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| Trump’s Warning To Islamabad Has Formalised The China-Pakistan-Russia Axis Meanwhile, the US and India are allying in Afghanistan. 30/08/2017 8:35 AM IST | Updated 30/08/2017 5:23 PM IST In calling out the "safe havens for terrorists in Pakistan" as part of his Afghanistan policy, US President Donald Trump has given formal shape to a reality that has been brewing in South Asia since Washington fell out with Islamabad post the Osama bin Laden raid. With both Beijing and Moscow coming out in Islamabad's defence almost immediately, the China-Russia-Pakistan axis has been formally inaugurated, with the US and India allying in Afghanistan—as epitomised by Trump's call for New Delhi to help out Washington in the region. Washington and New Delhi have been conspicuously drawn toward each other since the 2008 nuclear deal, a similar version of which Islamabad has been demanding as well. However, initial US policy had been to ensure that proximity with India doesn't alienate its traditional ally Pakistan, which heretofore had a pivotal role for Washington in Afghanistan … for more, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.in/kunwar-khuldune-shahid/trump-s-warning-to-islamabad-has-formalised-the-china-pakistan-russia-axis_a_23188832/ |
US blunders and is now spooked by growing China-Pakistan-Russia alliance
KUALA LUMPUR (January 2018): It all started with a trade agreement between China and Pakistan last year - to transact business in their respective currencies.
That was the proverbial “last straw that broke the camel’s back” for the US - the dumping of the Greenback in trans border economic financial transactions.
China and Russia naturally moved in to provide economic and defence support for Pakistan as the US manipulated India to threaten Pakistan.
The fast growing China-Pakistan-Russia relations is now spooking the US - after “blundering” by cutting all aid to Pakistan.
The US has only itself to blame for the geo-political-military shifts in Asia, with its strong ally India creating animosity in the region.
While China is providing economic support to Pakistan, including the benefits of the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure development which the US never did for the benefit of the Pakistanis, Russia is also offering its arms to Pakistan.
What can the war-waging US, saddled with a US$22 trillion or US$222 trillion national debt, now offer to the region when it did not post-World War ll?
I Love Malaysia-China Silk Road reproduces the following four news reports that reflect a significant change in Asia’s geo-political-economic alignments:
"Pakistan is the only country which China’s ruling CPC considers all weather Strategic Partner: officials
24 Dec, 2017
BEIJING - Pakistan is the only country, which the ruling Party, CPC considered as the all-weather strategic partner of China.
This was stated by Ma Xuesong, the Deputy Director-General of South Asia Bureau of CPC 's International Department, while speaking to a delegation of Pakistani politicians, who visited its headquarters on Saturday.
The International Department is a functional organ of the Central Committee of the CPC , which looks after party's external affairs with other political parties in the world. Up till now it has established contacts and exchanges with more than 400 political parties and organizations in over 140 countries.
The delegation comprising lawmakers from six different political parties of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is currently visiting China at the invitation of the IDCPC. - Times Of Islamabad
This was stated by Ma Xuesong, the Deputy Director-General of South Asia Bureau of CPC 's International Department, while speaking to a delegation of Pakistani politicians, who visited its headquarters on Saturday.
The International Department is a functional organ of the Central Committee of the CPC , which looks after party's external affairs with other political parties in the world. Up till now it has established contacts and exchanges with more than 400 political parties and organizations in over 140 countries.
The delegation comprising lawmakers from six different political parties of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is currently visiting China at the invitation of the IDCPC. - Times Of Islamabad
WASHINGTON: US Senator Rand Paul introduced a legislation seeking a permanent ban of $2 billion civilian assistance to Pakistan on Saturday.
The bill recommends redirecting the said funds, amounting to $1.28bn from the State Department and $852 million from the United States Agency for International Development to the Highway Trust Fund.
President Donald Trump had endorsed the move to block civilian aid to Pakistan when Senator Paul announced his plan to introduce the bill earlier this month.
“Good idea Rand,” Mr Trump tweeted.
“We fail our responsibilities to protect our country and properly steward taxpayers’ hard-earned money when we support countries that chant ‘Death to America’ and burn our flag,” US Senator Rand Paul said in a statement issued by his office. The statement pointed out that President Trump also supported the proposal.
The introduction of the bill is the latest effort by Senator Paul to end US assistance to Pakistan. - Times Of Islamabad
The bill recommends redirecting the said funds, amounting to $1.28bn from the State Department and $852 million from the United States Agency for International Development to the Highway Trust Fund.
President Donald Trump had endorsed the move to block civilian aid to Pakistan when Senator Paul announced his plan to introduce the bill earlier this month.
“Good idea Rand,” Mr Trump tweeted.
“We fail our responsibilities to protect our country and properly steward taxpayers’ hard-earned money when we support countries that chant ‘Death to America’ and burn our flag,” US Senator Rand Paul said in a statement issued by his office. The statement pointed out that President Trump also supported the proposal.
The introduction of the bill is the latest effort by Senator Paul to end US assistance to Pakistan. - Times Of Islamabad
MOSCOW: Russia has invited Pakistan to invest in the Sukhohi Super Fighter Jet project being developed by Russia which is the fifth generation fighter jet project developed by Moscow.
Russian minister for industry and trade Denis Valentinovich Manturov offered Pakistani counter part on the sidelines of St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) held from June 1-3.
Pakistani Minister Jatoi urged Russia to take benefit from Pakistan’s investment friendly policies and the progress made in large-scale industries.
The meeting aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in industrial sector between both the countries. The minister also invited Denis Manturov to visit Pakistan.
Manturov proposed the minister to invest in Sukhoi Superjet Project. He also apprised the minister on financial and other related aspects of the North-South Gas Pipeline Project.
Jatoi assured that he would convey Manturov’s message to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.
The Minister also briefed the Russian side on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, stable political and economical policies and auto policy of Pakistan.
Denis Manturov showed keen interest in Pakistan’s economic stability and development projects. - NNI
Russian minister for industry and trade Denis Valentinovich Manturov offered Pakistani counter part on the sidelines of St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) held from June 1-3.
Pakistani Minister Jatoi urged Russia to take benefit from Pakistan’s investment friendly policies and the progress made in large-scale industries.
The meeting aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in industrial sector between both the countries. The minister also invited Denis Manturov to visit Pakistan.
Manturov proposed the minister to invest in Sukhoi Superjet Project. He also apprised the minister on financial and other related aspects of the North-South Gas Pipeline Project.
Jatoi assured that he would convey Manturov’s message to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.
The Minister also briefed the Russian side on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, stable political and economical policies and auto policy of Pakistan.
Denis Manturov showed keen interest in Pakistan’s economic stability and development projects. - NNI
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's most important partner is China rather than the United States and Beijing allows Islamabad to exercise an independent foreign policy, an independent political analyst and peace activist in London says.
Writer and journalist Adam Garrie said in an interview with Press TV on Tuesday that Pakistan also continues to develop good ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran who now share a common enemy in the form of the United States.
Garrie made the remarks when asked if Pakistan is responsible for America's failure in Afghanistan, and why US President Donald Trump is mad at Pakistan.
Trump said in his first tweet of 2018 that Washington had "foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years."
"And they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools," wrote the US president on Monday. "They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!"
Pakistan summoned the US ambassador over Trump's controversial remarks. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry to discuss Trump's statement.
During the meeting, Pakistan lodged a strongly-worded protest and asked for clarification of Trump's comments.
Garrie said, “The only people responsible for America’s failure in Afghanistan are the Americans themselves, who went into Afghanistan in 2001 without any real mandate at all. It was a total disaster from the beginning.”
“They said that they were trying to hunt Bin Laden even though the Taliban said in 2001 that they would hand Bin Laden over to the United States if certain protocols were reached and Pakistani authorities would have almost certainly cooperated and so the entire premise for the US presence in Afghanistan was forced to begin with and Bin Laden is of course long gone and according to the assassinated former prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, Bin Laden was dead long before the US admitted that he was,” Garrie said.
“What’s really going on is that the United States wants the very rich minerals that lie below the surface of Afghanistan. It is a very wealthy country below the surface and because of this America has made it a very poor country, and a very dangerous country above the surface,” he added.
“What we are seeing though because of America’s foolishness which has been augmented by Donald Trump’s so-called troop surge in Afghanistan is that a new alliance for peace is forming in the region. It has been led by the efforts of China, by Russia and by Pakistan and by Iran, all of whom want the United Stated gone from Afghanistan and all of whom want to see stability within the region both for security reasons, and of course because economically One Belt One Road, the Chinese trading initiative, will benefit greatly from a smooth roads through Afghanistan which will link many countries including Tajikistan, Pakistan, Iran and others,” the analyst noted.
"We could even see the port of Gwadar in Pakistan built by China and the port of Chabahar in Iran link-up as part of a wider transport corridor within One Belt One Road,” he stated.
“All of this America knows and all of this America wants to stop, because the United States can only exert its bullying power over other countries if they’re economically dependent on it. And if such a cooperative initiative was successful and I have no doubt that it will be, the United States would not be able to leverage concessions through blackmail, from South Asian or Eurasian states,” the activist said.
“Now in terms of Trump’s anger with Pakistan, this runs deep because the United States has lost its leverage over Pakistan. Now that China is Islamabad’s most important partner, they can afford to tell the United States what they actually think. Gone are the days of military dictators in Islamabad installed by the United States,” he said.
“Pakistan is slowly reclaiming its country and reclaiming its sovereignty and this could only be a good thing for the wider region,” he observed.
“Another important development is that Pakistan and Iran are intensifying positive relations, which is very good, even though some members of the Pakistani press haven’t entirely internalized this reality. Pakistan and Iran now have a common enemy and they have always had common and mutual needs to cooperate for their distinctive mutual win-win advantages,” Garrie noted. - Times Of Islamabad
Writer and journalist Adam Garrie said in an interview with Press TV on Tuesday that Pakistan also continues to develop good ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran who now share a common enemy in the form of the United States.
Garrie made the remarks when asked if Pakistan is responsible for America's failure in Afghanistan, and why US President Donald Trump is mad at Pakistan.
Trump said in his first tweet of 2018 that Washington had "foolishly given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years."
"And they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools," wrote the US president on Monday. "They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!"
Pakistan summoned the US ambassador over Trump's controversial remarks. Ambassador David Hale was summoned to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry to discuss Trump's statement.
During the meeting, Pakistan lodged a strongly-worded protest and asked for clarification of Trump's comments.
Garrie said, “The only people responsible for America’s failure in Afghanistan are the Americans themselves, who went into Afghanistan in 2001 without any real mandate at all. It was a total disaster from the beginning.”
“They said that they were trying to hunt Bin Laden even though the Taliban said in 2001 that they would hand Bin Laden over to the United States if certain protocols were reached and Pakistani authorities would have almost certainly cooperated and so the entire premise for the US presence in Afghanistan was forced to begin with and Bin Laden is of course long gone and according to the assassinated former prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, Bin Laden was dead long before the US admitted that he was,” Garrie said.
“What’s really going on is that the United States wants the very rich minerals that lie below the surface of Afghanistan. It is a very wealthy country below the surface and because of this America has made it a very poor country, and a very dangerous country above the surface,” he added.
“What we are seeing though because of America’s foolishness which has been augmented by Donald Trump’s so-called troop surge in Afghanistan is that a new alliance for peace is forming in the region. It has been led by the efforts of China, by Russia and by Pakistan and by Iran, all of whom want the United Stated gone from Afghanistan and all of whom want to see stability within the region both for security reasons, and of course because economically One Belt One Road, the Chinese trading initiative, will benefit greatly from a smooth roads through Afghanistan which will link many countries including Tajikistan, Pakistan, Iran and others,” the analyst noted.
"We could even see the port of Gwadar in Pakistan built by China and the port of Chabahar in Iran link-up as part of a wider transport corridor within One Belt One Road,” he stated.
“All of this America knows and all of this America wants to stop, because the United States can only exert its bullying power over other countries if they’re economically dependent on it. And if such a cooperative initiative was successful and I have no doubt that it will be, the United States would not be able to leverage concessions through blackmail, from South Asian or Eurasian states,” the activist said.
“Now in terms of Trump’s anger with Pakistan, this runs deep because the United States has lost its leverage over Pakistan. Now that China is Islamabad’s most important partner, they can afford to tell the United States what they actually think. Gone are the days of military dictators in Islamabad installed by the United States,” he said.
“Pakistan is slowly reclaiming its country and reclaiming its sovereignty and this could only be a good thing for the wider region,” he observed.
“Another important development is that Pakistan and Iran are intensifying positive relations, which is very good, even though some members of the Pakistani press haven’t entirely internalized this reality. Pakistan and Iran now have a common enemy and they have always had common and mutual needs to cooperate for their distinctive mutual win-win advantages,” Garrie noted. - Times Of Islamabad
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| Image Credit: Wikicommons/VOA Why Is China Holding the China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Dialogue Now? Beijing aims to incorporate Pakistan and Afghanistan deeper into its sphere of influence. By Charlotte Gao December 27, 2017 On December 16, Beijing hosted the first China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue. The three countries’ foreign ministers — China’s Wang Yi, Afghanistan’s Salahuddin Rabbani and Pakistan’s Khawaja Muhammad Asif — attended the meeting. The countries agreed to establish a trilateral dialogue mechanism in June aimed at reinforcing trilateral cooperation in politics, economics and security. Afghanistan will host the second dialogue in Kabul in 2018. During the press conference after the meeting, Wang announced that “Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to improve bilateral relations as soon as possible and to realize harmonious co-existence, promising to resolve their concerns through comprehensive dialogue and consultation.” … for more, go to https://thediplomat.com/2017/12/why-is-china-holding-the-china-pakistan-afghanistan-dialogue-now/ |
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