in place basic infrastructural capacity to fully utilise such loan will cause severe problems. The prime minister has already warned that “hospitals may not be able to cope” with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced another two-week extension in the lockdown taking it to April 30. However, several trade associations have announced that they will be reopening their shops, and markets. “The prolonged lockdown has not only badly hit our businesses but the country’s poor class. We are going to resume our businesses while observing safety procedures, ” said Ilyas Bilour, a former president of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has exuded confidence with regards to the health condition in the country where the virus spread has been well managed. “India’s fight against the Coronavirus global pandemic is moving ahead with great strength and steadfastness. It is only because of your restraint, penance and sacrifice that India has so far been able to avert the harm caused by corona to a large extent….,” he said in his address to the Nation on 14 April, on completion of first 21 day period of lockdown. He attributed this success to the correct path chosen and the disciplined response from the people despite the considerable difficulties being faced.
After showering wholesome praise to all countrymen, PM Modi announced extension of the lockdown till May 3. Such a recourse had been recommended by state governments and other experts. However, he did leave open a window for reappraisal on April 20 and the possibility of conditional opening of some areas that are not in the “hot-spot” category.
Prime Minister Modi culminated his address with an assurance that the country is well equipped to face the challenge. “Friends, the country has ample reserves of medicines, food-ration and other essential goods; and supply chain constraints are continuously being removed. We are making rapid progress in ramping up health infrastructure as well. From having only one testing lab for Coronavirus in January, we now have more than 220 functional testing labs. Global experience shows that 1,500-1,600 beds are required for every 10,000 patients. In India, we have arranged more than 1 lakh beds today. Not only this, there are more than 600 hospitals which are dedicated for Covid-19 treatment. As we speak, these facilities are being increased even more rapidly,” he said. What is quite visible is that India is well placed in fighting the Corona threat and, more importantly, high in morale to face the challenge. PM Modi has exuded confidence that the country will not need to look over her shoulder for support.
However, the terrible social, economic and health conditions in Pakistan is quite amazingly not deterring the country from continuing with its evil policy of Proxy War in Kashmir. The beginning of April witnessed a massive infiltration bid in the Kupwara sector which was successfully thwarted by India by killing all five well trained Pakistani terrorists.
On April 10, Pakistan Army started massive cross border firing in the areas from South of Athmuqam to Upper Neelam Valley. The firing started with automatics and mortars, and was soon up-scaled to artillery guns engaging even the local populace. Indian retribution was fast and incisive, artillery guns from Indian side started delivering fire with great intensity and accuracy, causing great agony to Pakistani troops. Pakistani gun area were silenced and guns badly damaged. Next, identified terrorist launch pads were targeted and a building where about 20 terrorists were housed was demolished with casualties. A Pakistani ammunition dump was also hit.
Pakistan has yet not been chastised, in recent days cross border shelling by Pakistan has been reported in Keran Sector of Kupwara, Kashmir. In another firing incident, two Indian civilians have been reported injured and some houses damaged in cross border shelling in Manjakote, district Rajouri. Indian troops, of course, retaliated with required intensity inflicting terrible punishment to Pakistani troops .
It seems that the Corona crisis is not going to be a deterrent for the Pakistani leadership so far as targeting India (Kashmir) is concerned. It will not hesitate to even employ Coronavirus affected soldiers and terrorists for this purpose. If somebody can help Pakistan at this sensitive stage it is India, under the circumstances such mindless belligerence is very unfortunate indeed.
Pakistan’s military operation entered its 4th day across different areas of the Makran region of Balochistan. On the fourth day of this military operation several Baloch residents have disappeared that include women and children.
According to local sources, Pakistan’s military attacked in districts Kech, Awaran and Panjgur. During these attacks Pakistani forces raided and searched houses in various areas and arrested many people indiscriminately.
On Wednesday, during a raid on the house of Razai in Badrang, Kolwah area, Pakistani forces arrested all the members of a house including women and children. Those arrested include Razai, Pir Bakhsh, Bibi Maryam, Asad, Mahal, Gohar and nine the -month-old Mehlab. Whereas many others were arrested from Teetaj area and these abductees have been identified as Jaffer, Noorbakhsh, Muradjan, Abbas, Ashraf, Charshambe, and Pullain.
The abductees from Malar have been identified as Jan Mohammad Pindok including his two sons, Maqsood and Khudadad. The two other abductees from Malar are Mohammad Khan and Mia Sanjar. Baloch residents said that the Pakistani forces are operating extensively in the above mentioned areas, while check posts are being set up in different areas as well.
“Today the whole world is taking strong steps to protect the lives of its people and keep them safe but Pakistani state agencies have come down for military operations in Balochistan and for extra-judicial arrests even in these days of this deadly Coronavirus pandemic. This can have very serious consequences for the people of Balochistan,” said the Chairperson of BSO-Azad while condemning Pakistan’s military operations.
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