The serenity prayer implores God to give a supplicant the serenity to accept things that can’t be changed, the courage to change things that can be changed, and most importantly, the wisdom to know the difference. Even if one isn’t particularly religious, this universally applicable entreaty is an undeniable reminder of human frailty and that’s why one would have expected Pakistan’s street-smart politicians to be at least mindful of its insightful import.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case and so it’s not at all surprising that four Pakistani prime ministers have paid a heavy price for violating the serenity prayer by trying to put the Army in its rightful place. While Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the unluckiest as he lost both his chair and life in what is rightly mentioned as a “judicial murder”, his daughter Benazir Bhutto was ousted in what she aptly referred to as a ”quasi-military intervention”.‘

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was targeted twice by the powerful Pakistan Army. He was first overthrown in a military coup orchestrated by the then Pakistan Army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf in 1999, and 18 years later, was once again removed, but this time through what Sharif rightly claimed were “court verdicts” obtained by the military through “coercion” of senior judges. In the case of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Rawalpindi adroitly used the legislature to get rid of him through a ‘no-confidence motion’.

 The Pakistan Army’s role in repetitively manipulating the legislature is indeed regrettable and while one does sympathise with the ousted prime ministers, but then, the fault didn’t lie in their stars but in themselves as they made the cardinal mistake of assuming that with an army chief of their choice [or an army chief as the benefactor], they could end the status quo and run Pakistan the way that a democracy should. And this fatal error of judgment of trying to change what can’t be changed cost them dear!

In appointing Gen Zia ul Haq, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto superseded not one or two, but a whopping seven Generals. Obviously, the ease of working with a seemingly apolitical and unambitious army chief would have been the main reason that tipped the scales in Gen Zia’s favour. Unfortunately, Bhutto’s benevolence failed to overshadow Gen Zia’s ambition and marginalise his inbred military ethos of ensuring continuation of Rawalpindi’s supremacy in Pakistan.

Similarly, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who became prime minister in 1988 soon ended up antagonising the military hierarchy as well as pro-Army President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. She compelled the then Pakistan Army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg to remove ISI chief Maj Gen Hamid Gul for using non-state actors for clandestine operations in Afghanistan post-Soviet withdrawal to install a pro-Rawalpindi Taliban government in Kabul. Rawalpindi viewed her readiness to stand up against the Army as a potential threat to its dominant role in Pakistan’s politics and swung into action.

So, this troika unleashed ‘Operation Midnight Jackal’ which entailed covertly using taxpayers’ money for bribing senators to vote against the Benazir government. The aim was to pave the way for fresh elections so that the ISI could manipulate the formation of a new government comprising conservative pro-military politicians. When this attempt failed, and the Army cleverly manoeuvred her ouster on charges of corruption and nepotism by President Khan in 1990, clearly demonstrating that it would not tolerate a government that threatened its sovereignty over the country’s polity.

Nawaz Sharif made the mistakes that both the Bhutto father and daughter duo had made. In 1993, he [like Benazir] got embroiled with the pro-Army President over authority issues  and was pressured into resigning by Rawalpindi. During his second innings as prime minister in 1998, he did his homework well and played safe by choosing Pervez Musharraf as the Army chief, and [like Zulfikar], superseded three Generals. However, this didn’t help and he was deposed by his own protégé the very next year when he dared to remove Musharraf as Army chief after the Kargil debacle.

Unfortunately, Sharif apparently didn’t learn any lessons from these reverses and during his third tenure he once rubbed Rawalpindi the wrong way. In 2017, Dawn newspaper revealed that “In an unusually blunt warning, the civilian leadership told the top brass [of the army] to act against militant outfits or risk the country being isolated internationally.” Rawalpindi took great umbrage at Sharif’s asserting the constitutional authority of the legislature in 2017 and this proved to be the proverbial straw that broke Rawalpindi’s back!

Soon Sharif was inundated with criminal charges and debarred from holding public office for 10 years by the courts. The subsequent public revelation of serving senior Islamabad High Court [IHC] judge Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui [who was in the reckoning for elevation to IHC chief justice] that “Today the judiciary and media have come in the control of ‘bandookwala’ [Pakistan Army]” and that “In different cases, the ISI forms benches of its choice to get desired results” leaves no room for doubt that Pakistan’s judiciary is but a tool that Rawalpindi uses to discipline politicians who dare to oppose the army.

Though sacked for his comments, Justice Siddiqui has recently been absolved by Pakistan’s Supreme Court of any wrongdoing and this further proves that Rawalpindi does manipulate the judiciary. And when asked on a TV show as to how he got out of the exit control list, didn’t Gen Musharraf admit the same by mentioning that “These courts work under pressure behind the scenes and then give decisions. The army chief [Gen Raheel Sharif] had a role to play in releasing the pressure behind the scenes”?

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s recent mention of moving a resolution to summon former Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed in the National Assembly definitely has great merit as both have a lot to explain with regards to the Army’s dubious handling of the TTP menace.

However, since this would be tantamount to the legislature questioning the Pakistan Army, it’s bound to have adverse repercussions. Accordingly, PML-N Senator and Nawaz Sharif’s close confidante Irfan Siddiqui’s opposition to this proposal on the grounds that it would open ‘old wounds’ makes very good practical sense and confirms with the serenity prayer.

So, if not the serenity prayer, Pakistani politicians should at least pay heed to the age-old ‘what can’t be cured must be endured’ axiom!

In a somber aftermath following the tragic Crocus concert attack in a Moscow suburb, Russian President Vladimir Putin has labelled the perpetrators as “radical Islamists”. The assault, which resulted in the loss of over 130 lives and left more than 180 wounded, has sent shockwaves across the nation, prompting urgent calls for justice and heightened security measures.

President Putin, addressing the nation on Monday, revealed that the assailants, four in number, were intercepted while attempting to flee to Ukraine. However, he refrained from explicitly mentioning the Islamic State (IS) group, despite an affiliate claiming responsibility for the heinous act. Instead, Putin emphasized the need to delve into the motives behind the attackers’ escape route, hinting at possible Ukrainian links.

The absence of a direct acknowledgment of IS involvement by Putin contrasts sharply with assertions made by U.S. intelligence and French President Emmanuel Macron, both suggesting IS culpability. Nonetheless, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remained cautious, urging patience for the ongoing investigation’s outcomes while refusing to confirm reports of prior intelligence warnings from the U.S.

Meanwhile, as the legal proceedings unfold, four suspects, identified as Tajik nationals, have been charged with terrorism-related offenses. Their court appearance revealed that terrorists were firmly interrogated. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin assured the public of swift justice for the perpetrators, stressing that they “do not deserve mercy”.

The deadliest attack in recent memory

The attack, which targeted Crocus City Hall on Moscow’s western outskirts, stands as the deadliest in Russia in recent memory. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and terror as gunfire rang out amidst the blaze that consumed the concert hall, ultimately leading to its collapse. As investigations continue, questions linger regarding the extent of IS involvement and the possibility of external support, including from Ukraine.

Amidst the uncertainty, videos released by Russian media have shed light on the recruitment process of one of the attackers, suggesting a connection to radical ideologies propagated through messaging apps. With seven additional suspects in custody, the search for answers intensifies, fuelling speculation about the true orchestrators behind this brutal act of terror.

A horrific terrorist attack in Russia has left over 60 people dead while about 115 are injured. The attack rocked the Crocus City Hall music venue in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region, resulting in the tragic loss of over 60 lives, with concerns that the death toll could escalate further, as stated by Russia’s Investigative Committee. Vital evidence, including weapons and ammunition, has been secured from the crime scene, with comprehensive investigations, encompassing genetic, ballistic, and fingerprint analysis, already underway.

Reports from the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, based on the accounts of its correspondent on site, depict a harrowing scene, with three unmasked gunmen in camouflage attire perpetrating the assault by indiscriminately firing upon concertgoers and detonating incendiary bombs.

“At about 20:00, several armed men in camouflage burst into Crocus. Footage published online shows people with machine guns cold-bloodedly shooting at point-blank range everyone who gets in their way and rushing into the concert hall. The same thing happens there. At the same time, one is holding an object resembling a smoke bomb in his hands. Between the second and third call, at least three men in camouflage and without masks ran through the stalls”, stated RIA Novosti.

The perpetrators swiftly fled the scene in a Renault car, evading immediate apprehension.

Putin pays condolences

In response to the tragedy, President Vladimir Putin conveyed his condolences to the victims and their families, wishing the injured a swift recovery. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova relayed the president’s appreciation for the dedicated efforts of medical personnel in treating the wounded. “We together with [Russian Health Minister] Mikhail A. [Murashko] reported to the president on the state of health of patients, the president wished all a recovery and conveyed compliments to doctors,” she told the media.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry, unequivocally condemned the attack as a “bloody terrorist act”, calling for robust condemnation from the international community. Although ISIS has claimed responsibility for the atrocity through its affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram, no substantiated evidence has been provided to corroborate this assertion and it has not yet been confirmed.

The heinous attack has elicited widespread condemnation and expressions of solidarity from nations globally, including the United States, India, EU member states, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Deadliest terrorist attack in Russia in two decades

This devastating incident marks the deadliest terrorist assault on Russian soil in years, surpassing the toll of previous atrocities. It unfolded on the evening of March 22 when gunmen initiated a shooting rampage before triggering an explosion, resulting in a fire that engulfed a significant portion of the Crocus City Hall building.

In the aftermath, firefighters evacuated over 100 individuals from the building’s basement and launched rooftop rescue operations. The attack stands as the deadliest in two decades since the Beslan school hostage crisis in 2004, which claimed the lives of 334 individuals, including numerous children.

US’ claim of sharing intel

Meanwhile, the US has stated that it had warned Russia of eminent terrorist attack after it issued advisory to its citizen in the country on March 7. Earlier this month, the U.S. Government had information about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow — potentially targeting large gatherings, to include concerts — which prompted the State Department to issue a public advisory to Americans in Russia,” NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

She went on to say, “The U.S. Government also shared this information with Russian authorities in accordance with its longstanding ‘duty to warn’ policy.” Although, Russia has not verified such claims. However, 3 days ago, Russian President’s remarked was aired in which he veiledly lamented US by accusing the West of “provocative statements” about potential terror attacks in Russia, and dismissed them. Reportedly, Putin said, “I’ll remind you of recent, let’s say directly, provocative statements of certain official Western structures about potential terror attacks in Russia.” He also said, “All of this looks like obvious blackmail and an attempt to intimidate, destabilize our country.”

Russia slams US for its denial of Ukraine involvement

Apart from that the statement of White House denying the role of Ukraine in the attack has also met with scathing response from the Russian side. White House has said that it had no initial indication that Ukraine was involved in a “terrible” attack on a concert hall in Moscow. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, while giving the above details, also stated that the US had still been gathering information about the attack.

Responding to White House statement, Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson lambasted white House in an X post. She said, “The White House said it sees no indication that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved in the terrorist attack in Moscow. On what basis do officials in Washington draw any conclusions in the midst of the tragedy about anyone’s involvement? If the United States has or had reliable information on this matter, it must be immediately handed over to the Russian side.”

“And if there is no such data, then the White House has no right to issue indulgences to anyone. All those involved, according to the Russian leadership, will be identified by the competent authorities,” she tweeted.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban has reportedly formed a specialised force, armed with cutting-edge weaponry, as part of its strategic efforts to advance its objectives. According to reports, this newly established force has been equipped with state-of-the-art training and lethal armaments. Among its arsenal are modern weapons such as sniper guns, launchers, laser guns, and various other sophisticated arms.

Additionally, terrorists of this specialised force have been outfitted with standard commando uniforms to enhance their operational efficiency. The training regimen for this force is said to encompass a wide array of skills, including camouflage techniques and internationally recognized combat training. This comprehensive training underscores the group’s growing combat capabilities that could potentially escalate the terror incidents and subsequent instability in the region. The establishment of a dedicated intelligence force within the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan aims to expedite its operations and bolster its effectiveness in achieving its objectives.

The emergence of this specialized force underscores the evolving nature of extremism and the terror group’s efforts to adapt to contemporary warfare tactics and technologies.

In a concerning development, the Chinese puppet government in Tibet is enticing investors from other regions of China with the promise of allowing their children to take university entrance exams in the region. This opportunity is offered in exchange for a substantial investment of at least $400,000, raising eyebrows over potential exploitation of what is perceived as an easier scoring system in Tibet.

What’s in the new notification for Tibet

As per a notification released by the China-imposed Tibetan education department and investment promotion bureau, businesspersons are required to uphold their investments in the region for a minimum of five years.

According to the notice, their businesses must be officially registered in Tibet for at least three years, must fulfil tax obligations within the region, and annually employ a workforce of no less than five individuals.

The announcement further states that eligible students must possess permanent residency status in Tibet for over three years and have completed at least one year of high school education

With Tibet boasting a population that is 90% ethnic Tibetan, it has been reported to have the lowest barriers in the gaokao exam across China. This advantage becomes a key edge for millions of students annually, aiming to secure lucrative white-collar jobs through the competitive “gaokao” entrance examinations.

Recent reports suggest that in 2023, a student in Tibet scoring at least 300 out of 750 on the entrance exam would have qualified for an undergraduate place at more than 1,200 universities nationwide. In stark contrast, students taking the exam in Beijing were required to achieve a significantly higher score of 448.

Deprives ethnic population of education and opportunities

However, concerns have been raised regarding China’s attempt to legitimise its students’ admissions under the Tibet quota, potentially diminishing educational opportunities for regional students. Previously, Chinese students resorted to falsifying documents to secure admissions under the Tibetan provincial Gaokao merit. Despite assertions from the education department under the puppet regime of China in Tibet promising crackdowns on fake documented students, recent rule changes have lowered essential qualifications for outsider students. Previously, outsider students were required to undergo education in Tibet for a minimum of three years, but this has now been reduced to just one year.

Notably, in June 2023 last year China imposed Mandarin as the mandatory language for college entrance exams across China. Prior to that the regional languages were also included in the mode of examinations. Similarly in 2022, China introduced Model 2 Education System which made it compulsory for the schools to follow educational curriculum only in Mandarin. Evidently, China is sabotaging or scrapping every feature that makes Tibet an autonomous region. Unfortunately, the latest provisions are just a new thread in the string to assimilate the Chinese population in Tibet and conceive the demographic changes in the region.