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Disgruntling Faith: or, Reason, Holey Theology, and the Terror of Thought

Christian is a Philosopher that comes from Belgium. What identifies him the most and above all is simplicity, for everything is better with “vanilla ice cream.” Perhaps, for this reason, his intellectual passion is criticism and irony, in the sense of trying to reveal what “hides behind the mask,” and give birth to the true. For him, ignorance and knowledge never “cross paths.” What he likes the most in his leisure time, is to go for a walk with his wife.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: We talked about Leonardo Da Vinci and the Roman Catholic Church, so both laity and hierarchs with a specific focus on the hierarchs and theology. On Leonardo, the biographer Giorgio Vasari wrote, “[Leonardo’s] cast of mind was so heretical that he did not adhere to any religion, thinking perhaps that it was better to be a philosopher than a Christian.” In a time of the absolute authority of the Roman Catholic Church, especially in Europe, in Italy in particular, to be a philosopher disconnected from being “a Christian” was, indeed, “heretical,” much independence of thought, even genius, went undiscovered and, if discovered, crushed with threats of punishment, actual torture, even murder, by the Roman Catholic authorities of the time. In the modern period, this may become overwhelmingly, over decades now, overshadowed by the continuous scandals of the rape of children by hierarchs, as for example with priests, and then cover-up by hierarchs from someone who even became a Pope down to a local priest. A shuffling of the geographic priest deck so as to cover the tracks while keeping the crimes hidden because, as can be surmised, the crime of the rape of children becomes more of an issue as a media and public relations disaster, for decades, for the Roman Catholic Church than dealing with its internal crimes as an organization devoted to its public image and representation of authority, i.e., than to its dealing with human crimes committed against children. As you noted, Da Vinci valued reason above all, not below faith. In this manner, Da Vinci, clearly, rejected faith-based ‘understanding’ for a preference of primarily experience while organized thought and direct sensory experience through reason. Some might posit him as someone with a high regard for analogical perceptions as a means to come to the better approximations of the elusive truth of reality, such as it is, compared to the literature of the ancients, as he clearly, probably as a first since the ancients, questioned the handed-down assertions of the ancients – namely, the ancient Greeks – and put them to the test, showing several of them as outright fallacious. What does this further show about Da Vinci in the times of the absolute authority of the Roman Catholic Church and the Vicar of Christ on Earth?

Dr. Christian Sorensen: I think that time has not changed, since I consider that the Roman Catholic Church and the Vicar of Christ on earth, continue to have absolute authority, from the point of view, of what their factual power represents, nevertheless, time has varied, because from the perspective, of what Da Vinci was able to demonstrate, it could be said, that if he was to reason, as the absolute authority was to the Roman Catholic Church, that equation, currently, is not proportionally equivalent, due to the fact, that absolute authority is to the Roman Catholic Church, but reason is to no one, since contextually speaking, Da Vinci, indeed, questioned through reason and science, the earthly divine authority, however today, there is nobody, doing something analogous to what Da Vinci did. Therefore, it could even be stated, that the questioning that is being made, in ourdays, by utilizing the same framework of Da Vinci, is basic and rudimentary, because beyond to denounce Church’s crimes and aberrations, they have not managed to go further, in the sense of dismantling their authority, argumentatively, through facing the potholes and incongruities of their Christological farce, which invariably throughout time, has been the only cosmogony that they have had on hand, in order to steal, through the intimidation, what causes within some consciences, the sacred, as well as all the wealth, that has been accumulated by them over centuries, since through these, they have found the perfect combination, not only with Da Vinci, to spin through a russian roulette of death, their campaign of terror, which actually inverts its cross, in order to place it, next to a sword.

Jacobsen: What were other ‘crimes’ of other geniuses in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church through time?

Sorensen: Almost all geniuses, in one way or another, have been persecuted and criminalized, by the Roman Catholic Church, just for having thought differently, nevertheless, there is one of them, that comes to mind particularly, since every day, when I went to the Palazzo di Sant’Apollinare in Rome, I had to pass forcibly, during my way, by the street del Sant’Ufficio, and the place that remembers, where Giordano Bruno had been burned at the stake.

Jacobsen: The scholastics parroted the works of others century after century. This has been the premise of theology since its inception with little in the manner of internal change while only happening from external pressures. Da Vinci didn’t state this once, or as a one-off. He kept saying it, “When the followers and reciters of the works of others are compared to those who are inventors and interpreters between Nature and man, it is as though they are non-existent mirror images of some original. Given that it is only by chance that we are invested with the human form, I might think of them as being a herd of animals.” When he was charged with sodomy, after the verdict came out as “not guilty,” he said, “When I made God a cherub, you put me in prison. Now, if I make him a grown man, you will do me even worse.” Da Vinci probably resented the Roman Catholic Church, where, one manner to make a point most succinctly and past one’s lifetime including attempted jailers, is to use the symbols, iconography, and language of the Oppressors Supreme themselves in artistic works and make this point several times in writings. His rejection of the scholastics; his questioning of the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, punctuated by a claim of sodomy about him. All these show a lack of endearment to the religious absolutes and the Roman Catholic hierarchs of the time. What would prevent even polymaths from more fully enacting their freedom of spirit in their works, their life, their words?

Sorensen: I think that what prevents polymaths, from being able to fully express their freedom of spirit, ultimately is fear, which from my point of view, always refers to the fear of losing something, which can be from running out of life, to losing what for me, is one’s vital space, that refers in the case of the last, to the projected image of oneself on others, which if it is negative, can leads as a consequence of punishment, to individual isolation, generally motivated, by some type of social rejection, that seeks to take refuge, in pseudo reasonable justifications, by alluding to commonwealth assumptions, that at the same time, intend to correlate, with what the Roman Catholic Church, denominates as good judgment and well-formed conscience, which is nothing more, than the obverse of a repressive morality, which sees in individual self-affirmation, the greatest onanistic sin, even though that as such, I believe, it can only be reserved for the clergy, especially, when they want to use some altar, for discharging their autoerotic pleasure.

Jacobsen: Da Vinci further stated, “Of what use are those who try to restrict what we know to only those things that are easy to comprehend, often because they themselves are not inclined to learn more about a particular subject, like the subject of the human body.” Noting, he did anatomical dissections when this was illegal, so had to do this surreptitiously and without showing anyone his findings. Other times, he could be scathing, “…they want to comprehend the mind of God, talking about it as though they had already dissected it into parts. Still, they remain unaware of their own bodies, of the realities of their surroundings, and even unaware of their own stupidity.” All these reflect his fundamental skepticism of the dogma of the time, which remain the dogma of today. Why would discovery and science be made so difficult for society under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church?

Sorensen: Just as Da Vinci says, that they intend to understand the mind of God and speak of it, as if they had dissected it into parts, in the same manner, I also state, that they intend to understand the soul, and speak of it, as if someone had found it, when he was dissecting a body. Science and any kind of discovery, are difficult to be perfomed in a society, under the pressure of the Roman Catholic Church, because scientific discoveries, mean, a loss of power for them, since additionally, implies that society, places faith in reason, and not in theology, which it’s the opposite, of what the authority of the Roman Catholic Church has always intended to achieve, when by placing science below theology, subdues it, because in that way, under the auspices of their authority, which gives totalizing responses regarding everything, since according to the bible, there’s nothing left to create, which is in my opinion a good history book, although I think it’s less good, when there are those, who childishly believe in it, as if it was the story of something real, society is ultimately pushed to believe, that reason should become, the slave of faith.

Jacobsen: Other times, Da Vinci was outright direct, “Along with the scholars, they despise the mathematical sciences, which are the only true sources of information about those things which they claim to know so much about. Instead, they talk about miracles and write about things that nobody could ever know, things that cannot be proven by any evidence in nature.” Someone skeptical of the miracles, or the miraculous claims of others, as in “cannot be proven by any evidence in nature.” Indeed, he continued, “Wherever there is no true science and no certainty of knowledge, there will be conflicting speculations and quarrels. However, whenever things are proven by scientific demonstration and known for certain, then all quarreling will cease. And if controversy should ever arise again, then our first conclusions must have been questionable.” Over the most fundamental claims of the Roman Catholic faith, whether the Resurrection of Christ or the Immaculate Conception, there exists millennia-long innumerable “speculations and quarrels.” Indeed, even the soul and God, he lay explicit skeptical claims about it:

It seems to me that all studies are vain and full of errors unless they are based on experience and can be tested by experiment, in other words, they can be demonstrated to our senses. For if we are doubtful of what our senses perceive then how much more doubtful should we be of things that our senses cannot perceive, like the nature of God and the soul and other such things over which there are endless disputes and controversies.

Thusly, when Da Vinci spoke of the concept of a god, as in “God,” he wasn’t using the Roman Catholic Church’s God vis-à-vis “miracles,” the “soul,” or even “God,” or that which “cannot be proven by any evidence of nature,” and probably meant both Nature and the Necessity upon which nature is built. Because, otherwise, these meant endless “speculations and quarrels,” those which enact a dog’s indefinite tail-chase. What does this further imply about the unprovables asserted as absolutes in the mind of Da Vinci, of you?

Sorensen: I will follow a different logic than Da Vinci, since from my point of view, what is improbable, because it has no basis in empirical experience, but is assumed as an absolute, is something, that does not admits any speculation or discussion, due to the cause, that evidently, empirical experience, must be born from the perception of senses, therefore, it is not possible to discuss, discursively speaking, about something, that regardless of whether it is truth or not, does not have the properties of knowledge, that is to say, if discursiveness needs of knowledge, in order to exist as a discussion, then it is possible to affirm, that discursiveness in face of the improbable, is in front of nothingness, which wouldn’t allow any discussion, to exist as such, in consequence the last, enables in turn to conclude, that everything which is not knowledge, because it is improbable, but that’s assumed to be an absolute, should always be considered as a dogma, and then, as something that’s not speculable, therefore, from there onwards, nothing linked to the breadth of the understandable, will be able to arise at that point.

Jacobsen: Similarly, as you note, a man leaving a reality within reality, i.e., his works and life and so life-work, with infinite interpretation; an infinity of possible perspective-taking and parsing, and combining, so as to reject the fundamental bases of the Roman Catholic Church as omni-absolute or that which contains the Truth, for that which is claimed as “the way and the truth and the life.” A religion whose Theity garners the title, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Father, Son, Son of God, Son of Man, and the like. A religion with a divine patriarch, in short. Yet, as someone who claims sense as primary and not the patriarchs or the works of dead theologians, who considers “art… the queen of all sciences,” and, indeed, claims “those who study the ancients and not the words of Nature are stepsons and not sons of Nature, the mother of all good authors,” thus sees Nature as mother, so nature as primary, because sense is primary. He may have used the word “God,” but he was a naturalist and a logician through and through, therefore not a Catholic and not a Christian through skepticism of “miracles,” the “soul,” and “God.” His ultimate undermining of the Roman Catholic Church, in such a manner, comes from the life representative of infinitude of interpretation, marked by the dint of the mother, Nature, or the source of all good authors, and reflective of the infinite asymptotic discovery process of science while exhibited most thoroughly through art as the queen of the sciences, harkening back to the “primordial pagan goddesses” of old, as in a feminine principle represented in Mary Magdalena while with origin beyond the opacity of pre-recorded human history when the feminine principle reigned supreme, thus “Nature,” the “queen,” so sense, which, if you think about it, makes a lot more sense than theological non-sense. What does infinity of interpretation in Nature mean for institutions grounded on absolutes?

Sorensen: For institutions based on absolutes, such as happens, with the Roman Catholic Church, that presumption would constitute anathema, since it violates, what I will denominate the theological creationist principle, because if God, created everything that exists in six days, then, the fact of admitting an infinity of interpretations in nature, would be equivalent, to accept evolution, and therefore, to assume, that the creative process, is not only ad aeternum, but also, that it only takes place in nature itself, which implies, the denial of the most primal theological truth, because rejects, the idea of a creation already completed, and refuses the belief, in the existence of a creator God.

Jacobsen: As the Roman Catholic Church continues to add wood to a burning ship, what words happen to be on the side of the ship, its title or signage?

Sorensen: The Roman Catholic Church, is not adding wood to a burning ship, but is adding wood, to its own burning ship, that doesn’t mean the same. On its side, it would be written as title, if from dust you came, then to dust you will return, because to fire, you have always belonged.

Jacobsen: What do you make of modern efforts by the Roman Catholic Church and its efforts to combat anti-Semitism? There are calls for Christians and Jewish peoples to work together. When is this sincere and historical? When is this sincere and ahistorical? When is this simply insincere?

Sorensen: I think that the Roman Catholic Church, has invariably always been anti-Semitic, in this sense, the only thing that has variably changed throughout history, until our days, is the cynicism, with which they have wrapped it, in order to make it look, like a gift. From my point of view, it constitutes a historical reality, the fact, that they have always blamed the Jewish people, for the death of Jesus, as well that, for nobody is anything new, that they perceive Judaism, as an archaic religion, which was surpassed by their New Testament, nor that the Church believes, that the end of time will come, after the Jews converted to Catholicism. In other terms, if not only, they accuse the Jewish people of murder, but also, they consider Judaism, not as a truth religion, and they are convinced, that some day, the Jews will repent and do penance, for all their sins, and therefore, they will surrender, at the feet of Roman Catholic Church’s authority, then I think, that the anti-Semitism of the Roman Catholic Church, is a fact of evidence, that since ever, has cried to them.

Jacobsen: You have Freemasonic family history. Any important points of contact for this particular interview?

Sorensen: What I internalize the most from them, is the value of social justice, that in the context of this interview, leads me to raise my voice, for the silence of all those innocents, who have paraded, in front of Roman Catholic Church’s, perfidious and dispiteous, impassive gaze.

Jacobsen: Why has the Roman Catholic Church been such a strong opponent of the Freemasons who number only a few million worldwide?

Sorensen: The Roman Catholic Church, has always fought the Freemasons, not from a numerical issue, but rather since a matter of principles and consequences, derivated from these, which leads in synthesis, to the fact, that this religious sect, sees them as a threat, and therefore, rejects from their guts, what Freemasons, defend as supreme value, in terms of equality, fraternity and freedom, at the same time that fight, with outrage, any trace of dogmatism. Therefore, if there is something that identifies Freemasons, above all things, is tolerance, and in consequence a principle, that I am going to denominate, as the intolerance of intolerance, which in front of the Roman Catholic Church, is exactly the opposite, since respect to them, it’s possible to translate that maximum, as the intolerance of tolerance, through which, it can be inferred, and easily respond, respectively, the question and the reason of why, this Church, has always wanted, to make Freemasonry, disappear from the face of world.

Jacobsen: The Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith in Declaration on Masonic Associations stated in full:

It has been asked whether there has been any change in the Church’s decision in regard to Masonic associations since the new Code of Canon Law does not mention them expressly, unlike the previous Code.

This Sacred Congregation is in a position to reply that this circumstance in due to an editorial criterion which was followed also in the case of other associations likewise unmentioned inasmuch as they are contained in wider categories.

Therefore the Church’s negative judgment in regard to Masonic association remains unchanged since their principles have always been considered irreconcilable with the doctrine of the Church and therefore membership in them remains forbidden. The faithful who enrol in Masonic associations are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion.

It is not within the competence of local ecclesiastical authorities to give a judgment on the nature of Masonic associations which would imply a derogation from what has been decided above, and this in line with the Declaration of this Sacred Congregation issued on 17 February 1981 (cf. AAS 73 1981 pp. 240-241; English language edition of L’Osservatore Romano, 9 March 1981).

In an audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II approved and ordered the publication of this Declaration which had been decided in an ordinary meeting of this Sacred Congregation.

Rome, from the Office of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 26 November 1983.

Joseph Card. RATZINGER
Prefect

+ Fr. Jerome Hamer, O.P.
Titular Archbishop of Lorium
Secretary

What does this exhibit to you?

Sorensen: I think this statement, it’s a serious and plausible threat, that as such, demonstrates the way, in which the Roman Catholic Church, communicates with Catholics and exercises its authority over them, at the same time that exhibits, how the Lamb of god, and the Vicar of Christ, who represents it on earth, actually have little or no innocence. Likewise, it is deductible the kind of conflict, that the Roman Catholic Church put’s over the table, not only with the Freemasons, but also with anything that embodies reason, and therefore, that facilitates and promotes, the right for thinking freely. From the perspective of this sick logic, a threat of this nature, undoubtedly, must be mitigated through intimidation, that is to say, by the exercise of communicational means, that search to achieve control with the manipulation of fear, which implies, a sort of development proposal towards human beings, that’s supported, by messages implicitly loaded of superstitious images, that ultimately will be directly proportional, to what I will name as despotic and patriarchal authoritarianism, that instead of developing a spirit of service, among their faithful and the community, what explicitly does, is to restrict freedom, by confusing their parishioners to believe, that meekness, is equivalent to having a spirit of servitude.

Jacobsen: How does this reflect the centuries of reactionary history of the Roman Catholic Church to the Freemasons?

Sorensen: This is reflected, in the demonization, that the Roman Catholic Church has made of the Freemasons, over the centuries, and in the Christian charity, with which the Church, has always treated them, in such a manner, and so tangibly, that it’s possible to verify these, through such ordinary deeds, as are the signs, founded in the entrances of some European churches, where it’s possible to read, that dogs and Freemasons, are prohibited from entering that place of prayer, or as are the declarations of the popes, like Francis I, the current pontiff, who treats Freemasonry, as the black beast.

Jacobsen: What real threat, renewed in 1983, do the Freemasons, or others associated or of like mind, pose to the Roman Catholic Church? Why was this warning ‘resurrected’?

Sorensen: This warning arose, because it coincides, with the time when the Roman Catholic Church, through a communicational strategy, that had its origin in John Paul II, who tried to show itself, as an intellectual, by removing the ghost of Karol Wojtyla, wanted to demonstrate, a compatibility and harmonic relationship, between reason and faith, for which, in order to be convincing with their pseudo sincere intention, they decided to reconcile with science, by baptizing symbolically, some paradigmatic scientists, as Darwin and Galileo, who were condemned with their work as heretics, and were hidden in the Index of the Sant’Ufficio, as forbidden reading for the Catholics. In this context, it was naively believed, that the Roman Catholic Church, was exhibing with that gesture, a greater openness towards Freemasons and to other similiar associations, nevertheless, regarding these, the Church did the opposite, since they ratified their historical position, due to the fact, that they believe, that Freemasons, seek to destroy the Roman Catholic Church, question that I partially share, not since Freemasonry intends to do so, but because they postulate, that man, through the utilization of reason and the development of science, transforms in the only architect of himself, and of a better humanity, cause for which, from my point of view, there is no other possibility for the Roman Catholic Church, other than to collapse, since sooner rather than later, Catholics will become aware, of the deception, of which they have been victims.

Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Dr. Sorensen.

Sorensen: My pleasure, Mr. Jacobsen.

India needs a fresh strategy towards Afghanistan

Geo-Political Overview of India-Afghanistan Strategic Relations
While the older generation will remember Tagore’s ‘Kabuliwallah’ with nostalgia, the current generation of Indians will think of war-torn Afghanistan with empathy, as Afghanistan has a special place for civilizational India (part of India till mid-nineteenth century) which supports the underdog, the exploited nation and simple people, caught up in a vicious ‘great game’ not of their making for centuries. History, culture, civilization and people to people contact have created commonalities thus making the past history a guide to the future. Although India has long chosen to refrain from putting boots on the ground in Afghanistan, India has always supported Afghanistan.

Our partnership resulted in the India-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement in October 2011 which in addition to emphasizing cooperation in the areas of security, law enforcement and justice, also included a joint commitment to combating international terrorist and criminal networks in the region. India has always advocated a reconciliation process owned and negotiated by Afghans themselves, its approach towards the Taliban has subtly shifted over the years. In the 1990s, India was vocal in its opposition to the Taliban regime and backed the Northern Alliance against it, a strategy also employed by Russia and Iran at the time. By the late 2000s, India supported the elected Afghan government in its reconciliation efforts, it was no longer entirely averse to engaging more substantively with the Taliban. India however, never opened an official communication channel with the Taliban.

Nation Building of Afghanistan by India
Our historical ties and vital national interest in Afghanistan, dictates that we strengthen the relationship with the government and people, and accordingly made substantial contributions in terms of infrastructure development, financial support ($2.2 billon), human capital (over 15,000 students in Indian Universities), security architecture (defence systems like 4 MI 26 helicopter, 285 vehicles, hospitals; basic and advanced military training) and in numerous other fields towards nation building and prosperity of Afghanistan.[i]

India’s economic assistance and support to democracy is a step to reduce Afghanistan’s dependency on Pakistan and helps India to establish links with energy rich Central Asia. Powers like United States welcome India as a key player in the stabilization process that agonizes Pakistan, who has adopted a zero-sum approach in the region creating a security dilemma.

A few of the completed major projects are: Afghanistan’s Parliament in Kabul;  restoration of the Stor palace; reconstruction of Salma Dam now known as the Afghan-India Friendship Dam; establishment of an electricity transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri to Kabul; financing the establishment of the Afghan National Agriculture Sciences and Technology University (ANASTU) in Kandahar; Chimtala power substation in Kabul; cricket stadium in Kandahar; upgrading and expanding many telephone exchanges and the national television network; building strategically important road (specially for India) Zaranj-Delaram road which connects the border town of Zaranj (leading to Iranian port of Chabahar) with the city of Delaram, thereby establishing better communication between the Iranian supply network and Afghanistan’s most important transport avenue, the Ring Road. Pragmatism dictated that the large projects were often realized in the area of the capital or the safer northern and western parts of the country, while many of the small projects initially were spread across Pashtun borderlands, directly challenging Pakistan’s influence.

Taliban: an Essential Player nobody wants but cannot be Ignored       Every stakeholder has their rationale for talking to the Taliban. All have had to recalibrate and renegotiate their terms of engagement with the Taliban as the group has persisted in the country, destined to be a fundamental player in war-torn Afghanistan.[ii] As the possibility of an American-led military victory appeared distant, negotiating with the Taliban became the only feasible path forward. America’s position on talking to the Taliban has transitioned from the maximalist preconditions including renouncing Al-Qaeda, laying down arms and accepting the Afghanistan Constitution, to a minimalist posture. The peace agreement dissolved the red line of preconditions that the United States had set. The conditions placed by the US were aimed at maximizing the limited gains it had achieved and minimizing its losses, thus paving a path for it to withdraw from Afghanistan. The Afghan government, after initially rejecting the US-led talks due to its non-participation, had to grudgingly declare support for the peace agreement and its conditions. President Trump’s announcement of more troop withdrawals (leaving only 2500 troops by Jan 2021) has further cemented the new geo-political situation.  The announcement has drawn adverse criticism from US military, security experts and politicians across the divide, but there is a non-partisan support with even Joe Biden during his election campaign clearly stating that “we don’t need those troops there. I would bring them home.” What actually transpires, we will know, ‘come Jan 21’. What is absolutely certain whatever the outcome, is that the Taliban are here to stay and will increasingly play a larger role in the political and security situation in Afghanistan.

Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. (File Photo: AP)
Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. (File Photo: AP)

India and Taliban: Hobson’s Choice
India for obvious strategic considerations (including the violently anti-India Haqqani terrorist group) has always supported the government in power, while condemning the Taliban. However, presented with a fait accompli, real politik dictated Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar’s speech at the inaugural Doha session this month indicating that our evolution on the Taliban continues. The Taliban, for their part, are unlikely to emerge as a strong partner of India, but the group has been signalling that it is not fundamentally inimical to work with the country. A few months ago, the Taliban refuted media reports that they had aligned with jihadi groups in Kashmir, declaring that they were not in favour of intervening in the internal matters of another country. That represented a subtle overture to New Delhi and gives the country an opportunity to secure a seat at the high table. As stated, peace agreement and US withdrawal pose a thorny dilemma for India as our assets in Afghanistan have been targeted by the Haqqani group, a major Taliban faction. Our considerable assistance was dependent on US military presence and the relative stability it brought.

The Doha Peace Deal with Taliban
On 29 February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement in Doha to end the war in Afghanistan. The agreement calls for a “comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement”, culminating in a “permanent and comprehensive ceasefire”.[iii] Whether observers like the agreement or not, it is a reality. The process addresses four main issues of; cease-fire; withdrawal of foreign forces (Trump outdid the agreement but all forces to withdraw within 14 months); intra-Afghan talks starting by March 20; and counter-terrorism assurance which seeks to halt terrorist activities in the country, including Al-Qaeda and the self-proclaimed Islamic State, or threaten the USA.

Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Taliban's senior commander signing the US-Taliban peace agreement at Doha. (Photo: ANI)
Zalmay Khalilzad, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Taliban’s senior commander signing the US-Taliban peace agreement at Doha. (Photo: ANI)

Perhaps nothing reflects the challenges facing the intra-Afghan negotiations more starkly than the title “Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan Between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” which is not recognized by the US as a state and which is known as the Taliban! The leader of the Haqqani Network, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the second-in-command of the Taliban is on the US wanted list with a reward of $10 million for information leading to his capture or death. To top it all, the US considers the Taliban a partner in counter-terrorism operations against the IS and other terrorist groups.

Implications of Agreement for India
While the Taliban agreed to prevent terrorist outfits from operating on Afghan soil, there is little clarity on how the agreement will be verified and enforced; second is the growing influence of Pakistan’s ISI, which controls/influences the Taliban, especially the Haqqani group. The third challenge to India’s long-term interests in Afghanistan has to do with the increasing political instability in Kabul. The power-sharing agreement signed between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, on May 17, 2020 is nebulous at best, especially after the official emergence of Taliban. An interlinked set of mitigation strategies could help India protect its interests[iv]:

  • Border Diplomatic Engagement: Appointing a special envoy dedicated to Afghan reconciliation. The envoy to safeguard Indian interests at every international, regional and internal forum, and reaches out to Taliban representatives.
  • Enhanced Multi-Dimensional Assistance: Continue providing capacity and capability enhancement in defence, including training of Afghan National Army (ANA) and other para-military forces. Intelligence sharing specially of anti-India terrorist groups must be a priority. Given the unstable situation and impact of COVID-19 on the economy, India must spearhead developmental assistance.
  • Regional Cooperation: Broaden its engagements with Iran and Russia, explore opportunities for cooperation (as limited as they might be) with China, and find common ground with the US on Afghanistan’s future. This does not mean forcing competing interests to align; it means investing in a wider diplomatic initiative with the view to carve out areas of convergence.

Geo-Politics is never easy nor constant
Appointing a special envoy to interact with the Taliban, while assisting ANA (Afghan National Army), would no doubt invite opposition from the Ghani-led government (which itself is struggling with the question of Taliban negotiations), Pakistan, and other internal quarters. India will need to conduct a detailed net assessment of the political costs to its interests. The key will be to find an equilibrium to a strategy that is necessarily paradoxical. India ‘cannot let sleeping dogs lie’ but be bold and less dogmatic, and navigate unchartered territory to exploit the geo-political situation emerging, as the consequences are strategic.

Fortunately, the current Modi government has shown that it can break new ground; resolute but mature actions against China using multi-domains including the resolute faceoff along the LAC, willingness to use force in Pakistan; build stronger relations with the Middle East; recognize Europe’s importance in times of changing geopolitics; embracing technology as central to growth and international relations; and to demonstrate India’s clout as an emerging balancing power in the world; as Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar says “Taking risks is inherent to the realisation of ambition”. It is time for such ambition to be tested in Afghanistan. That Afghanistan is changing is a fact and there is a distinct probability of the Taliban returning to Kabul, in some form or shape. While the Agreement has given us a raw deal with ‘advantage Pakistan’, forcing us to reboot our approach to Afghanistan and engage with Taliban.

The Taliban are expected to constitute an integral part of the government in Kabul (whatever the situation, they are here to stay as a political entity with significant clout), and we need to establish diplomatic contacts with a politically empowered Taliban to safeguard our existing and future economic interests, including those linked with Central Asian energy markets and broader connectivity projects. It will also provide India with some leverage over Afghanistan’s future, which could offset China and Pakistan’s efforts aimed at sabotaging Indian stakes in the country. India undoubtedly has a long road ahead.

Necessity for Strategic Re-Orientation
India is slowly re-orienting its strategy to protect and promote its interests. Our Afghanistan policy continues to be assessed vis-a-vis Pakistan. India on its part has done little visibly, to meet the challenge, in the emerging political scenario of Afghanistan. While emphasizing an “Afghan-led process” India kept its hands away from the complicated peace talks. India’s official presence at the signing of the peace agreement in February this year did not convey any material change in India’s stance as it carefully avoided naming the Taliban entirely in the body of its statement. Even as several countries including Russia, China and the EU sent special envoys to Afghanistan, India refused to establish any diplomatic efforts to talk to the Taliban.[v] The policies of the countries underscore their understanding of the constantly changing reality of Afghanistan and demonstrate their efforts to stay relevant in the long run. India, on the other hand, has attempted to maintain the higher moral ground by not talking to a group it considers a terrorist organization. India’s decision makes it vulnerable in the long term, especially if and when the U.S. withdraws its forces from Afghanistan. 

Opportunistic Bedfellows: India-China-Russia-Iran      
China too is deeply concerned about stability in Afghanistan, new twist in the great game by other players, as also wary of geographical proximity of Xinjiang and Uighurs to Afghanistan, as instability can easily transcend borders. China has substantially increased its economic interests in Afghanistan, and included it as part of the BRI (Belt and Road Initiate). With the aim of securing its interests, it has created good equations both with the government and Taliban and has her permanent client state Pakistan to help out when needed. Strategic opportunity dictates that one of their primary strategic objectives will be to neutralise Indian influence. While this could add to the prevailing friction, there remains an opportunity for India to exploit the commons.

The competition between India and China may push New Delhi closer to Moscow and Tehran, which share some of India’s goals in the region. Although the Afghan government remains sceptical of any Russian links with the Taliban, Moscow’s involvement in the facilitation of past negotiations between various Afghan interlocutors is undeniable. As for Iran, even though it cannot reconcile with the Taliban’s anti-Shiite beliefs, Tehran has shown that it understands the importance of maintaining communications with the group. Given India’s relations with Russia and Iran, a three-way joint effort in Afghanistan cannot be ruled out.

Conclusion    

Within this complex loop, India’s USP, is that it is the only country that can engage with the US, Europe (EU) on the one hand, and Iran and Russia on the other hand and shares a relationship of trust with Afghanistan, which must be played to safeguard our strategic interests. As US troop presence and with its clout diminishing, the overarching goal is peace and stability in Afghanistan, specially for it’s neighbour India. The Afghan conflict is far from over, and India is well placed to play a pivotal role (despite being a low-key player so far) to form a consensus on how to shape the future of Afghanistan, which naturally depends on how we handle Taliban. Iran is wary of elements who are anti-Shia which suits India, as it places Pakistan in the opposite camp. India views Russia as a balancer in the regional security matrix, despite its proximity with China, due interests in CAR (Central Asian Republics) and Europe and the three can coalesce and act. Greater coordination between India, Iran and Russia besides convergence on regional security, is to develop cooperative mechanisms for commercial and economic ties with Afghanistan. This will also deny China and Pakistan an overarching influence in Afghanistan which is a long-term strategic victory, paving the way for our strategic growth towards CAR (Central Asian Republics), Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.


[i] 36 Things India Has Done for Afghanistan , The U.S. president might find it interesting to learn just what India has done for Afghanistan. By Krzysztof Iwanek, The Diplomat, 8 Jan 2020

[ii] Does India Have a New Playbook for a New Afghanistan? By Monish Tourangbamand Neha Dwivedi, The Diplomat, 10 Jun 2020.

[iii] ‘Dealing With the Taliban: India’s Strategy in Afghanistan After U.S. Withdrawal’; Rudra Chaudhuri, SHREYAS SHENDE, Carnegie India

[iv] ibid

[v] Does India Have a New Playbook for a New Afghanistan? By Monish Tourangbam and Neha Dwivedi, The Diplomat, 10 Jun 2020

Why does Pakistan target the Baloch intelligentsia?

Doctor Liaqat Sunni, Professor at the University of Balochistan and head of the Brahui Department who contributed extensively to the Balochi and Brahui literature was recently abducted by the Pakistani forces. Dr Liaqat is a brilliant writer who wrote about the ongoing oppression and suppression of Baloch people, especially about the ‘Missing Persons’ in his poetry. He was admired by the society for his brilliant poetry but unfortunately, we live in such a society where for our existence we have to go “Missing”, bear torture or get killed at the hands of Pakistani security forces.

It’s not unusual in Balochistan to hear about people getting killed or abducted by the state authorities. Professors, teachers, students, farmers, journalists even members of local police are being targeted by the ISI and its sponsored Death Squads. Anyone who demands basic human rights is a target for these authorities. Their is a ban on freedom of expression and anyone who dares to violate this law of the jungle is whisked away or killed.

Professor Liaquat Sunni was abducted and fortunately released later but our other leaders and intellectuals were not so lucky. The likes of Saba Dashtiari, Ghulam Mohammad, Lala Muneer, Sher Mohammad, Hameed, Fida and thousands of others were killed because Pakistan uses force against anyone who expresses themselves or speaks truth about Pakistani oppression in Balochistan. It is with tears in my eyes that I am writing their stories.

Dr Liaqat Sunni, chairman of Brahui department at the University of Balochistan has been abducted by Pakistani security agencies. (Photo: News Intervention)
Dr Liaqat Sunni, chairman of Brahui department at the University of Balochistan was abducted by Pakistani security agencies. (Photo: News Intervention)

Being a Baloch is a crime that every Baloch faces in Pakistan. I want to tell the story of a family who lives in Khuzdar, Balochistan. Their several sons were killed by Pakistan Army, ISI, and the Frontier Corps (FC). Asmat and Zubair Jan were cousins who belonged from Khuzdar. Asmat Jan was a servant at the Sheik Zayed Hospital, Khuzdar and Zubair Jan was a high school student. The brothers were going to their home for Eid holidays when they were abducted by Pakistani security forces on their way home. Thereafter the government officials informed the family that Asmat and Zubair are innocent and will be released soon. However, after Eid the distorted dead body of martyr Asmat Jan was found and later on the dead body of Zubair Jan was recovered.

Sami Baloch another resident of Khuzdar was abducted near the Khuzdar University on October 1, 2010 while he was on the way to his fields in the countryside. Sami Baloch was also abducted by Pakistan Army-sponsored Death Squads, and for 45 days he remained “missing”. All these days Sami Baloch’s family kept looking for him, they went to the local sardars (tribal chiefs) but in response they got only false assurances about his recovery. During this period an ISI officer telephoned the family and assured the release of Sami Baloch on Eid. However, on the day of Eid, Sami Baloch’s family received his mutilated body. “Eid Mubarak” was written on his dead body. On August 12, 2012 his father Ghulam Qadir was also martyred by the ISI hired targeted killers.

On October 18, 2010 Majeed Zehri a student in Karachi was returning home for Eid holidays when he was kidnapped and later his mutilated dead body was thrown away. The officials of Pakistan Army claimed that they have Majeed Zehri in custody yet they killed him in cold blood without bringing him to any court. Later, Majeed Zehri’s father was also martyred on February 2, 2012.

Naz Bibi, 6 year old child killed by Pakistani security forces at Harnai in occupied Balochistan. (Representative Photo: News Intervention)
Naz Bibi, 6 year old child killed by Pakistani security forces at Harnai in occupied Balochistan. (Representative Photo: News Intervention)

Similarly, Zakaria Baloch another student who was studying in Polytechnic College, Quetta met with the same fate. Zakaria Baloch was also abducted by the Pakistan Army and later his mutilated dead body was found. Yaseen Baloch student at Khuzdar University was sitting at his shop in Anjeera when Death Squad members opened fire and martyred him. Ibrahim Baloch, a police officer and Fareed Baloch were also target killed by Death Squad members.

Ghaffar Baloch a shopkeeper and political activist of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) was targeted when he was sitting in his shop. In the same way Sarfaraz and Nisar Jan two teenage high school students were targeted by Death Squad members when they were returning from their exams. Yaqub Baloch and his 11-year-old son Abdul Rauf uncle of Sarfaraz shared the same fate.

Abdul Samad a brilliant and gifted student who got a golden scholarship of 75 thousand rupees per month at the Khuzdar University was target killed by the Pakistan Army-sponsored goons. All these students were from one family.

These are some cases which show the situation in Balochistan. There are thousands of stories of such crimes committed by Pakistan.

Why does SEBI want to eclipse the moon?

On a balmy December afternoon in Mumbai, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) told 63 Moons Technologies that the company cannot offer it’s STP services. It was like sudden thunder, the STP services of 63 Moons had been operating for over seven years and was considered one of the best not in India but across the world. In India, it had 97 percent share of the markets.

STP, or Straight Through Processing (STP) services are used by financial firms to pass information electronically in order to optimise speed and eliminate hands-on re-entry of data.

India has four STP Service Providers: BSE, NSE.IT, NSDL and FTIL, the parent company of 63 Moons. But if 63 Moons is barred, it is obvious that the spoils will be shared by the rest.

The SEBI order triggered an immediate fall of shares of 63 Moons, down nearly five per cent at Rs 85.35 in afternoon trade on Friday, December 4, 2020, on the BSE. The market regulator, in an order that ran into 23 pages, said it rejected 63 Moons’ application seeking renewal of approval to provide STP services on the basis of “fit and proper” criteria.

63 Moons Technologies – which got three more months to offer STP to clients in order to avoid any possible disruptions for securities market participants said it will challenge the order on Monday, December 7, 2020 at the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), Mumbai.

The country’s largest business daily, Economic Times, said in a terse editorial about the SEBI decision: “It is curious, to say the least, and matters because it reflects on the supervisory capacity and fairness of the market regulator.”

When the dust settled over the Arabian Sea and the markets closed, many wondered what triggered the SEBI action, especially after seven long years.

Market analysts said at the heart of this peculiar, no-need slugfest between SEBI and 63 Moons is the company’s chairman emeritus Jignesh Shah. The SEBI order makes it clear that it does not think Shah is fit and proper to be a part of the company which was embroiled in a payment crisis some years ago. 

Jignesh Shah, promoter of NSEL. Shah is popularly known as India’s Exchange Man, who had successfully launched 14 exchanges across six continents, a global record.
Jignesh Shah, promoter of NSEL. Shah is popularly known as India’s Exchange Man, who had successfully launched 14 exchanges across six continents, a global record.

But the billion-dollar question remains the “fit and proper” order passed against the company in 2014 specifically dealt with barring persons or entities from holding equity stake in any exchange platform and has no bearing on providing technology services.

The company even said revenue from STP gate service is approximately Rs 4 crore, which is 1.56% of total revenue of 63 moons. “Odin and Exchange Technology are not affected by the Sebi order at all,” said Keshav Samant, President & CEO – Brokerage Technology Solutions, and Mehmood Vaid, Head-Exchange Technology, 63 Moons Technologies, in a statement.

It was clear to many that Shah, once again, was the target.

So let’s look at the SEBI order. 

The regulator noted that – while dealing with the application of renewal from 63 Moons – it found the erstwhile FMC Order dated December 17, 2013 as relevant in deciding that 63 Moons and Jignesh Shah were “not fit and proper” in the instant case of renewal of application. SEBI, very significantly, noted that 63 Moons and its Promoter do not carry good reputation, integrity and character in terms of Schedule II to Intermediaries Regulations.

In short, SEBI said even if Shah does not hold any executive capacity, the reputation, integrity and character of FTIL would be judged on the basis of the facts and conduct/role of 63 Moons and Jignesh Shah in the payment crisis at NSEL as described in the order of FMC, which was amalgamated with SEBI in September, 2015. 

Does that work in modern markets? 

Isn’t the market regulator aware that the government’s big move to merge NSEL and 63 Moons collapsed after the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgement, set aside on May 1, 2019, a three year-old government order to merge 63 Moons with NSEL? 

More importantly, isn’t it crucial for the market regulator to know and take into consideration that it was Ramesh Abhishek, the last chairman of FMC, who recommended the merger in public interest. And that very recommendation was eventually rejected by the division bench of Rohinton Nariman and Vineet Saran. So why stress tremendous value on a non-existent FMC after seven years?

Since SEBI showed concern about Shah’s reputation, the market regulator should have also taken into consideration this very serious fact that the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which probed the Rs 5400 crore NSEL payment crisis, said in a 23,000 page prosecution complaint in Bombay High Court that there were no money laundering charges against Shah?

And then, isn’t SEBI aware of the controversial role of FMC and Abhishek around the time when the NSEL payment crisis was detected? 

Shouldn’t the market regulator know Shah was not a stranger to the markets, having built 10 world class exchanges which functioned under different regulatory regimes, both in India and abroad? And those exchanges were not fly-by-night affairs, painstakingly built with scientific precision over a decade under the watchful eyes of global regulators?

SEBI must handle every crisis with clockwise precision, claim market analysts. 

It must know that an exchange is first seen by its users as it is in their business, which is why some exchanges work and some fail. For the records, out of the 10 FTIL exchanges, only one – NSEL – met with a payment default primarily due to artificially induced risk of closure and also because of induced regulatory risk and various trading malpractices by defaulters and brokers and connivance of some staff of NSEL that messed up the traders contracts. Both FMC and SEBI should have known that at NSEL, two of the three segments, namely, e-series and farmers’ contracts, functioned perfectly alright with a much larger number of clients and some brokers.

And finally, the market regulator should have known that the payment crisis did not happen while NSEL was functioning. It happened in July 2013 after its abrupt closure.

Contrary to what was propagated, NSEL was always a regulated exchange as brought out by the government’s various notifications. Regulatory concerns were being addressed by the highest financial sector body looking after risk, namely, the FSDC.

Many might argue about this talk about a regulatory vacuum? Well, it started only after the DCA ordered its abrupt closure presumably at the behest of the FMC resulting in the payment crisis in July, 2013. Even post-default, the FMC, instead of acting against the defaulters, acted against Shah and his FTIL though there was no evidence against either of them.

Though the FIU had raised the issue of non-compliances by brokers in NSEL, the FMC did not act against them when they indulged in rampant malpractices such as client-code modification and changing their clients KYC to trade without their permission.

Only last year, SEBI started correcting the wrongdoings committed by FMC and issued show cause notices to top brokerage firms on why they should not be declared ‘not fit and proper’ following their conduct on NSEL.

So why malign Shah? 

Also isn’t SEBI aware that Shah, who exited all his exchange businesses post the NSEL crisis, repeatedly said he was a target of political and corporate conspiracy but always maintained his faith in the judiciary. He said NSEL should not have been closed down abruptly. “I did not flee to London… And my stand has been vindicated by court orders one after another and none of the investigative agencies have found any wrongdoing on my part for even a single paisa,” Shah told the Press Trust of India in September last year. Shah even told the agency how he retained his faith in the judiciary.

But SEBI still feels Shah’s reputation must be questioned. It is the market regulator. It cannot be questioned.

The markets, expectedly, exploded with anger, disbelief. 

Remarked a top industrialist: “So in India there are two ways to compete: On merit or regulatory barbarism. We saw the latter in telecom, now in financial infrastructure. Remember one thing. Despite all regulatory and exchange discrimination, NSE.IT and NSDL have three percent market share.”

Another stock market analyst said he was shocked: “All fund houses, FIIs and institutional clients are clients of 63 Moons. It proves the credibility of the company and its genius of IP technology created. The rivals of 63 Moons could not beat the company in an open, competitive market so some political gameplay happened in some corridors of power. What is sad is such technical IP could have been invested in a new Google or Amazon but what do we see? We see 63 Moons again spending time in courts. The NSEL crisis was an annihilation attempt by the power brokers who wanted to get rid of a first-generation globally accomplished professional Shah, and his FTIL Group.”

The detractors are still at work.

POK Kashmiris start international campaign to #FreeTanveerAhmed

Kashmiris in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) announced on Saturday a social media campaign for the release of senior journalist Tanveer Ahmed, who was arrested by the Pakistani authorities from Dadyal in August this year. Tanveer Ahmed continues to be imprisoned in the Mirpur Central Jail in POK.

“Tanveer Ahmed has been imprisoned by the so-called puppet government of Azad Kashmir at the behest of the occupying state,” said Habib-ur-Rehman, the coordinator of release Tanveer Ahmed campaign. He added that #FreeTanveerAhmed would be used by people all across the world to tweet and share their views through articles, photos, cartoons etc. with demands to release Tanveer Ahmed.

Tanveer Ahmed has been kept in the Mirpur Central Jail, POK where he is on a hunger strike. His health condition is very worrying and requires immediate medical help.

Habib-ur-Rehman added that human rights activists, social activists, democrats and humanitarian organizations across the world will take part in this campaign. The #FreetanveerAhmed campaign will continue until Tanveer Ahmed is released.

Habib-ur-Rehman is member Central Committee JKPNP (Jammu Kashmir People's National Party). JKPNP is a political outfit based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit-Baltistan. (Photo: News Intervention)
Habib-ur-Rehman is coordinator of release Tanveer Ahmed campaign. He is also the central committee member of POK-based political outfit JKPNP (Jammu Kashmir People’s National Party). (Photo: News Intervention)

Tanveer Ahmed was arrested in August this year when he took down the Pakistani flag at Dadyal in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). His wife Fareezam Rajput recently met her husband in the Mirpur Central Jail and said that certain “invisible forces” want to give out a strong message to other Kashmiris through her husband’s case.

Tanveer Ahmed has been on a hunger strike since November 1 and his health has been deteriorating ever since. Interestingly, Tanveer Ahmed is a local Kashmiri from the POK and is also a British citizen. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed concern about the ‘appalling treatment’ to a British national.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad’s letter to British MP Bob Blackman explaining the efforts undertaken by UK government to secure Tanveer Ahmed’s release.

Legally, Tanveer Ahmed’s arrest and denial of bail is completely illegal. Tanveer Ahmed took down the Pakistani flag from an area which Pakistan itself calls as “Azad Kashmir” which implies that the Pakistani flag cannot be hoisted. However, the term “Azad Kashmir” is a misnomer as this part of Kashmir has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947 and everything is run on the whims and fancies of Islamabad.

By taking down the Pakistani flag from Dadyal, Tanveer Ahmed was only trying to implement POK’s “Azadi” in letter and spirit that Pakistan says at every forum. But this did not go down well in Pakistan and Tanveer Ahmed was promptly arrested and has been denied all legal remedies. Now, the Pakistan Army wants to make Tanveer Ahmed as an example in POK and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Tanveer Ahmed soon after his arrest on August 21, 2020. His health has deteriorated since then. Tanveer Ahmed was arrested by Pakistan after he pulled down Pakistani flag at Dadyal, POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) on August 21. (Photo: News Intervention)
Tanveer Ahmed soon after his arrest on August 21, 2020. His health has deteriorated since then. Tanveer Ahmed was arrested by Pakistan after he pulled down Pakistani flag at Dadyal, POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) on August 21. (Photo: News Intervention)

This is the first case in the world where a citizen of an independent state has been imprisoned for removing the flag of another state from his country. Habib-ur-Rehman further explained that the rejection of Tanveer Ahmed’s bail by the Muzaffarabad Supreme Court was itself a testament to how “free” is this so called “Azad Kashmir”. He appealed to social activists from around the world and to all those who believe in freedom of expression to proactively campaign for the release of Tanveer Ahmed.

Tanveer Ahmed, Senior Journalist continues to be under arrest in POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir). (Photo: News Intervention)
Tanveer Ahmed, Senior Journalist continues to be under arrest in POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir). (Photo: News Intervention)

Pakistan’s abduction policy continues in Balochistan, women and children among 9 kidnapped

Pakistani security forces abducted nine people including two women from Gichk at district Panjgur of occupied Balochistan. These abducted people have been moved to unknown locations and have now joined the long of “missing” Baloch people.

Local Baloch sources told News Intervention that BiBi Maryam, an elderly Gichk resident was travelling with her two young grandsons Rashid and Ajmal to her home when their vehicle was stopped by Pakistani security forces. They were detained and subsequently moved to an unknown location.  

“Both Ajmal and Rashid are students. They live in Kech and were going to their hometown in Gichk to spend holidays with their grandparents when they went kidnapped midway by the Pakistani security forces and are now missing,” said a local Baloch.

In another incident Pakistani forces detained Muhammad Karim and his wife and moved them to an undisclosed location on November 30. Nothing is known about them since the day of their abduction.

Four other people have also gone missing in Gichk over the past few weeks. These men have been identified as Saleem (son of Jumma Khan), Wahid (son on Qadir Baksh), Nazeer (son of Ummayat) and Yar Jan (son of Dil Murad).

Sammi Baloch with the photo of her father Dr Deen Mohammad. Eleven years ago the Pakistani security forces abducted Dr Deen Mohammad from Khudzar, Balochistan. (Representative Photo: News Intervention)
Sammi Baloch with the photo of her father Dr Deen Mohammad. Eleven years ago the Pakistani security forces abducted Dr Deen Mohammad from Khudzar, Balochistan. (Representative Photo: News Intervention)

“The ‘enforced disappearance’ of women is abominable. We will unanimously raise voice against such incidents. The disappearance of an academic from the University of Balochistan during the the past week and now the recent ‘enforced disappearance’ of Baloch woman are proof for everyone,” said Mama Qadeer Baloch, vice chairman of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP).

Mama Qadeer further explained that Pakistani security forces and their intelligence agencies have not only ‘forcefully detained’ Baloch women in the past, but also ‘martyred’ them. “Several women were ‘forcefully detained’ from Awaran and then presented in front of the media with allegations of terrorism,” he said.

Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) is a human rights organization campaigning for the safe recovery of Baloch missing persons. It’s been more than a decade since VBMP began its protest in front of the Quetta Press Club. Mama Qadeer and VBMP continue to brave harassment at the hands of Pakistani agencies. Mama Qadeer, was not allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and his name was put in the No Fly List to bar him from attending conferences in Geneva and America.

Over the last decade more than 40,000 Baloch have been abducted from Balochistan who now remain “missing”. Pakistan Army’s policy of “enforced disappearance” and “kill & dump” have meant that most of these unarmed Baloch people who get abducted are never released.

On Pragmatic Theology – God is Not Fire Insurance

A common notion in atheist communities in regards to the gods concept via-a-vis believers is the fire insurance policy of believers’ sincere belief in God. Why even think this is the case?

Principally, it is grounded in a sense of unfairness or lack of fair play. Most people in the theist communities hold the beliefs for the same reasons others hold those beliefs. Because they believe that they are true.

In some more sophisticated speaking, they consider the beliefs justified and true. True so as to match some reality of the world. Justified so as to have good reasons for holding the belief in the first place.

I see no contradiction in the holding of a justified true belief and thinking something is true, while being unfairly treated by others. A thought to be justified true belief can be false and individuals can be treated unfairly, even cruelly, by ideological opposition.

To be fair to theists, as well as to give a tip of the hat to most atheists and agnostics, there is, generally speaking, a fair and comprehensive representation of the opposition’s positions on a wide smattering of topics.

The issues come in a mis-representation of the opposition. Let’s take, for example, the caricature of the atheist community as Satanic child molesters in service of Gog and Magog. Does this help in any way? Is this an accurate characterization of the generic atheist position?

Same with the field puppet on a post of the generic agnostic as a wishy-washy atheist without the guts of the generic atheist’s convictions. It’s all of a piece of the man of steel fought while in the presence of Kryptonite, turned to straw in other words.

Even amongst the most literalist of the fundamentalists, they will view the idea of the insurance policy theology as ridiculous. Where, God isn’t neither life insurance nor fire insurance. In that, to the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth as a means by which to only save a life, it is minimally satisfying to the heart and soul.

Indeed, when taking the idea of the life insurance policy theology, the idea is that there is, somehow, a way in which to declare oneself a Christian as well as propose oneself as a forgiven one no matter what one does.

In general, they will view the choice to become a Christian as a kickoff to the football game rather than the game. You can start in the game. The coach can have the plays of the game for a guaranteed win laid out.

Yet, you can quit the game or fail to follow rules even after the start of the game. Here, we a similar situation in terms of a fire insurance idea about theology. Obviously, Christians want to avoid Hell.

If you believe in Hell, of course, you want to avoid the worst possible suffering. However, even in this case, we come to the idea of belief as a means solely to avoid Hell. To even some of the most strident Christians, the point is to live a Christ-like life and to adhere to the principles of Jesus, to be forgiven, not to avoid Hell.

It is mistaking a side benefit for the core of the purpose of believing in Christ. Inasmuch as this is the case, the idea of believing in Jesus merely as a life insurance or a fire insurance policy is both incorrect from the outside view and probably offensive to Christian from an inside perspective.

It’s good to argue against particular beliefs, while a proper comprehension of the arguments, whether from new angles or old seems important.

To make a particular point, one could point to this as a reason for some Christians. While more comprehensive critiques, they must involve systematic critiques of the reasoning with examples, in which these insurance policy counterarguments could provide some modicum of additional flavour critique.

The Divine Comedy – To Transcend Everything Into Nothing

Leonardo Da Vinci posited a number of principles of thinking in regards to the ways in which direct experience and the mind play one to the other. In this sense, he wanted to catalogue observations and thinking as a formulation of function and self-consistency.

When taking into account some of the manner of the self-consistencies in mind, think of some of the most classic examples of human thought, a married bachelor, in thought, is not something within the realm of thinking, except as a formulation of words carried into a sentence.

Ergo, formulations of words can lead to meaninglessness and can derive from the meaningless because of the impossibility of the thought and the impossibility of true meaning conveyed by the thought.

The possible and the impossible in regards to thinking creates limits. A square circle, not the squaring of a circle or vice versa, as in all relevant properties of the square and all relevant properties of the circle equating to one another, these provide a basis for comprehension of one to the other, as in differentiating and not equating to one another.

A square circle, a married bachelor, and so on, amount to the impossible in mind if taking the categories in a serious manner. As one delves into the writing of Da Vinci, he posits something of a circle with a point.

In this point in the circle, one can project an infinity of lines from the point; while, also, one can project an infinity of lines beyond this too, and from any other point within the circle. In this manner, it becomes a hall of lines, or circle rather, infinite in parts and relations if desired.

These formulations represent infinities in mind. While, since the thoughts contain no space, or are spaceless, they are that which do not and cannot exist because of their ontological status in the mind rather than in the world.

Without applying it in art, but in theology, we can expand some of the thinking in which the fact of things in the mind containing no space, indivisibly, means the non-dimensionality, in reality, of things in the mind.

For Da Vinci, the things of the mind were, by definition, dimensionless. He posits dimensionlessness for imaginary objects, or those of the mind, where he considers direct experience of the world as a primary.

Things in the world as dimensional rather than dimensionless. These dimensions represent the real, as given by the senses. These are contained in space, so do not lack existence and have divisibility.

While things of the mind, given their lack of reality, they become dimensionless because they contain no space, as in every other point relates directly to every other point instantaneously and without regard for apparent separation in mind.

By dint of their lack of dimensionality, they amount to nothing. This “nothing” becomes something of a hallmark of things in the mind. In turn, the things of the mind, as nothing, represent nothing more than the culmination of a singular thought without true dimensionality as lacking spatiality.

In this lack of spatiality, these become as nothing. Things of the mind, in the light of their containing no real space, so having spacelessness, amount to nothing. He says exactly that with several experiments of mind to demonstrate this.

So, to be a-spatial is not to be transcending space, it is to be non-existent. In other sections, he goes on to describe the infinite as to have no form, as in to be infinite means to have no form. So, all finities mean form; all infinities mean no form.

A traditional set of properties for a god, as in Divine Attributes, are eternality, goodness, grace, holiness, immanence, immutability, justice, love, mercy, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, righteousness, self-existence, sovereignty, and transcendence.

The psychological qualities, as divine attributes, so divine psychological attributes, are goodness, grace, holiness, justice, love, mercy, and righteousness. These require a being extant, first; otherwise, no divine psychology present there.

In turn, we come to the properties of the divine, as in eternality, immanence, immutability, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, self-existence, sovereignty, and transcendence. Each of these properties posits an infinity, as in absolute and limitless.

The idea of the eternal means an a-temporality or an infinite temporality, or functionality to both. Immanence implies an immanent existence in all relevant respects and places. Immutability means an unchanging nature and form.

Omnipotence means the ability to do anything. An omnipresence means a presence in all places. Omniscience means knowing everything. A self-existence means contingent upon nothing else.

Sovereignty means ownership or rulership over all. Transcendence means to transcend all limits, as in limitless. That which is beyond definition in a true sense becomes God.

While, with these properties provided by theology, we can describe the ideas and forms of God in terms of the properties in His existence as well as the psychological qualities of God, so as to differentiate the ideas of the Divine Attributes themselves; those which are assumed as true and then taken as the first fact carried forward.

A failure of the properties rather than the divine psychological qualities ruins the foundations for psychology. Even if taking the Divine Attributes as true, and accepting the assertions of the qualities as first fact, we can examine them for some consistency, while utilizing some of the principles of thought of Da Vinci as a starting point.

To Da Vinci, to be infinite is to have no form, so to have no real content; to be finite is to have form and content, that which comes from or generates within the mind as truly having no dimensionality or space because of its non-reality.

Imaginary ideas rather than real objects; real objects of the world of direct sensory experience and imaginary ideas of the world of the mind. In this way, Da Vinci speaks of the dimensionless nature of the mind’s imaginary objects and the dimensionality of the objects of the world of direct sensory experience. The world places limits as the mind contains nothing via its lack of space.

Those properties rather than psychological attributes of the divine as seen in the Divine Attributes of goodness, grace, holiness, justice, love, mercy, and righteousness in contrast to the more primary Divine Attributes, as properties, of eternality, immanence, immutability, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, self-existence, sovereignty, and transcendence.

To know requires some material structure, as seen with all that we know about beings that can know; to exist means to exist in a time, as time unites with space, so with space; to be immanent means a sense of immanence in both space and time, so coming to a sense of the spatiotemporal requirements of immanence tied to a spatiotemporal volume or worldline implicated in a “material structure,” so omniscience, immanence, come as facets of omnipresence: Immanence means an omnipresence; omniscience means an omnipresence, or a presence.

Thus, we come to eternality, immutability, omnipotence, self-existence, sovereignty, and transcendence. While these properties come from thought, of things in the mind, the base existence of the world exhibit properties given to the senses, while the mind’s considerations mean a lack of dimensionality to them, or a spacelessness to their attribution.

Or, rather, in a manner of speaking, we can consider the reduction of space to dimensionlessness as nothingness, similarly with a proposed transcendence of spatial limits. In this transcendence, we can note the manner of infinity creating no form, as in infinite.

To propose an attribute, as in a Divine Attribute, as an infinite, it becomes formless, due to its infinity as a property; while, with this infinity of property, the formlessness means a lack in the property or the Divine Attribute itself, which means a double falsity in title in meaning.

As in, a Divine Attribute, in such a manner, becomes neither “Divine” nor an “Attribute” because an attribute would imply a self-limit so as to have a form with an attribute, a property, or a quality in the first place.

Therefore, the Divine Attributes, or the more primary attributes of God, with an infinity, in this aforementioned sense, would mean an impossibility of attribution, so a lack of attribute. This applies to eternality and transcendence.

In that, these mean something akin to a-temporality via endlessness, as reflections of the same attribute. To become the infinite in time, as in endlessness, or to transcend, is to become without form, while claiming a property. In turn, these become as those in the mind, nothing.

Leaving immutability, self-existence, and sovereignty, and omnipresence, the nature of Nature is both necessity and change. Without transcendence or eternality, the only presence is that which is in space-time, and space-time changes, and no sovereign would exist in the will of acts or the choices made and acted out by operators in the universe, as freedom of the will is given to human beings in the universe as a property for a creative act willed in the universe, thusly negating the total sovereignty as in a Divine Sovereignty.

Furthermore, when taking arguments for aseity or a self-existence of God, as in an aseitous being leading to all that which is seitous or being itself, existence in itself and time in existence, the contingency needs lead to an origin point of existence, to make the argument for that which embodies true and complete aseity, while, as with eternality and transcendence, something spaceless is not only not a thing; it’s nothing, as per explanation before.

Which is to say, the universe self-exists, not as a rabbit out of a hat but out of the Necessity of existence itself, if one takes these arguments seriously, and as with no total sovereignty (on the premises of the theology with freedom of the will), and mutability inherent in Nature by necessity, and as omnipresence implies a form of absolute presence and transcendent presence, the infinity creates no form while proposing a solution through infinitude, so leading to no true presence as a property, and spatiotemporal-lessness means a true nothing, so non-existent.

No eternality, immanence, immutability, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, self-existence, sovereignty, and transcendence means no divine psychological qualities to embody them, so as to mean no primary properties or Divine Attributes in eternality, immanence, immutability, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, self-existence, sovereignty, and transcendence derives no goodness, grace, holiness, justice, love, mercy, and righteousness.

Indeed, simply considerations of infinity having no form meaning no property, so only finities having form and so having properties, and the spaceless meaning nothing as in non-dimensionality, all Divine Attributes becomes a buggers brigade for millennia.

No space to have properties, so no materiality to embody them; thus, Divine Attributes as a divine comedy of errors (Q.E.D.).

Photo by Mark König on Unsplash

ISI tortures Tanveer Ahmed in Mirpur jail, wants to set example for POK locals

Acting on ISI’s directions the dummy Supreme Court of POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) rejected the bail plea of senior journalist Tanveer Ahmed and is making efforts to make him an example for local Kashmiris about what could be done to people who don’t follow the diktats of Pakistan Army.

Tanveer Ahmed was arrested in August this year when he took down the Pakistani flag at Dadyal in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). Tanveer Ahmed’s wife Fareezam Rajput recently met her husband in the Mirpur Central Jail and said that certain “invisible forces” want to give out a strong message to other Kashmiris through her husband’s case.

“Tanveer saheb had deep faith in the judiciary but this has been proved wrong. Fareezam khatoon feels that political interference is preventing her husband’s release from the jail,” a senior government functionary in Muzaffarabad told News Intervention. He confirmed that politicians from Islamabad and the Pakistani generals want to make Tanveer Ahmed as an example for Kashmiri locals in the POK. “The judiciary is taking direct orders from Rawalpindi. There are every possible chances that Tanveer saheb might be killed inside the jail. This will give a clear message to other Kashmiris that everyone has to follow diktats from Islamabad.”

Tanveer Ahmed taking down Pakistan's flag at Maqbool Bhatt Square, Dadyal POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).
Tanveer Ahmed taking down Pakistan’s flag at Maqbool Bhatt Square, Dadyal, POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).

Earlier in October this year, Tanveer Ahmed’s family, friends and well wishers began a sit-in at Dadyal, Mirpur in the POK soon after his arrest as part of their protest campaign to demand for his safe release. Despite threats these protests and demonstrations for the release of Tanveer Ahmed continued, which has further irked the ISI and Pakistani generals.

Several people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) belonging to different walks of life have attended the protest camp site and expressed solidarity with the family members of Tanveer Ahmed.

A sit-in to demand the release of Tanveer Ahmed from Pakistani custody in POK. (Photo: News Intervention)
A sit-in to demand the release of Tanveer Ahmed from Pakistani custody in POK. (Photo: News Intervention)

Tanveer Ahmed has been on a hunger strike since November 1 and his health has been deteriorating ever since. Interestingly, Tanveer Ahmed is a local Kashmiri from the POK and is also a British citizen. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed concern about the ‘appalling treatment’ to a British national.

Legally, Tanveer Ahmed’s arrest and denial of bail is completely illegal. Tanveer Ahmed took down the Pakistani flag from an area which Pakistan itself calls as “Azad Kashmir” which implies that the flag of other nations cannot be hoisted. However, the term “Azad Kashmir” is a misnomer as this part of Kashmir has been illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947 and everything is run on the whims and fancies of Islamabad.

By taking down the Pakistani flag from Dadyal, Tanveer Ahmed was only trying to implement POK’s “Azadi” in letter and spirit that Pakistan says at every forum. But this did not go down well in Pakistan and Tanveer Ahmed was promptly arrested and has been denied all legal remedies. Now, the Pakistan Army wants to make Tanveer Ahmed as an example in POK and Gilgit-Baltistan.

OIC’s flip-flop on Kashmir exposes fault lines within Islamic world

At the 47th Council of Foreign Ministers session of the 57-member strong Organization of Islamic Community (OIC) held on November 27-28 in Niamey, the communal organisation has finally succumbed to the pressure and blackmail of three Islamic states and passed a resolution against the Indian government’s rightful abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of her constitution.

Among these three countries are Malaysia who’s Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had issued a statement on October 28 against freedom of speech exercised by France, Turkey who’s leader Tayyip Erdoğan called for ‘mental treatment’ of the French president after he refused to condemn freedom of speech that France has cherished since the French revolution. And Pakistan who’s selected prime minister could find time from his global begging campaign to issue a statement demanding that the United Nations declares an international day to ‘combat Islamophobia’.

The above mentioned three Islamic countries, which have nothing Islamic about them except vilification of democracy, curbing freedom of the individual to express herself, persecution of religious minorities and threaten the world with an imaginary Islamic jihad, have over the recent years come closer and formed an informal alliance that reminds me of the fascist alliance formed between Italy and Germany before the Second World War that led to the destruction of Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa and cost world community 600 million lives.

The question is why did the OIC give in to the pressure from these rouge states at Niamey? The answer can be found by looking at the economic and political bindings of OIC.

Firstly, we should consider the existential threat OIC faced after Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi threatened to call a meeting of like minded brotherly Islamic states (Malaysia and Turkey) if OIC does not give up its reluctance in calling for a special session to condemn Indian decision of August 5, 2019 to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A.

Pakistan’s rebellious demeanour did not go unpunished. Leader of the OIC retaliated by cancelling the $3 billion oil credit line to Pakistan and demanded that the former pay one billion dollars that she already owed to the kingdom. However, Pakistan continued to hold talks with Turkey, Malaysia and even China and kept the threat of a split in the OIC alive. In other words Pakistan was using political pressure as a blackmail tactics to get things done its way.

As competition for regional economic dominance amongst OIC countries intensifies and Turkey and Saudi Arabia race towards establishing political hegemony among the so-called Islamic world, the later has been cowed into taking ultra-compromising steps to avoid a split in the OIC. However, as new global economic alliances banter for regional dominance in the Middle East and South and Far East Asia as well as in North Africa, and the war of economic dominance translates into political spheres of influence, sooner or later the OIC will have to be done away with. It will breakup.

The second reason for OIC to succumb to the pressure of the evil troika of Pakistan, Malaysia and Turkey stems from the fear of failure of Arab capitalism in a post COVID-19 pandemic economic environment.

SESRIC report published on November 2 confirms these economic anxieties. The reports concludes: “The OIC economies which recorded a growth rate of 2.4% in real terms are also expected to contract by 2% in 2020”. In a post COVID pandemic economic environment it is thought to be absolutely crucial for a sustainable economic recovery that nation states stick together and mutually bear the brunt of domestic devastating effects of corona crisis.

In my opinion this is not going to work as long as OIC remains a conglomerate of economies struggling to free themselves from the enslavement of autocratic and totalitarian forms of governance. However, the fear of OIC disintegrating into opposing factions is also a reason for OIC’s haste in taking a false stand over Kashmir.

And finally it wouldn’t surprise me if it is revealed at some point in the future that China played a decisive role in the apparently sudden decision taken at Niamey to add Kashmir to the agenda at the last minute. China is a major lender to OIC countries and some arm twisting of North African States and even Saudi Arabia herself should be looked into.

To imagine that post COVID pandemic global economic environment would be dictated by the old world order that was cluttered in antagonist groups is naïve. The post second world war world has witnessed Cold War between the totalitarian closed door nationalised economies hidden behind the iron curtain and also the 40 years of neo-liberal economic model based on Milton Friedman’s economic doctrine of unfettered capitalism.

But since the economic crisis of 2008, and the precipitating aftermath, we have now convincingly entered the post-neo liberal era of modern capitalism. Organisations such as NATO, OIC, BRICS, and similar ones that were dictated by the need of Cold War and neoliberalism have become obsolete. The future of global market economy will now depend on mutual interdependence between individual economies and not blocks of economies tied together.

These smaller individual economies will have to choose between emerging economic giants such as China and India while be free at the same time of any military obligations to ‘protect’ or ‘police’ the free market.

India will prove to be a far better choice for the Middle Eastern and African economies than China, which is driven by the lust of economic expansionism and the hidden agenda we call the Chinese debt trap. A Sabatini business model is developing in India under Modi government that puts people before profit and friendship before competition and this is the only foreseeable way forward in a post COVID pandemic world.

The resolution passed by the OIC has failed to take into account the fact that Pakistan attacked the state of Jammu and Kashmir on October 22, 1947 and is an aggressor and an occupier. It also does not address the plunder of the rivers in POJK which are having devastating effects on ecology and lives of the locals. The resolution fails to acknowledge the double colonisation of Gilgit-Baltistan by Pakistan and China and the illegal CPEC agreements.

It conveniently ignores the elections held in the occupied territory of Gilgit-Baltistan on November 15 which were highly disputed and violent protests have been the norm since. The resolution stubbornly ignores the October 26, 1947 Instrument of Accession signed by the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir with the Republic of India which makes any issues between the centre and the union territory a matter of internal affair Not only that, the resolution fails to observe the recent high turnout in the Direct Development Council (DDC) elections held in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

To pass such a one sided resolution on Kashmir that is devoid of historical facts and the current status of Jammu Kashmir can only be seen as a double standard set by OIC when it comes to India.

In today’s context a biased and one sided approach to global conflicts demonstrates only one thing that OIC is outdated and fast becoming another obsolete conglomerate that should have by now become a reminiscent of the past.

(this article was first published in India Narrative)