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August 16 – August 31

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CONTENTS

Foreword (General Observations) …………………………………………3

Americas………………………………………………………………………...6

Arms Control and Disarmament…………………………………………....10

China and East Asia………………………………………………………......16

Europe……………………………………………………………………..........18

Middle East & West Asia……………………………………………….........23

South Asia……………………………………………………………………....31

United Nations…………………………………………………………………...40

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Area Briefs: 16-31 August 2016

General Observations

Pakistan

Pakistan’s relations with its neighbours, India and Afghanistan continued to deteriorate

during the last fortnight of August. Pakistan’s offer of talks to India got a negative

response with the Indian government making clear it would only talk on Kashmir in the

context of cross-border terrorism. The Indian side got bolder in its attacks on Pakistan

when US Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to India, declared the US position was

identical to India’s on terrorism. Kerry failed to utter a single word on Indian atrocities in

Occupied Kashmir, despite the rising casualties there, but held forth on the “do more”

mantra for Pakistan. In contrast, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon not only

condemned the violence in Occupied Kashmir but also called for Pakistan and India to

resolve the issue through dialogue. Also finally woke up to events in IOK and expressed

serious concern over the human rights violations and killings there. On a visit to Pakistan,

Iyad Madani, Secretary General of the OIC, while expressing the view that that the

people of Kashmir want an end to Indian occupation, called for a referendum in the

disputed region saying “it is up to Kashmiris to decide their future.”

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government, in an effort to appease some of the criticism within

Parliament on its seeming lack of a cohesive Kashmir policy, announced the appointment

of 22 Parliamentarians as special envoys on Kashmir – who would travel to different

global centres to present Pakistan’s case on Kashmir. This move seemed meaningless

because of the selection of the envoys – many being totally unfamiliar with the history of

the Kashmir dispute – and because of a lack of a holistic Kashmir policy. Nevertheless,

the Indian government expressed objections to this move.

Afghanistan also upped the ante against Pakistan after Pakistan closed its border with

Afghanistan for an indefinite period after Afghans attacked the Chaman Friendship Gate

and set fire to the Pakistani flag. The closure of the Chaman crossing led to suspension of

the transit trade and NATO supplies.

This incident was followed by the Afghan President’s office blaming Pakistan for the 25

August terror attack in the American University in Kabul, which killed 13 people. The

Afghans said the attack had been “orchestrated” by Pakistan.

Pakistan-US relations also fared no better with US Secretary of State John Kerry

bypassing Pakistan on his visit to South Asian states. US aid to Pakistan, according to a

Report of the Congressional Research Service (CRS) noted that there had been a 73%

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decline in US security assistance to Pakistan and a 53% decrease in US economic

assistance to Pakistan since 2011.

With the US pushing for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and with

an impending decision expected towards the end of the year, Pakistan has begun its

diplomatic efforts to push for Pakistan’s case for NSG membership. Unfortunately, there

is still no clear direction to this diplomatic push with some bizarre moves being made by

the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi, inviting the

CTBTO head to visit Pakistan officially when Pakistan is not prepared to sign the CTBT.

By giving a negative response on signing of the CTBT when the CTBTO chief visits

Islamabad, Pakistan will undermine its own positioning for NSG membership.

On the domestic political front, the Altaf Hussain-MQM issue came to a head when the

former addressed his workers in Karachi and later in the US and South Africa and he

raised anti-Pakistan slogans. The speeches were so vitriolic against Pakistan that the

MQM’s leadership in Pakistan had to disassociate from Altaf Hussain but the credibility

of this delinkage was being called into question across the country and resolutions against

Altaf Hussain and the MQM were being introduced in the provincial and national

legislatures.

International

The Indo-US strategic partnership moved to a new level of defence cooperation when the

two countries formalised their logistics support understanding, which had been reached in

April 2016. On 29 August the two countries signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum

of Agreement (LEMOA) in Washington DC, which will allow the two countries the use

of each other’s military facilities. The Agreement will also allow each country to assist in

joint operations and exercises. For Pakistan this agreement raises serious strategic

concerns especially in terms of India using US facilities to target Pakistan – be it from

Afghanistan or the Gulf bases of the US. It also brings the US directly into the Indian

loop in terms of Pakistan’s defences.

The US and India are also seeking to cut Pakistan off from the Afghan loop and as a first

step a trilateral dialogue between Afghanistan, India and the US is to take place in

September 2016 which the US State Department stated would help point the way forward

for peace in Afghanistan.

The humanitarian crisis in Syria has been escalating as the fighting amongst multiple

factions increases with Turkey becoming more active in the fighting also. However, it

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seems the US and Russia may finally be able to work out a joint strategy and cooperation

so that peace talks on Syria can resume. On August 26, US Secretary of State, John

Kerry, and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, met in Geneva for this purpose. The

situation in Syria is complex because each external power is fighting its own battles –

Turkey for example is fighting Daesh and the Kurdish YPG, which is linked to the

outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK.

Turkey itself continues to suffer increasing terrorist attacks. On 26 August, a suicide

truck bombing at a police building in Cizre killed 11 officers. The PKK claimed

responsibility for the attack. Earlier, on 20 August, 51 people were killed in a suicide

attack at a wedding ceremony in Gaziantep. Daesh claimed responsibility for this attack.

Brazilian President Rousseff was ousted from office by the Senate after a year-long fight.

She was removed for breaking fiscal laws in management of the budget but she continues

to maintain she was innocent and was victimized politically.

--- Dr Shireen M Mazari

Director General

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AMERICAS

On August 28, Donald Trump said he would develop a tracking system to help authorities

control immigration.

Speaking in Iowa, he outlined his “entry-exit” programme, which would track those who overstay

their visas. He also reiterated his support for building a wall along the southern border with

Mexico and said he would stop illegal immigrants getting welfare benefits. Meanwhile former

Alaska governor Sarah Palin warned Donald Trump of “massive disappointment” if he backs

down on his plan to deport undocumented immigrants. Trump had recently signaled he would

soften his immigration plan, which was a central plank of his primary campaign. Instead of

sending all 11 million people living illegally in the US, he now says only criminals will go.

According to Palin “wishy-washy positions” on core positions would result in “massive

disappointment.”

On August 26, US vice president Joe Biden announced plans to lend railway operator

Amtrak $2.45bn to expand services and make upgrades.

Amtrak’s plans include expanding high-speed trains between Washington DC and Boston. Rail

infrastructure in the US lags many other developed countries, particularly in terms of high-speed

trains. The new trains, which Amtrak expects to begin running in 2021, will have initial speeds of

up to 160mph, but will be capable of speeds up to 186mph.The new trains will have one-third more

seating, increasing capacity by 40%.

On August 24, outgoing UKIP leader Nigel Farage urged Republicans to gather support

for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Farage appeared before 15,000 activists in Jackson, Mississippi, being introduced by and sharing

the stage with Trump. Trump is trailing his rival Hillary Clinton in the opinion polls. In a tweet

Trump said, “They will soon be calling me Mr. Brexit.” Trump introduced Farage as the man who

“brilliantly” led the UK Independent Party’s campaign to secure a vote on the future of the UK’s

40-year membership of the EU. Farage began his address by saying he had a “message of hope

and optimism” for the Republican Party. He drew on parallels between Trump’s bid for the White

House and that of the Brexit campaign’s “people’s army of ordinary citizens,” which he said

engaged successfully with the public prior to the UK’s referendum vote on whether to leave the

EU.

On August 24 more than 100 protesters gathered in Washington DC to express their fears

about a huge oil pipeline which will cross four states in the western US.

The $3.7bn Dakota Access pipeline will run 1,168 miles through Iowa, Illinois, and North and

South Dakotas. It has prompted huge protests, notably in North Dakota where Native Americans

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have halted its construction. US District Judge James Boasberg said he would make a decision on

the issue by September 9, 2016. Environmental activists believe the transporting of up to 570,000

barrels of crude oil a day will imperil local waterways. According to Energy Transport Partners,

the company behind the pipeline, the project will boost local economies and is much safer than

transporting oil by rail or road.

On August 23, four sponsors including swimwear manufacturer Speedo and fashion label

Ralph Lauren dropped disgraced US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte.

Skin care company Syneron-Candela and Japanese mattress maker Airweave also made similar

announcements. The announcements came after Lochte lied about being robbed at gunpoint by a

policeman after a night out during the Rio Olympics. A 12-time Olympic medalist, Lochte has

earned millions of dollars through endorsements. According to his biggest sponsor Speedo, “We

cannot condone behaviour that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for.”

On August 19, a US federal judge ruled that Hillary Clinton must respond in writing in a

lawsuit over her use of a private e-mail server while she was Secretary of State.

In a two-page ruling, Judge Emmet Sullivan declined to order Clinton to testify in person in a case

brought by the conservative group Judicial Watch. The Democratic presidential candidate has 30

days to respond to Judicial Watch’s questions over her use of an unauthorised server while she

was a top US diplomat.

According to Reuters on August 17, Hillary Clinton’s White House transition team reflects

the sense of careful organisation that Clinton has aimed to project in her presidential

campaign.

According to observers, the group, which the Clinton campaign named on August 16, 2016, is

evidence of Clinton’s long experience in Washington as a former secretary of state, US senator

and first lady. Transition teams help the president-elect make important decisions during the

period between the election and the inauguration, in this case from November 8 to January 20, so

the new White House occupant can fill leadership posts quickly. Ken Salazar, a former interior

secretary and US senator, will head the group. He will lead four co-chairs including former

Obama national security adviser Tom Donilon, former Obama aide Neera Tanden; former

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Maggie Williams, the director of Harvard’s Institute

of Politics.

According to NY Times on August 16, early voting could limit the time available for Donald

Trump’s campaign to turn around.

Voting starts on September 23 in Minnesota and South Dakota, the first of some 35 states and the

District of Columbia, allowing people to cast ballots at polling sites or by mail before November

8. Iowa, Illinois and two other states are expected to have ballots ready by the end of September,

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as are Illinois and two other states. Arizona, Ohio, North Carolina and Florida will begin voting

in October. Early voting has become a decisive factor in presidential elections. President Obama

was sufficiently ahead in the early vote in Iowa and Nevada in 2012 that his campaign shifted

resources from those states to others, according to former advisers, who also credited enthusiastic

early voting in 2008 for his victory in North Carolina and elsewhere. Moreover, Hillary Clinton

earned a 9-point lead over Donald Trump in Florida based on her support among white women

and the state’s growing and diverse population. Clinton surged to 48% in a general election

matchup with Trump, who took just 39%.

International

According to media reports on August 30 there is widespread criticism in the US of the

European Commission’s ruling that Apple should pay up to £11bn in back taxes.

The US Treasury termed such tax investigations as being “unfair” saying they undermined the tax

rules of individual states. Charles Schumer, a senior Democrat senator, called the move a “cheap

money grab.” The White House said the ruling could cost US taxpayers. White House spokesman

Josh Earnest argued that if Apple paid the back taxes, it might offset that amount against tax due

in the United States, which would be unfair for American taxpayers.

On August 24, the US Treasury Department warned the European Commission about

taking action against US companies over tax avoidance allegations.

The Commission is investigating tax deals granted to US companies for setting up headquarters

in Europe. The EU is expected to deliver its decision on Apple in September 2016. The company

could be hit with a multi-billion pound bill for unpaid taxes. The commission said there was “no

bias against US companies” in the probes.

The US regulator said action by Brussels would make it into a “supra-national tax authority”

overriding the tax codes of its member states. It also said Brussels was using a different set of

criteria to judge cases involving US companies, adding that potential penalties were “deeply

troubling.”

According to US media on August 24, the FBI is investigating whether Russian hackers

have carried out a series of cyber attacks on the New York Times.

Officials believe Russian intelligence could be behind the hack targeting individual reporters.

Investigators do not believe the newspapers whole network was affected.

According to CNN the intrusions go back months.

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Latin America

On August 29, Dilma Rousseff, Brazil’s suspended President defended herself during her

impeachment trial in the Senate.

Rousseff is accused of illegally manipulating the budget to hide a growing deficit. She said her

conscience was “absolutely clean” and that she had not committed any crime. Senators are due

to vote later this week on whether to remove her from office for good or whether to reinstate her.

Rousseff is accused of moving funds between government budgets, which is illegal under Brazilian

law. According to critics, she was trying to plug deficit holes in popular social programmes to

boost her chances of being re-elected for a second term in October 2014.

On August 24, the Colombian government and the Farc rebel group signed a historic peace

accord, putting an end to more than five decades of conflict.

Both sides agreed to work together to address social exclusion, to deliver justice to the victims of

the conflict and build a stable and enduring peace. The announcement was made in the Cuban

capital, Havana, where peace talks were launched in November 2012. The conflict has killed an

estimated 220,000 people and displaced millions.

BBC reported on August 23 that Venezuelan public sector workers who signed a petition

backing a referendum to recall President Nicolas Maduro could face dismissal.

President Maduro ordered that any manager in five key ministries who signed the petition should

be sacked. The petition is the first step towards a referendum, which could see Maduro ousted.

Maduro is a supporter of the Bolivarian Revolution that President Hugo Chavez founded.

According to observers the socialist policies have led to a severe economic crisis in Venezuela.

According to Peruvian officials on August 23, there are “strong indications” that a rogue

group of officers within the country’s police force had carried out illegal killings.

According to an official probe, the group was behind the killing of at least 20 civilians since 2012.

A general is among the police officers suspected. According to authorities the case resembles that

of the false positives in Colombia in which soldiers killed civilians and then passed them off as

left-wing rebels to falsely boost the number of rebels they had “neutralised.”

---Amina Afzal

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ARMS CONTROL AND DISARMAMENT

According to The Nation, on August 31, Libya shipped the last of its chemical weapons

stocks out of the country in an effort to prevent the arsenal from falling into wrong hands.

Earlier, Dawn reported on August 16 that the government of Denmark said it would help

Libya get rid of its chemical weapons by offering a container vessel, a support ship and

200 personnel towards an international operation.

A senior Libyan security officer stated that the stocks, including 23 tonnes of chemicals, shipped

out from Libya to Germany on a Danish vessel. The Deputy Prime Minister of Libya’s

Government of National Accord (GNA), Mussa el-Koni, confirmed the operation and said that

Libya’s entire chemical arsenal had been shipped out of the country. According to a German

defence ministry spokesman, the shipment will reach Germany in the coming weeks which will

then be destroyed by GEKA, Germany’s state-owned company for disposing of chemical

weapons. Denmark led the maritime operation coordinated by the UN-backed Organisation for

the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Other countries including Finland also took part

in the operation. In 2014, Denmark had played a key role in the international operation to

remove and destroy Syria’s chemical weapons. This time the OPCW and the US again asked the

country to take part in an operation that was being organised for Libya. Libya had joined the UN

convention on eliminating chemical weapons in 2004. At that time, the country had declared

24.7 tonnes of sulphur mustard, 1,390 tonnes of precursor chemicals and more than 3,500 aerial

bombs containing chemical weapons. By 2011, Libya eliminated approximately half of its

declared chemical weapons arsenal. However, the operation was interrupted by the uprising

against Muammar Gaddafi. Fears over remaining stockpiles of chemical weapons grew with the

increase of unrest and militancy in Libya. Therefore, the UN Security Council on July 22, 2016

endorsed plans to remove Libya’s remaining chemical weapons from the country aimed at

preventing them from falling into the hands of militants.

On August 29, senior UN officials called upon states to ratify a multilateral treaty

banning nuclear explosions, for both civilian and military purposes, marking the

International Day against Nuclear Tests.

In a special message for the day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated, “Today marks a

quarter of a century since the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan, ground zero

for more than 450 nuclear tests.” The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution

in 2009 to declare August 29 the International Day against Nuclear Tests. The day was marked

against nuclear tests with an aim to increase awareness and education about the effects of

nuclear weapon test explosions and for their cessation in order to achieve the goal of a nuclear-

weapon-free world. While calling on countries to work for the prompt entry into force of the

Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Ban said that states that are required to ratify the

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Treaty should not wait for others to do it first. He said that only political will could break the

deadlock over ratification of the CTBT. The CTBT bans any nuclear weapon test or any other

nuclear explosion in all environments. To date, 183 states have signed the treaty and 164 have

ratified it. The Treaty will enter into force 180 days after the date of deposit of the instruments of

ratification by all states listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty. Of the 44 States listed in Annex 2,

Pakistan, India, Israel, Iran, China, North Korea, Egypt and the US, have yet to ratify it.

According to Iran’s Fars news agency, on August 29, Iran has deployed Russian-made S-

300 surface-to-air missile defence system around its Fordow underground uranium

enrichment facility.

Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defence Base, Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli, stated

that deployment of the S-300 air defence missile system was essential for the protection of the

nuclear facility. However, Esmayeeli did not clarify whether the system was operational. He

said, “Today, Iran’s sky is one of the most secure in the Middle East.” In August 2016 Iran said

Russia had delivered the main parts of the system to the country. Iran would attain the complete

delivery of the system by the end of 2016.

On August 27, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) strongly condemned North

Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine.

On August 24, North Korea successfully test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine

off its eastern coast, marking a significant improvement in its efforts to enhance its

ballistic missiles’ capabilities.

South Korean military said in a statement that the missile, launched from a coastal city Sinpo,

flew 500 kilometres towards Japan. According to experts, the missile was fired at a high angle

and its trajectory indicates that the full range of the missile would be 1000 kilometres at an

ordinary trajectory. North Korea’s ability to fire a missile from a submarine can also help the

country evade a new anti-missile system THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) planned

to be deployed in South Korea. The latest test follows annual joint military exercises between the

US and South Korea. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, condemned the test

saying that the missile had reached Japan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) for the first

time. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the test and called it a destabilising act

for regional stability. Furthermore, the UNSC also condemned the North’s latest SLBM test. The

Council stated that North Korea’s string of missile tests is in grave violation of its international

obligations under relevant Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094

(2013) and 2270 (2016). The UNSC also called upon all the member states to increase their

efforts to implement fully its measures imposed on North Korea, particularly the comprehensive

measures contained in resolution 2270 (2016).

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On August 26, Myanmar’s Parliament approved the government’s proposal for becoming

a party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear

Facilities and the Convention on the Nuclear Safety.

In order to support the country’s efforts to become party to the Conventions, members of

Myanmar’s parliament stressed over the prevention of nuclear material trafficking and physical

protection of the nuclear facilities. Members of parliament also emphasised the need for the

enactment of laws regarding nuclear safety and security in the country.

On August 26, Pakistan’s Chief Project Director of Submarines informed the National

Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence that China would provide eight submarines

to Pakistan Navy by 2028.

While providing a detailed overview of challenges and future plans of Pakistan Navy, the Chief

project director stated that under a defence deal agreed to between China and Pakistan in July

2015, China would manufacture 4 submarines on its own territory and supply them to Pakistan

by mid 2022-23. The remaining 4 submarines will be constructed in Pakistan and will be handed

over to Pakistan Navy in 2028.

On August 25, China’s Defence Ministry expressed its concerns over Indian plans of

deploying advanced cruise missiles along the disputed border with China.

Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said “maintaining peace and stability in the

border region was an important consensus reached by both countries.” Leaders from China and

India vowed in 2015 to cool a festering border dispute, which dates back to a brief border war in

1962, but the disagreement remains unresolved. Indian military officials are planning to equip

regiments deployed on the China border with the BrahMos missiles as part of ongoing efforts to

build up military and civilian infrastructure capabilities in that area. China lays claim to more

than 90,000 sq kilometres controlled by India in the eastern sector of the Himalayas while India

accuses China of occupying 38,000 sq kilometres of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the

west.

Hindustan Times reported on August 24 that documents regarding secret plans and

combat capabilities of stealth submarines being built by the French shipbuilder, DCNS,

for the Indian navy have been leaked.

The leak, first reported in The Australian newspaper, contains 22,400 pages providing details on

the entire secret combat capabilities of six Scorpène-class diesel-electric submarines being built

for the Indian navy. The report by The Australian newspaper stated that the leaked data included

technical manuals and other sensitive information on the submarines’ secret stealth technology,

torpedo-launching systems and intelligence-gathering systems. DCNS, a naval contractor almost

wholly owned by the French government, is building submarines with a local partner in a

Mumbai shipyard. Apart from India, the leaks have also triggered alarms in countries including

Malaysia, and Chile where DCNS has already sold some versions of the submarine. Brazil will

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receive a variant of the Scorpène-class submarines in coming years. Repercussions of the leak

will also spark grave concerns in Australia as the country chose DCNS for its biggest defence

procurement deal worth $38 billion in April, 2016. However, the leaked documents do not

contain any details of the vessel currently being designed for the Australian fleet. Both France

and India are investigating the incident. Indian Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar said, “we

will find out what has happened” and “I understand there has been a case of hacking.”

According to Indian naval officers, the incident has taken place outside India because the leaked

documents appear to show different configurations than what was finalised for India. The

officers also stressed that the damage done by the leakage of data does not seem to be

substantial. France also sought to play down security risks saying that the leaked data was a

case of theft and dishonesty by an individual. French sources said that the documents seemed to

have been stolen in 2011 by a former French employee and DCNS has not shown any

negligence. French officials said that the documents were not classified as they are focused only

on the operational elements of the submarines. The DCNS shipbuilders termed it as an incident

of economic warfare and an attack on the company by those whom it beat for a $38 billion

contract with Australia.

On August 22, the Control Arms Coalition said that western countries were breaching

international law by selling weapons to Saudi Arabia that are being used to hit civilians in

Yemen.

The Control Arms Coalition is a group or an international alliance of non-governmental

organisations working for international arms control. In 2011, Control Arms Secretariat was

established which acts as a coordinating body for Control Arms Coalition. Director of the

Control Arms Coalition, Anna MacDonald, said that Britain, France and the US are in open

contempt of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The countries continue to export huge quantities of

weapons, including explosive weapons that are resulting in huge civilian casualties in Yemen.

According to a study conducted by the group, France authorised arms licenses worth $18 billion

to Saudi Arabia in 2015, followed by the US at $5.9 billion and Britain at $4 billion. Anna

MacDonald expressed her concern while speaking to a news briefing as week-long UN

negotiations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of ATT began in Geneva. The ATT lacks a

mandatory public reporting system for the $100 billion global arms trade. ATT was adopted by

the UN General Assembly on April 3, 2013 and entered into force on December 24, 2014. It is

the first global treaty aimed at regulating conventional arms trade. The treaty obligates member

states to make an assessment on how the transferred weapons would be used. If there is risk that

a proposed arms export to another country may contribute to serious human rights abuses then

those arms must not be transferred. This is the key element of the treaty, found in Articles 6 and

7. The treaty has been signed by 130 states and ratified by 84 states. Britain and France have

ratified the treaty while the US has only signed it. Pakistan and India have yet to sign.

On August 21, Iran released images of its first indigenously built long-range air missile

defence system.

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Iran’s Bavar-373 air defence system is designed to intercept cruise missiles, drones, combat

aircraft and ballistic missiles. Pictures of the system were released to the public during the

exhibition of Iran Aviation Industries Organisation in Tehran. The missile defence system was

commissioned in 2010 following the suspension of a deal with Moscow on the delivery of similar

S-300 defence systems due to nuclear sanctions adopted by the UN over Iran’s nuclear

programme. However, Moscow revived the deal after the implementation of the nuclear

agreement between Iran and P5+1 in 2016. Iran’s Defence Minister, Hossein Dehghan, said,

“we did not intend to make an Iranian version of the S-300, we wanted to build an Iranian

system, and we built it.” He also said that Iran is aiming to develop sea-based supersonic cruise

missiles.

On August 19, countries on an UN-mandated panel adopted a report seeking

commencement of negotiations in 2017 on a legally binding instrument to ban nuclear

weapons, leading to their total elimination.

The report was adopted on the final day of the open-ended working on nuclear disarmament

(OEWG) in Geneva by a vote of 68 to 22, with 9 abstentions. Thai ambassador Thane

Thongthakdi, who chaired the OEWG, appreciated the move. Mexico termed the adoption of the

recommendation as a significant contribution to nuclear disarmament in two decades. In the

next step, proposals for negotiations will be tabled in the UN for further discussion in 2017, after

which formal negotiations on legally binding instrument will begin. This move has been pursued

because little progress towards disarmament has been witnessed under the Non Proliferation

Treaty (NPT), which obliges the five declared nuclear states to “pursue negotiations in good

faith” towards “cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament.” OEWG expected

the report would pass without objection as the recommendation to ban nuclear weapons was

supported by at least 107 states during the OEWG session. However, Australia surprised

observers by objecting and attempting to derail the adoption of the report. Australia single-

handedly forced a vote on a report that had been expected to pass unanimously. An Australian

diplomat, Ian McConville, told the meeting “a simple ban treaty would not facilitate the

reduction in one nuclear weapon. It might even harden the resolve of those possessing nuclear

weapons not to reduce their arsenals.” Australian officials said that although the adoption of a

legally binding instrument to ban nuclear weapons might seem to be a appealing way to totally

eradicate nuclear weapons, it would actually divert attention from the sustained, practical steps

needed for effective disarmament. Australia opposes the ban on nuclear weapons because the

country relies heavily on the US extended nuclear deterrence. Japan’s ambassador to the UN

conference on disarmament also expressed disappointment over the Australian move.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported on August 17 that North Korea confirmed it has

resumed plutonium production by reprocessing spent fuel rods at its Yongbyon nuclear

reactor.

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According to Kyodo, North Korea’s Atomic Energy Institute, which has control over Yongbyon,

said it had been producing highly enriched uranium and also that North Korea would not stop

nuclear tests as long as the US posed a threat. However, the Institute did not mention the amount

of produced plutonium and enriched uranium. In June 2016 the IAEA also asserted that North

Korea has opened its Yongbyon nuclear facility in order to produce plutonium. The US

Department of State acknowledged that it was aware of North Korea’s plutonium production and

called it a clear violation of UN sanctions. According to experts, North Korea may have

enlarged its fissile material stockpile and could have added six or more weapons during the last

18 months.

On August 16, The Nation cited a report by Stimson Centre saying that “the US nuclear

weapons stored at Turkey’s Incirlik airbase near Syria are at risk of being captured by

terrorists or other hostile forces.”

Critics remain worried about an estimated stockpile of 50 nuclear bombs at Incirlik, just 110

kilometres from the border with war-torn Syria. The matter took on fresh urgency in July, 2016,

following the attempted coup in Turkey, in which the base’s Turkish commander was arrested on

suspicion of complicity in the plot. The report raised suspicion saying that it was an

unanswerable question whether the US could have maintained control of the weapons in the

event of a protracted civil conflict in Turkey. Laicie Heeley, the report’s co-author, stated that it

was a risky attempt by the US to have approximately 50 nuclear weapons stationed at Incirlik.

This issue of nuclear weapons at the airbase has remained a subject of debate for a long time.

Kori Schake, a fellow at the California-based Hoover Institution, stated in a written debate in the

New York Times that “American nuclear forces cannot be used without codes.” However, Laicie

has argued in the report that though there are significant safeguards in place, they do not

entirely eliminate the risk associated with theft.

---Abdul Moiz Khan

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CHINA & EAST ASIA

China

On August 25, China’s Defence Ministry spokesman, Wu Qian, said that the Chinese

military would provide training for Syrian armed forces.

Qian said the training will take place in China and is intended “to ease the humanitarian crisis

in Syria.” The announcement comes after a Chinese military delegation headed by Rear Admiral

Guan Youfei, met Syrian Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lieutenant General Fahd

Jasim al-Furayj in Damascus. China is the only permanent member of the UNSC which is so far

not involved in military operations in Syria. Syria is facing civil war since 2011, with its

government fighting a number of rebel groups, including Daesh and Al-Nusra Front.

According to Reuters on August 29, China’s ruling Communist Party appointed Wu

Yingjie as Tibet’s new party secretary.

Analysts say the new appointment comes ahead of a key party congress in 2017, during which

President Xi Jinping will further strengthen his hold on power. Tibet is one of the country’s most

sensitive regions and has seen sporadic outbreaks of violence in the past. Beijing accuses the

Dalai Lama of agitating for independence.

North Korea

BBC reported on August 31, quoting South Korean government officials, that North

Korea executed its vice premier, Kim Yong-jin for showing disrespect during a meeting

presided over by leader Kim Jong-Un.

Kim Yong-jin would be the highest-ranking official to have been executed since 2013. In

December 2013, North Korea executed Jang Song-thaek, once considered as the country’s most

influential official, on charges of factionalism, corruption and plotting to overthrow Kim Jong-

un’s government.

Philippines

On August 21, Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, threatened to withdraw his country

from the United Nations.

The reaction comes after the UN urged Duterte to stop extrajudicial killings in his fight against

illegal drugs and ensuring law enforcement compliance with international human rights

obligations. Authorities in Philippines says more than 1900 drug suspects have been killed so far

by the police since Duterte rose to power in June 2016.

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Myanmar

According to Reuters on August 30, Aung San Suu Kyi is launching a major push to end

decades of fighting between rebels and the military with many of the country’s myriad

armed groups gathering for a peace conference in the capital Naypyitaw.

The peace conference comes amid growing criticism against Aung San Suu Kyi’ government

over issues relating to ethnic conflicts in Myanmar that is home to more than 100 ethnic groups.

Myanmar’s government and the rebels insist that they are willing to talk. However, its military

has demanded the rebels lay down their arms first.

---Muhammad Abdul Qadeer

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EUROPE

According to the Italian coastguard on August 30 some 6,500 migrants were rescued off

the coast of Libya.

About 40 coordinated rescue missions took place about 20km off the Libyan town of Sabratha.

Video footage shows Eritrean and Somalian migrants, cheering and some swimming to rescue

vessels, while others carried babies aboard. More than 1,100 migrants were rescued in the same

area on August 28, 2016.

According to a European Commission ruling on August 30, Ireland must recover up to

£11bn from Apple in back taxes.

Following a 3-year investigation, the Commission has concluded that Apple’s Irish tax benefits

are illegal. Ireland enabled the company to pay substantially less than other businesses, in effect

paying a corporate tax rate of no more than 1%. Both Ireland and Apple said they disagreed

with the record penalty and would appeal against it. According to the Commission’s

investigation, Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple, which enabled it to pay substantially

less tax than other businesses over many years. The standard rate of Irish corporate tax is

12.5%. The Commissions’ investigation concluded that Apple had effectively paid 1% tax on its

European profits in 2003 and about 0.005% in 2014.

According to BBC on August 30, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls upset political

rivals and historians by invoking the symbol of the French republic, Marianne, in the row

over “burkini” beach bans.

“Her breast’s exposed because she’s feeding the people; she isn’t wearing a veil because she’s

free,” he said. One historian said his use of Marianne as a feminist symbol was “moronic”.

Mathilde Larrere, an expert on the French Revolution, said Marianne was an allegory and the

use of her naked breast “just an artistic code” and nothing to do with femininity.

On August 30, French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron resigned from the

government.

The resignation comes ahead of an expected centrist bid for the presidency in the 2017 election.

The 38-year-old former investment banker has been a controversial figure in Socialist President

Francois Hollande’s government. He has questioned France’s 35-hour workweek and blamed

high unemployment and weak economic growth on a lack of competitiveness. Michel Sapin will

replace him. The move was announced by Macron himself in a message to supporters and the

French Presidency.

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On August 29, Xavier Bertrand, the president of the Calais region said that migrants in

Calais seeking asylum in the UK should be allowed to lodge their claim in France.

Bertrand said people living in the camp known as the Jungle should be able to apply at a

“hotspot” in France rather than waiting to reach Britain.UK officials currently check passports

in France, stopping many from entering. According to the Home Office, “those in need of

protection should seek asylum in the first safe country they enter.” The Jungle camp has become

the focal point of France’s refugee crisis with up to 9,000 people living there. Many try to

circumvent passport checks everyday by hiding inside vehicles entering the port and the Channel

Tunnel to reach Britain.

On August 29, attackers rammed a car through the gates of the National Institute of

Criminology in Belgium, starting a fire to destroy forensic evidence.

Forensic analysis linked to criminal cases is carried out at the site, which is the most important

forensic test centre in Belgium. The independent institute, linked to Belgium’s federal justice

body, is situated in a suburb in the north of Brussels. Belgium’s terror alert level remains high

since the bomb attacks on Brussels airport and the city’s metro in March 2016.

According to Sigmar Gabriel, the German economy minister on August 29 trade

negotiations between the US and EU had effectively failed.

The talks began in 2013 with the aim of removing a wide range of barriers to transatlantic trade

and investment. However, they have proved controversial in both Europe and the US. Many

critics are hoping that Gabriel’s assessment is proven right. The planned agreement is known as

the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP. The two sides are seeking to

eliminate most tariffs and to make it easier for American and European business to comply with

regulations when selling goods into each other’s markets. Opponents have rejected the economic

analysis, criticising the potential impact on the environment and consumers.

On August 28, German vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said that the future of the EU

could be in doubt if the UK’s exit is handled badly.

Gabriel is economy minister in Germany’s governing coalition and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s

deputy. He said that because of Brexit the world regarded Europe as an unstable continent.

Gabriel warned the EU would suffer badly if other states followed Britain’s lead and that the UK

could not keep only “nice things” about Europe while taking no responsibility. His statement

follows a minister’s meeting summoned by Theresa May to discuss ideas for the UK’s

withdrawal. Downing Street said Brexit was “top” of the prime minister’s agenda. According to

reports however May’s cabinet remains split over leaving the single market.

20

On August 27, British Prime Minister Theresa May ordered a review into how ethnic

minorities and white working class people are treated by public services such as the NHS,

schools, police and the courts.

The audit is aimed at highlighting racial and socio-economic disparities and showing how

outcomes differ due to background, class, gender and income. A recent report by the Equality

and Human Rights Commission found racial inequality remained “entrenched” in Britain.

According to the report black graduates earn on average 23% less than white ones and are far

more likely to be unemployed. May acknowledged that not everyone was treated equally in

society and there were too many cases of “burning injustices” arising from people’s race and

background.

On August 26, France’s highest administrative court suspended a ban on burkinis that had

spread to a dozen French coastal cities, on the ground that the bans violated fundamental

liberties.

The burkini bans have exposed the country’s problems grappling with religious tolerance after

attacks on a Normandy church and the Riviera city of Nice in July 2016. The bans had been

justified on public order grounds, and Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls appeared to defend

the officials who imposed them. Following the court’s decision however, Interior Minister

Bernard Cazeneuve said a law against the garments would be ruled unconstitutional. Several

French mayors however continue to maintain the burkini bans despite the ruling by France’s

superior court. Among those continuing the ban is Cap d’Ail, near Monaco. In a related news

former French president Nicholas Sarkozy said he would change the country's constitution to

ban full-body burkini swimsuits if he is re-elected to his former role in the April 2017 election.

Positioning himself as a defender of French values and tough on immigration, the conservative

said he would impose a nationwide ban on the swimwear that has divided the Socialist-led

government and dominated French political debate through much of August.

On August 25, the death toll in the Italian earthquake rose to at least 247 as thousands of

rescuers continued efforts to find survivors.

Many were believed trapped in ruined Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto, in

mountainous central Italy. More than 4,300 rescuers are using heavy lifting equipment and their

bare hands. Many of the victims were children and there were warnings the toll could rise

further.

According to a report by think tank British Future on August 25, the Brexit referendum

outcome was a “vote of no confidence” in existing policies.

According to the Report, the vote to leave the EU is a chance to fix the country’s immigration

system and restore trust in controlled migration. It also said public expectations of curbs on low-

skilled migration must be met. The think tank released a survey suggesting almost half of Britons

21

do not believe the government will reach its net migration targets. Ministers have pledged to

reduce net migration to below 100,000 by 2020. The report comes ahead of the release on of the

latest net migration figures.

On August 24, Owen Smith said he would try to stop Theresa May formally triggering

Brexit unless she promises a referendum on the final deal or calls a general election to

approve it.

Smith said his party should not give the Tories a “blank cheque” on negotiations. However,

Jeremy Corbyn said Parliament had to “work with” the result of the referendum. Ministers said

they would deliver on the “decisive” referendum verdict. The prime minister has said she will

not begin the formal legal process of separation by activating Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty in

2016, reiterating that a “sensible and orderly departure” from the EU will take time.

On August 23, pictures emerged of French police trying to enforce the controversial

“burkini ban” on a woman on a beach in the southern city of Nice.

The woman is seen removing a veil and baring her arms after Police issued a fine to her.

According to Nice’s deputy mayor the removal of burkinis was a “necessity” after the deadly

jihadist attack in July 2016. The French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM) has expressed

concern at the direction the public debate was taking. A bid to overturn the ban is due to come

before France’s highest administrative court on August 25, 2016.

On August 22 the leaders of Italy, France and Germany insisted that Britain’s vote to

leave the EU did not spell the beginning of the end for the bloc.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said that the EU was not finished after Brexit. He was

welcoming the French president, François Hollande, and German chancellor, Angela Merkel,

for a mini-summit of the EU’s three largest nations. The summit was organised to chart a new

course for the EU following the UK referendum. The leaders pledged to revive it by bolstering

EU security, boosting economic growth and giving the Continent’s youth a future The trilateral

meeting came as the European Commission’s President, Jean-Claude Juncker, claimed at a

forum in Austria that national borders were “the worst invention ever made by politicians,”

prompting Theresa May’s spokeswoman to respond that the claim was “not something the prime

minister would agree with.”

On August 19, Germany interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, came out in favour of a

partial ban on full-face veils.

“We agree that we reject the burqa, we agree that we want to introduce a legal requirement to

show one’s face in places where it is necessary for our society’s coexistence – at the wheel, at

public offices, at the registry office, in schools and universities, in the civil service, in court,” he

said after a meeting with regional counterparts from his conservative party. De Maizière said

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that the full-face veil “does not belong in our cosmopolitan country”. He indicated that

outlawing the full face veil only under certain circumstances – as opposed to the blanket ban

favoured by the hard right of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Union bloc would be likely

to win approval in parliament. Merkel’s right-left “grand coalition” holds an overwhelming

majority in the Bundestag.

According to Save the Children on August 17, the number of migrants arriving in the

Greek islands has nearly doubled in recent weeks, putting pressure on overcrowded

camps.

So far in August 2016 almost 1400 arrivals have been reported in Greece compared with 1,721

in the entire month of May. Reports suggest that the increase is partly down due to insecurity

since the failed coup in Turkey during July 2016. After more than a million migrants crossed to

Europe in 2015, Turkey agreed in March 2016 to help stem the flow. Most of the arrivals had

come to the Greek islands from the west coast of Turkey. Since the EU signed a deal with Turkey

to halt the influx, the numbers have dropped dramatically but there are fears the reduction may

not be sustainable.

According to RT News on August 17, 21 countries in Eastern and Central Europe want

their citizens to return from abroad as emigration has led to a 7% drop in GDP.

According to the IMF, the figure could grow to 9% if the trend continues. Countries such as

Latvia, whose population has been falling since the early 1990s due to low birth rates, have seen

hundreds of thousands of people emigrate. After Latvia joined the European Union in 2004,

many people left the country to seek a better life in the bloc’s more prosperous states. The Baltic

region has been hit most by the trend. According to the IMF, Eastern European migrants’

education levels tend to be higher thus inspiring a Latvian institute to launch the ‘I want you

back’ campaign, inviting Latvians to tell their relatives and friends abroad they are welcome to

return to the country.

--- Amina Afzal

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MIDDLE EAST & WEST ASIA

Iran

On August 25, Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Mahmoud Alavi, announced that Hesham

Azizi, also known as Abu Hafs al Baloushi, leader of a Sunni militant group Ansar al

Furqan, had been killed.

Ansar al Furqan is a splinter group of Jundallah, a militant group that carried out several

attacks against security forces and civilian targets in Sistan province. Iran’s restive Sistan

province in the southeast of the country and on the borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan is

home to the Baloch minority and has long been a victim of Sunni militant activity against the

government. The province is also part of a well-known drug trafficking route.

Iraq

On August 28, at least 18 people were killed in a terrorist attack in the town of Ain al-

Tamer.

Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack. The attackers were armed with suicide vests, rifles

and grenades. Ain al-Tamer is located 50 kilometres from Karbala and bordering Anbar

province, which remains a haven for militants. According to an online statement by Daesh, its

men, all of them Iraqis, fought the security forces for several hours before detonating their

suicide vests. According to Iraqi military commanders, the attackers came from the Anbar desert

to the west, a region that is overwhelmingly Sunni and borders Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria.

On August 21, thirty-six men, convicted over the 2014 massacre of some 1,700 military

recruits were hanged in Iraq.

The men had been found guilty of involvement in the ‘Speicher’ massacre, named after a base

near Tikrit where the recruits were kidnapped before being executed in a massacre claimed by

Daesh. Following the death of more than 300 people in the July 2016 single bomb attack in

Baghdad, Prime Minister Haider al Abadi ordered fast execution of inmates sentenced to death

in terrorism cases. The trials that led to the death sentences have been severely criticised by

rights groups for not meeting basic standards.

Israel

Dawn reported on August 16 that Nada Kiswanson, a lawyer working with the

International Criminal Court (ICC) on possible Israeli war crimes against Palestinians,

accused Israel of trying to intimidate her and urged the Dutch government to intervene.

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Nada had been receiving death threats since the start of the year by phone, email, flyers and

even flowers left at her door. The Palestinian Authority joined the ICC in January 2015.

Palestinian officials have urged the court to investigate alleged war crimes during the 2014

Gaza conflict. The ICC has opened a preliminary inquiry into possible crimes by both sides in

Palestinian territories. However, Israel, which is not a signatory to the ICC, has strongly

opposed any attempt to open an investigation into alleged war crimes.

Syria

On August 30, one of the Daesh’s top leader and the main spokesman for the group, Abu

Mohamed al-Adnani, was killed in the Syrian province of Aleppo.

Daesh news agency Amaq said Adnani was killed while monitoring military operations in

Aleppo. The US said coalition forces had carried out an air strike targeting Adnani. The US

described him as the “principal architect” of group’s attacks on the West. Adnani had a $5

million US bounty on his head. He was originally from the western Syrian province of Idlib and

joined the militant movement in Iraq, where he served under late Al Qaeda leader Abu Musab

al-Zarqawi.

On August 26, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei

Lavrov, met in Geneva in an effort to resume peace talks for Syria.

Both leaders said they had cleared key obstacles in the way of restoring a nationwide truce in

Syria and opening up aid deliveries but had yet to reach a final deal. John Kerry said, “Today I

can say that we achieved clarity on the path forward for a revamped cessation of hostilities.” He

also mentioned that critical sticking points remain unresolved and experts would remain in

Geneva to finalise details. The UN envoy, Staffan de Mistura, also briefly attended the meeting

with Kerry and Lavrov. After missing an initial target date of August 1, 2016, de Mistura had

hoped to restart the intra-Syrian discussions toward political transition in late August 2016. He

suspended talks in late April 2016 following resumption in fighting. Failure to reach an overall

deal highlights the increasingly complex situation on ground in Syria.

On August 26, Syrian rebels and their families began evacuating the long-besieged

Damascus suburb of Daraya as part of an agreement reached with the government.

Under the terms of the deal, around 700 gunmen would be allowed safe exit to the opposition-

held northern province of Idlib, while some 4,000 civilians would be taken temporarily to a

shelter south of Daraya. The surrender of Daraya marks a success for the Syrian government. It

provides a further boost for the Syrian army as it fights opposition forces for control over

Aleppo. Daraya remains besieged and blockaded by government forces, with only one food

delivery by the UN allowed to reach the district during this time. It has been held by a coalition

of ultraconservative Islamic militias, including the Martyrs of Islam Brigade.

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Supported by warplanes from the US-led coalition, Turkish special forces units and jets

launched an offensive entitled “Operation Euphrates Shield” on August 24 against Daesh

along the Turkish border in northern Syria.

On August 25, at least 10 Turkish tanks crossed the border into Syria.

The expansion of Turkish troops in Syria came after Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters along with

Turkish Special Forces and tanks, and supported by Turkish and US air power, took over the

Daesh-controlled town of Jarablus. It was the first time warplanes from NATO member Turkey

have struck Syria since November 2015, when Turkey downed a Russian jet near the border, and

the first significant incursion by Turkish special forces since a brief operation to relocate the

tomb of Suleyman Shah. Both Turkey and the US hope that by eliminating Daesh from the

border, they can deprive it of the smuggling route being used for illicit trading. Turkey also

remains concerned about the growing influence of Syrian Kurdish militant groups along its

border, where they have captured large areas of territory. Ankara sees them as being allied with

Kurdish militants fighting an insurgency in Turkey. More Turkish tanks were sent into northern

Syria to support rebels there, and the Turkish military seemed to be succeeding in clearing

Daesh militants from the border area, and preventing Kurdish militias from seizing more

territory in the region. Turkey also demanded that Kurdish fighters retreat within a week.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and senior government officials have made it clear that the

aim of this operation is as much about stopping the Kurdish YPG from seizing more territory as

it is about eliminating the group.

On August 22, the Russian military said that its aircraft operating from an Iranian air base

to conduct strikes in Syria had now completed their tasks, adding that the Hamadan base

may be used again.

On August 17, Russia dismissed a suggestion from Washington that Moscow is violating

a UNSC resolution by using an Iranian air base for its bombing raids on Syria.

Earlier, on August 16, Russia said its warplanes flew out of Nojeh airbase near Hamedan for the

first time to conduct air raids against militant groups in Syria. Until now Moscow had only flown

raids out of its bases in Syria and Russia. The latest deployment marked a major shift in the

Russian bombing campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Russian long-range

Tupolev-22M3 bombers and Sukhoi-34 fighter bombers used the air base to launch air strikes

against armed groups in Syria. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, denied that Moscow

could be in breach of a ban on supply or transfer of warplanes to Iran without prior approval of

the UNSC. He insisted that there was neither any sale, nor supply, or transfer of warplanes to

Iran. He added that the UN Charter does not permit the US-led coalition’s bombing raids on

Syria from Turkey’s Incirlik air base. Iran also defended Russia’s use of the base saying that the

presence of Iran and Russia at the request of Syrian government is legal. According to Iran’s

foreign ministry, Russia had stopped using the base for strikes in Syria, bringing a halt to an

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unprecedented deployment that was criticised both by the White House and by some Iranian

lawmakers who called the move a breach of Iran’s Constitution. Russian defence ministry

spokesman, Major General Igor Konashenkov, said, “further use of the Hamadan air base in

Iran by the Russian Aerospace Forces will be carried out on the basis of mutual agreements to

fight terrorism and depending on the prevailing circumstances in Syria”. According to military

analysts, use of the Iranian base could help boost Moscow’s firepower by cutting the time it

takes for its jets to reach their targets.

On August 21, Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commander of the US military operations

against Daesh said that the US would increase the tempo of operations in support of

ground forces in Iraq and Syria.

The Commander further reiterated that US-backed forces in Iraq and Syria were preparing to

move on the Iraqi city of Mosul and the Syrian city of Raqqa for “conclusive urban battles.” He

also said that acceleration would include intensified air and artillery strikes and also stepped-up

efforts to equip and train local forces. It will, however, not include an immediate expansion of

the US ground role. Earlier, on August 19, the US sent fighter jets to eastern Syria when Syrian

government war planes conducted strikes on Kurdish groups around the city. A small number of

US Special Operations forces are also based around the city of Hasakah as part of the effort to

build up a local force capable of moving on Raqqa. There are about 300 US Special Operations

troops in Syria and about 6,000 US troops in Iraq.

On August 19, two Russian ships in the Mediterranean launched long-range cruise

missiles against militant targets in Syria.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the strikes were part of Moscow’s bombing

campaign in support of the Syrian regime. It said two of its Buyan class corvettes including its

new Zelyony Dol patrol ship staged three launches of Kalibr cruise missiles against targets in

Syria linked to the former Al Nusra Front group, which has renamed itself Fateh al Sham Front.

The missiles destroyed a command centre and a terrorist base west of Aleppo and also an arms

factory. Russia dispatched the Zelyony Dol corvette, built in 2015, to the Mediterranean in

February 2016 after it joined the Black Sea fleet based in Crimea.

Turkey

On August 30, US officials announced that Turkish and Kurdish forces in northern Syria

had reached a temporary agreement to stop fighting each other.

Colonel John Thomas, spokesman for the US Central Command said, “It’s a loose agreement for

at least the next couple of days and we are hoping that it will solidify”. He also said that the

Turkish and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), made up largely of Kurdish fighters from the

People’s Protection Units (YPG), had opened communications with the US and between each

27

other. The White House also appreciated the apparent halt in fighting between anti-Daesh forces

in Syria. The US has long been trying to contain an escalation in violence between Turkish

forces operating in and around the Syrian border town of Jarablus and YPG fighters in the same

region. On August 29, US Defence Secretary, Ashton Carter, urged Turkey to stay focused on

fighting Daesh and not target the YPG. He said a continued Turkish push would complicate the

fight against Daesh. Both sides are backed by the US in their fight against Daesh. However,

Turkey views the YPG as a threat because of its close links to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party

(PKK).

On August 26, a suicide truck bombing on a police building in the town of Cizre killed 11

officers.

The attack was claimed by outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The attack came two days

after the Turkish army launched an offensive in Syria that the government says is targeting both

Daesh and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). The PKK said it carried out the assault

in retaliation for the ‘continued isolation’ of the group’s jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan and the

‘lack of information’ about his welfare. Cizre has been frequently hit by renewed violence

between the PKK and government forces since the collapse of a ceasefire in 2015.

On August 22, Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, vowed to completely

cleanse Daesh from the border region, after a Daesh-linked suicide bomber attacked a

Kurdish wedding.

On August 20, at least 51 people were killed in a suicide attack at a wedding ceremony in

Gaziantep, Turkey.

Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said the blast near the Syria border was the “result of

a suicide bomber aged between 12 and 14 who either detonated the bomb or others detonated

it”. He also accused Daesh for carrying out the bomb attack. The suicide bomber targeted a

wedding ceremony that many Kurds attended. Daesh militants have targeted Kurdish gatherings

in an apparent effort to further inflame ethnic tensions. Daesh is not the only threat for Turkey. It

is also concerned that attempts by Syrian Kurds to extend their control along the common border

could fuel the Kurdish insurgency on Turkish territory.

On August 20, Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, vowed Ankara would play a

more active role in the next six months in efforts to solve the Syrian conflict.

Yildirim said, “Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can remain temporarily during a transition

period as he is one of the actors today no matter whether we like it or not”. However, he stressed

that Assad has no role to play in Syria’s future. Turkey has been majorly affected by the Syrian

war as it is hosting over 2.7 million Syrian refugees at a cost of $12 billion. On August 11, 2016,

Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, even called on Moscow to carry out joint

operations against Daesh in Syria. He also made a surprise visit to Tehran on August 18, for

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talks on regional issues. The developments signify a more proactive Turkish foreign policy

regarding regional matters.

On August 20, according to Der Spiegel, a German news magazine, the Turkish

government sent German authorities requests for 40 searches and three extraditions

linked to supporters of Fethullah Gulen.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused a network of schools, charities and businesses led by

Gulen, and built up in Turkey and abroad over decades, of infiltrating state institutions and

planning the failed coup. Citing classified documents, Spiegel said Turkey’s secret service had

asked Germany’s foreign intelligence agency (BND) for help in extraditing Gulen supporters to

Turkey. A 3 million strong Turkish community lives in Germany and concern is growing that

tension between Erdogan backers and Gulen supporters is spilling over onto German soil.

Erdogan supporters have demonstrated in several German cities since the July 2016 attempted

coup.

On August 19, the Turkish parliament approved a deal to normalise ties with Israel.

Under the deal, Israel will pay Turkey $20 million in compensation for an Israeli commando

raid on a Gaza bound Turkish aid ship in 2010 that left 10 Turks dead. According to state-run

Anadolu news agency, Israel will hand Turkey the aforementioned amount within 25 working

days of the agreement coming into force, which families of the victims will receive in due course.

Under the terms of the deal, both sides agreed individual Israeli citizens or those acting on

behalf of the Israeli government would not be held liable either criminally or financially for the

raid. The agreement also involves an easing of the naval blockade on the Hamas-controlled

Gaza Strip allowing Turkey to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians via Israel’s Ashdod port.

On August 17, three bomb attacks in eastern Turkey killed at least 14 people and

wounded 300 others.

Turkish leaders accused the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for carrying out the bombings. The

attacks came following a statement from PKK top commander who threatened further attacks in

Turkish cities. According to Turkish politicians, the PKK was collaborating with supporters of

US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. President Erdogan, who has come under fire over the

massive post-coup crackdown and human rights in Turkey, said his country was facing a battle

against both the PKK and the Gulen movement.

Yemen

On August 29, at least 71 people were killed in a suicide car bombing at an army

recruitment centre in Aden.

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Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack. The Yemeni army, supported by a Saudi-led

coalition, is training young recruits to join its nationwide war against Houthi rebels and their

allies, as well as other militants. The killed recruits were among 5,000 newly enrolled soldiers

being trained. Aden is the temporary base of Yemen’s internationally recognised government,

which has been battling rebels and militants. Attacks in Aden are often claimed by either Al

Qaeda or Daesh. Both the groups have taken advantage of the crisis in Yemen to make gains in

the southern and southeastern regions.

On August 25, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, announced a fresh international peace

initiative for Yemen aimed at forming a unity government to resolve the conflict.

The announcement came during a multilateral meeting held in Riyadh to discuss the situation in

Yemen. Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International

Cooperation, took part in the joint meeting between GCC Foreign Ministers and the US

Secretary of State John Kerry and British Minister for the Middle East and Africa Tobias

Ellwood. The meeting was presided over by the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir and was

also attended by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and GCC

Secretary-General, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. The meeting discussed the latest

developments in Yemen and the current efforts to bring about peace there. Following the

meeting, Kerry said, “This war needs to end and it needs to end as quickly as possible.” Kerry

outlined a plan which offers the Houthis participation in government in exchange for an end to

violence and a surrender of weapons. Kerry warned that arm shipments from Iran to rebels in

Yemen pose a threat to the US and could not continue. The GCC ministers renewed their support

to the UN envoy’s efforts to reach a consensus on a road map including a comprehensive

political and security solution in Yemen, in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution

2216 and the Gulf Initiatives. Kerry also met King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and the

country’s deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss ways to end the conflict in

Yemen.

On August 20, following concerns over civilian casualties, the US military announced a

reduction in the number of intelligence advisers directly supporting the Saudi-led

coalition’s air war in Yemen.

US Fifth Fleet spokesman, Lieutenant Ian McConnaughey, said that the US reassignment of

personnel does not affect their ability to support the Saudis and is a more efficient allocation of

resources. Saudi Arabia has faced repeated criticism from rights groups over civilian casualties

in its campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen. US officials repeatedly urged Saudi Arabia to

avoid non-combatant casualties. The coalition has said that it uses highly accurate laser and

GPS-guided weapons, many of them supplied by the US, and that it verifies targets many times in

order to avoid civilian casualties. It further accused the Houthi group of placing military targets

in civilian areas. Outcry over civilian casualties has led some members of the US Congress to

30

push for restrictions on arms transfers. Earlier, on August 9, 2016, the Obama Administration

had approved an arms package for Saudi Arabia worth $1.15 billion.

---Muhammad Shoaib

31

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistan

External

Dawn reported on August 29 that Pakistan re-launched its campaign to join the Nuclear

Suppliers Group (NSG), after Pakistani Envoy in Washington, Jalil Abbas Jilani,

approached the White House, the US State Department and Congressional leaders to

support Pakistan’s NSG membership.

According to Dawn on August 25, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN,

Maleeha Lodhi told the UN Security Council (UNSC) that ‘Islamabad had taken

exemplary measures’ to strengthen the country’s nuclear safety.

Lodhi also reiterated Pakistan’s long-held position of ‘non-discriminatory and criteria-based

approach’ for extending NSG membership. Highlighting the country’s efforts in strengthening

the non-proliferation regime, Lodhi stressed that Pakistan had declared a unilateral moratorium

on further nuclear testing and is also willing to ‘translate it into a bilateral arrangement with

India’. On challenges to the non-proliferation regime, she cautioned against granting of any

discriminatory waivers. Meanwhile, Ambassador Jilani, during his meetings in Washington

assured the US leadership that Pakistan shares international concerns against the proliferation

of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Islamabad has long maintained that granting country-

specific exceptions would adversely affect the non-proliferation regime and regional strategic

stability. Earlier on August 12, Islamabad also renewed its offer to New Delhi to enter into a

bilateral moratorium on nuclear testing. India has always rejected such efforts in the past with

critics questioning India’s commitment towards non-proliferation objectives.

On August 18, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman, Nafees Zakaria, said that Pakistan’s

proposal to India for bilateral moratorium on nuclear testing was aimed at preventing an

arms race in the region and strengthening non-proliferation credentials of countries that

are not NPT signatories.

Zakaria noted that Pakistan’s offer is reflective of its policy of promoting restraint and

responsibility in South Asia and its consistent support for the objectives of the CTBT.

Islamabad’s renewed push for a bilateral moratorium on testing of nuclear devices comes as the

two countries are seeking NSG membership. Islamabad and New Delhi had unilaterally declared

that they will not conduct more nuclear tests, but according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office the

unilateral moratoriums declared by the two countries are not legally binding and could be

withdrawn unilaterally. The US has also welcomed Pakistan’s proposal for a nuclear non-testing

arrangement with India and has encouraged both countries to sign and ratify the CTBT.

According to Dawn on August 26, Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Sartaj Aziz

briefed the ambassadors of permanent members of the UNSC and the EU about the

human right violations being committed by the Indian forces in occupied Kashmir.

32

In a related development on August 26, India’s Ministry of External Affairs

spokesperson, Vikas Swarup, said that Indian Foreign Secretary, Subrahmanyam

Jaishankar, in his letter to his Pakistani counterpart, had conveyed “not just India, but the

larger region is aware that Pakistan is the prime perpetrator of terrorism.”

Following India’s refusal to hold talks on Kashmir, Pakistan has stepped up its diplomatic

efforts towards resolving the Kashmir dispute and has urged the P5 and EU to fulfil their

commitments to the people of Jammu and Kashmir under the UN Security Council resolutions.

Meanwhile, PM Nawaz has nominated 22 parliamentarians as special envoys to highlight Indian

atrocities and human rights abuses in Kashmir in important countries of the world. The Indian

forces have killed approximately 70 people since July 8. There is also a considerable rise of pro-

freedom and anti-India slogans in IOK as Indian troops continue to use heavy-handed tactics

including the use of live ammunition and pellet guns on the civilian population. Human rights

groups say that India’s Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which gives security forces wide-

ranging powers to shoot, arrest and search in IOK, has further antagonised Kashmiris.

According to Dawn on August 16, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Aizaz Chaudhry, met

Gautam Bambawale, Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, and handed him a letter

addressed to Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Indian foreign secretary, inviting him to visit

Pakistan for talks on the Kashmir dispute.

In a related development on August 18, Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Gautam

Bambawale, in his meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Aizaz Chaudhry,

conveyed Indian External Affairs Secretary, Jaishankar’s willingness to visit Islamabad

for the proposed meeting saying India is willing to talk to Pakistan on Kashmir, but only

in the context of cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan’s offer for talks comes amid growing concerns in Islamabad over a surge of violence in

Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK). Earlier on August 12, Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Adviser,

Sartaj Aziz warned that India’s refusal to engage in a dialogue with Pakistan was not conducive

for regional peace. According to the Foreign Office, both countries remain obliged to resolve the

dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-

moon has also condemned the ongoing violence in India-held Kashmir and has called for

dialogue between Pakistan and India for resolving the dispute.

Meanwhile, the OIC also expressed serious concern over massive human rights violations and

killings in IHK after a meeting was held in Islamabad on August 20, between Iyad Madani,

Secretary General, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs

Adviser, Sartaj Aziz. Madani said that the people of Kashmir want an end to Indian occupation

and called for a referendum in the disputed region saying, “it is up to Kashmiris to decide their

future.”

33

According to Dawn on August 18, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman, Nafees Zakaria,

said that Pakistan would welcome any UN mission intending to visit Azad Jammu and

Kashmir, but took strong exception to equating AJK with India-Occupied Kashmir.

The development comes after the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights on

August 17, 2016 offered to send fact-finding missions to both Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK)

and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), for probing allegations of human right violations. Earlier on

July 15, Pakistan requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to send a

fact-finding mission to IOK to probe the violations of human rights by India.

On August 28, Saudi Defence Minister and Deputy Crown Prince, Mohammad bin

Salman visited Islamabad and held talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army

Chief, General Raheel Sharif.

During his two-day visit (August 28-29), the two sides discussed issues relating to regional

situation particularly in the Middle East and ways to deal with threats posed by the Daesh

militant group. Pakistan is part of the Saudi-led alliance of 34 Muslim countries to coordinate

counter-terrorism efforts. Saudi Arabia also considers Pakistan’s support as being critical

especially in the backdrop of the deteriorating security situation in its neighbourhood.

During his address at the 8th meeting of the finance ministers of SAARC countries in

Islamabad on August 26, PM Nawaz Sharif said that Pakistan was playing a key role in

the economic development of the South Asian region and to attain the dream of possible

regional integration.

PM Sharif said that increasing interdependence coupled with mutual concerns had led to the

need for finding regional solutions and reiterated his country’s commitment to jointly working

with SAARC member states to fight poverty and illiteracy in the region. He emphasised that

progress had been made to counter the impact of climate change, spread of diseases, and

economic spill over at the regional level.

On August 24, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Rashad Mahmood

held talks with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery

Gerasimov, in Moscow. The two sides expressed their desire to enhance bilateral

relations and cooperation for regional and international security.

Gerasimov said that the development of “constructive relations” between Russia and Pakistan

remained an important factor in ensuring regional stability and international security. He also

said the two countries are planning “an intensive programme” of joint events in 2016, including

talks between the two countries general staff, military exercises and exchange of military

delegations.

According to Dawn on August 23, a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS)

noted that there had been a 73% decline in US security assistance to Pakistan and a 53%

decrease in US economic assistance to Pakistan since 2011.

34

According to the report, US security aid to Pakistan declined from nearly $1.3 billion in 2011 to

$343 million in 2015 while economic assistance fell from nearly $1.2 billion in 2011 to $561

million in 2015. Relations between Islamabad and Washington deteriorated in 2011 after a US

raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad and a US air strike on a Pakistani border

post in Salala that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. The report, however, says, that Pakistan is still in

the process of acquiring nearly $1.2 billion worth of weapon systems from the US since 2001.

The deteriorating ties between Islamabad and Kabul have also led to freezing of some US aid to

Pakistan. Earlier on August 4, the Pentagon decided not to pay $300 million in military

reimbursements to Islamabad over its alleged reluctance to act against the Haqqani network.

Authorities in Pakistan have denied these allegations even as the growing distrust between the

two sides has also left many sceptical about the future of relations between Islamabad and

Washington.

According to Dawn quoting the Intercept on August 21, the US National Security Agency

(NSA) allegedly spied on Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership for decades.

The documents from Edward Snowden – a former contractor for the NSA, revealed details of

internet and phone surveillance by the US NSA in 2013. Reports claimed that the Malware

SECONDDATE, also known as FOXACID, breached targets in Pakistan National

Telecommunications Corporation’s (NTC), VIP division. It also said the targets contained

documents pertaining to “the backbone of Pakistan’s Green Line communications network used

by its civilian and military leadership”. The Malware SECONDDATE is one of the tools used by

the NSA to hack into target computer systems and networks. This is not the first time the US been

blamed for spying on other countries’ network systems. In October 2015, Berlin warned the US

that trust between allies could be undermined after reports emerged that the US had spied on

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel’s mobile phone.

Dawn reported on August 20 that Pakistan closed its border with Afghanistan for an

indefinite period after a group of Afghan demonstrators attacked the Friendship Gate at

Chaman and set the Pakistani flag on fire.

The Afghan nationals also shouted slogans against Pakistan while pelting the Friendship Gate

with stones. The development has caused suspension of movement of trucks carrying trading

goods and supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2,500-

kilometer long border and according to media reports, approximately 50,000 people, mostly

Afghans use the crossings for daily movement.

On August 18, Norwegian Foreign Minister, Borge Brende, visited Pakistan and met with

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Affairs Adviser, Sartaj Aziz.

Aziz said that the two sides discussed regional issues, including Afghanistan and Kashmir, and

agreed on the importance of dialogue to resolve the issues. During Brende’s visit, the two

countries also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, particularly in trade,

investment, and energy.

35

During his visit to Malaysia on August 17, Pakistan ‘s Army Chief, General Raheel

Sharif, held meetings with General Tan Sri Dato Sri Haji Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin,

Malaysian Chief of Defence Forces, and General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi bin

Raja Mohamed Noor, Chief of Malaysian Army.

During his two-day (August 17-18) visit, the two countries signed Terms of Reference (ToR) to

institutionalise a long-term framework for military cooperation. General Sharif also discussed

military-to-military relations, joint military training and defence collaboration with the

Malaysian military leadership.

Pakistan

Internal

According to Dawn on August 25, Foreign Affairs Adviser, Sartaj Aziz, proposed

recommendations aimed at mainstreaming the Federally Administered Tribal Areas

(FATA).

The recommendations include maintaining the status quo with minor changes, granting special

status to FATA like Gilgit-Baltistan, creating a separate province for FATA or integrating the

region into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province. Meanwhile, the committee on FATA reforms

warned that the gains obtained through the Zarb-i-Azb operation would be lost if appropriate

reforms concerning FATA are not introduced.

According to Dawn on August 22, at least one person was killed and many injured after

violent protesters belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) attacked two

private media houses in Karachi.

The violence erupted soon after MQM’s UK-based leader, Altaf Hussain, in his telephonic

address to his party workers raised anti-Pakistan slogans and told them “to storm the offices of

TV channels”. Shortly after his speech, party activists attacked the offices of the two private TV

channels and clashed with police. The worsening law and order situation has led to a crackdown

against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) by the Pakistani authorities. The attack on TV

channels was condemned by all the political parties in Pakistan with PM Sharif terming it “an

attack on freedom of Press and expression”. Meanwhile, the US State Department in two

separate statements on August 25 and 29 urged the MQM to respect ‘critical opinion’, and

advised Pakistani authorities that any crackdown on the party must be made in accordance with

the rule of law. MQM has long been accused of inciting violence in Karachi and is blamed for its

involvement in cases of extortion, murder and torture. However, the party denies these

accusations and insists that cases against its members are politically motivated and that

authorities are targeting its leaders and workers.

36

India

On August 31, the US and India announced to boost their cooperation on fighting

terrorism. The development comes after the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, visited

New Delhi for the second US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.

Kerry said that the “US stands with India on all matters of terrorism” adding that there are ‘no

distinctions between good and bad terrorists’. Kerry also pressed Islamabad to do more to

combat extremists operating from its territory. Meanwhile, India ruled out any talks with

Islamabad with Indian External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj saying “talks with Pakistan

will happen only when it takes steps on the Pathankot terror attack” since “terror and talks

cannot go hand-in-hand”. Swaraj said that she has also briefed Secretary Kerry on the issues

relating to “cross-border terrorism that India and the larger region face from Pakistan”. She

said that both sides have also reaffirmed the urgent need for “Pakistan to dismantle safe havens

for terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and D Company”. Pakistan

denies these allegations and says it is the biggest victim of terrorism.

During talks on commercial issues, the US and Indian officials agreed to increase trade,

investment and energy cooperation. On civil nuclear cooperation, Kerry said that the two sides

have agreed “to move forward” on long-standing plans for six nuclear reactors. The US-India

strategic dialogue comes at a crucial time when relations between Pakistan and India have

deteriorated over rising tensions in the disputed region of Kashmir. An upswing in ties between

India and the US and the growing defence cooperation between the two is seen as Washington’s

strategy to limit Beijing’s rising power. Furthermore, observers point out that critical stance on

Pakistan in the US-India joint statements highlights a marked shift in Washington’s policy vis a

vis Islamabad. In Pakistan, many are calling for revisiting its country’s relations with the US.

On August 29, the US and India signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of

Agreement (LEMOA), a defence pact enabling the two countries to use each other’s

military facilities. The development comes after a meeting between Indian Defence

Minister, Manohar Parrikar and US Defence Secretary, Ashton Carter, in Washington.

The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) was “in principal” agreed upon

during Ashton Carter’s visit to India in April 2016. The agreement allows the two militaries to

use each other’s land, air and naval bases for resupplies, repairs and rest. The accord will also

enable the Indian and US navies to assist each other in joint operations and exercises and when

providing humanitarian assistance. Previously there were concerns in India over the pact with

some opposition parties calling it a compromise to India’s traditional non-aligned posture and

its strategic autonomy. However, Parrikar clarified the agreement will not involve setting up

bases. The progress comes as the US expands its engagement with India - with many calling it a

move for strategic competition for influence. The agreement has also alarmed Islamabad, which

has expressed concerns over growing US-India defence partnership saying it would impact the

strategic and conventional balance in South Asia.

37

According to Dawn on August 26, India formally rejected Pakistan’s proposal to hold

talks on Kashmir and said it will only discuss the issue of terrorism and alleged

infiltration of militants from the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.

In a related development on August 26, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman, Nafees

Zakaria accused India of evading dialogue on different pretexts adding that the situation

in Indian-held Kashmir called for immediate talks on the dispute.

Zakaria said that despite “Indian intransigence, Pakistan considers dialogue as the only option

for resolution of disputes”. Earlier on August 15, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Aizaz Chaudhry

wrote to his Indian counterpart inviting him to visit Islamabad to hold bilateral talks on Jammu

and Kashmir. However, with India backtracking on engaging with Pakistan on Kashmir, any

hope for dialogue between the two sides has diminished. Pakistan says India is only one of the

parties to the dispute and it cannot unilaterally change the status of the dispute contradicting the

right of self-determination of Kashmiris. The worsening situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir

has attracted widespread international criticism coupled with exacerbated concerns in Pakistan,

which has called for “an immediate end to the human rights violations against the innocent

people” of J&K and for providing medical facilities to the victims.

On August 17, Amnesty International India temporarily closed its offices over safety

concerns for its staff after the charity was accused of sedition by protesters.

Earlier on August 13, Amnesty International held an event that focused on human rights abuses

carried out by Indian security forces in Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK). Although Amnesty

denied all allegations, however, it admitted that slogans calling for Kashmir’s independence

were chanted in the seminar. For years, rights groups have accused Indian forces of massive

human rights violations in IOK through the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act, a

law that grants Indian forces sweeping powers to search, arrest or shoot people. Rights groups

say more than 100,000 people, have been killed and thousands have disappeared as a result of

armed operations by the Indian forces in Jammu & Kashmir.

According to Dawn on August 16, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi accused

Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism and of human rights violations in Balochistan, Gilgit-

Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

On August 16, Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Sartaj Aziz, said that Indian PM

Narendra Modi is trying to divert world attention from the ongoing unrest in Indian

Occupied Kashmir.

PM Modi accused Pakistan saying Indians were being subjected to terrorism from an

“ungrateful neighbour”. Pakistan, in a strong worded response, said that Indian PM Narendra

Modi crossed the “red line” by talking about freedom of Balochistan and said it would

“forcefully” raise the Kashmir issue at the UN General Assembly session to be held in

September 2016. Meanwhile, Aziz warned that Modi’s reference to Balochistan, which is an

integral part of Pakistan, only proves Pakistan’s claims that India is fomenting terrorism in

38

Balochistan. Following Modi’s remarks on Balochistan, the US State Department, Deputy

Spokesperson, Mark Toner said that Washington does not support independence for Balochistan.

Ties between India and Pakistan deteriorated considerably over the situation in Jammu and

Kashmir after 70 people were killed as a result of ongoing clashes in IOK between the

demonstrators and Indian occupation forces following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen

commander Burhan Wani by India.

Afghanistan

On August 25, at least 13 people were killed and 36 others wounded when gunmen

attacked the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul.

In a related development on August 25, the Afghan presidential office said that the attack

on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul was “orchestrated” by Pakistan.

The Afghan government also shared three mobile phone numbers with Pakistani authorities,

allegedly operating on the Pakistani side of the border, which it claimed had remained in contact

with the attackers. However, Pakistan informed the Afghan government that no “technical

traces” of telephonic contacts between the Kabul university attackers and people on Pakistani

side of the border could be found and sought more evidence. This was conveyed during a

telephonic conversation between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Army Chief General

Raheel Sharif. Afghanistan and Pakistan accuse each other of not doing enough to prevent

militants from operating on each other’s territories.

On August 22, Afghanistan’s envoy in New Delhi, Shaida Mohammad Abdali, said that

India is set to deliver more arms to Afghanistan to fight militants, even if Pakistan is

wary of closer military cooperation between countries.

Abdali stressed that the Afghan security forces were in “dire need of military supplies” in the

wake of deteriorating regional security. According to media reports, India has provided $2

billion in economic assistance to Afghanistan since 2001. In November 2015, New Delhi also

provided the country with four attack helicopters.

According to BBC on August 20, the Taliban captured a district in Afghanistan’s Kunduz

province.

In a related development on August 21, Afghan government forces recaptured a district

of the northern province of Kunduz from the Taliban.

Afghan security forces are currently fighting the insurgents in almost half of the country’s 34

provinces. With increased militant attacks, Afghanistan is experiencing significant security-

related issues aggravated by a growing rift between Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan’s chief

executive and President Ashraf Ghani. Earlier on August 12, Abdullah Abdullah criticised

Ashraf Ghani for refusing to cooperate.

39

Bangladesh

During his visit to Bangladesh on August 29, the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, met

with Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. Following the meeting, the two sides

agreed to increase security cooperation between their countries.

Kerry said the US believed that elements of Daesh militant group were linked to operatives in

Bangladesh. He stressed that the US is working closely with Bangladesh and other partners to

defeat “terrorism threats”. Kerry’s visit comes amid growing security concerns in Bangladesh

following the July 1, 2016 terrorist attack at the restaurant in Dhaka. The attack claimed 20 lives

and was claimed by Daesh militant group. However, Bangladesh denies group’s presence in the

country and instead blames other local armed groups for the violence.

---Muhammad Abdul Qadeer

40

UNITED NATIONS

On August 26, the UNSC welcomed the conclusion of negotiations and appreciated the

achievement of a final peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP), bringing an end

to more than 50 years of conflict.

Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN of Malaysia, Siti Hajjar Adnin, said that the UNSC

reiterated its commitment to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, cessation of

hostilities and the laying down of arms through the UN political mission in Colombia. Moreover,

the UN Peace Building Fund also approved a fund worth $3 million aimed at supporting the

collective reparations of victims of the armed conflict and helping the implementation of the

peace agreements. Since 2012, the Government of Colombia and FARC-EP have been engaged

in negotiations in Havana, Cuba. Through the discussions, negotiators reached an agreement on

key issues including political participation, land rights, illicit drugs and victims' rights and

transitional justice.

On August 25, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the

international community to carry out comprehensive investigations into alleged violations

of international humanitarian law in Yemen.

UN human rights chief, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said civilians in Yemen are suffering because of

the absence of any form of accountability and justice, and those responsible for the violations

and abuses against civilians are enjoying complete impunity. He said that air strikes by the Arab

coalition in Yemen were responsible for the majority of 3,799 civilian deaths. The Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also released a report on the

situation of human rights in Yemen, outlining a number of serious allegations of violations and

abuses committed by all sides to the conflict in the country. Examples regarding all kinds of

possible violations that have occurred between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, including

attacks on residential areas, marketplaces, medical and educational facilities, and public and

private infrastructures are documented in the report. However, the UN did not accuse any side

of war crimes, leaving it to a national or international court to decide it. Mohammad Ali

Alnsour, chief of the Middle East and North Africa section of the UN human rights office, said

“we are investigating and monitoring the violations but we cannot decide that this is a crime or

not, this is for a tribunal or for a specific body to decide.”

On August 24, a group of United Nations human rights experts called upon the

government of Bangladesh to nullify the death sentence of opposition Jamaat-e-Islami

leader Mir Quasem Ali, and also asked for his retrial in compliance with international

standards.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also released

a statement saying that international law provides that capital punishment may only be imposed

41

if trials comply with international standards. However, litigations failing to comply with the

requirements of fair trial and due process are considered to be an arbitrary action. Mir Quasem

Ali was sentenced to death by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for crimes

against humanity committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Independence War. The Appellate

Division of the Supreme Court confirmed the decision on March 8, 2016. Human rights experts

recalled the findings of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that in 2012 Quasem Ali was

deprived of his liberty, which was an arbitrary action, and in breach of article 9 of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Experts also expressed unease at serious violations of fair trial and due process guarantees in

the judicial proceedings before the International Crimes Tribunal that were reported to them.

On August 24, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon submitted a joint UN- OPCW report

to the Security Council discussing investigations, findings, assessments, and conclusions

of nine selected cases regarding incidents involving the use of chemicals weapons in

Syria.

The Security Council established a joint body in August 2015, for a period of one year with a

possibility of future extension. It was aimed to identify individuals, entities, groups, or

governments involved in the use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic

chemical in Syria.

On August 23, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an inclusive political

dialogue to overcome an impasse in the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of

the Congo (DRC), following the meeting of the national dialogue preparatory committee

in DRC.

Ban stated that under the Resolution 2277 (2016) the UNSC underlined the importance of a

credible and inclusive political dialogue to ensure credible and transparent presidential and

legislative elections, in line with the Constitution of DRC. He also urged all political

stakeholders to refrain from any action that could lead to violence. Ban’s call follows nation-

wide protests staged by opposition parties in DRC to force President Kabila to step down and

hold elections. As per DRC’s constitution, Kabila’s second and final term ends in December

2016. However, DRC’s Election Commission says that it would take more than a year to prepare

for the elections.

---Abdul Moiz Khan