Dawn Final

Dawn
Deconstruction
BI-WEEKLY •
MARCH-2023
• Current Affairs •
Covered
• Global and National •
Articles included
ICEP Institute • M. USMAN

This Bi-weekly magazine is a one-stop issue for current affairs in
Pakistan. It is specifically designed to ease students’ preparation
for all competitive exams.
DAWN
COVERING
AREAS
BI-WEEKLY
▪ Essay Writing
▪ Current Affairs
▪ Pakistan Affairs
MAGAZINE ▪
▪
Global Issues
Geopolitics
International
Relations
MARCH ISSUE ▪ Foreign Policy etc.
All articles are properly
Competitive exams
deconstructed ▪
ICEP POLICY
Knowing the current issues of Pakistan_ internal and external is
SOURCES
DAWN
imperative for Civil service aspirants. Unlike India, in Pakistan
EXPESS
no such digital platform or academic work is available for
aspirants' ease of preparation. DAILY TIMES
THE NEWS
Here you are given detailed deconstruction of important news FOREIGN AFFAIRS
and articles. Read these editorials and Opinions carefully. These FOREIGN POILCY
are important for widening your knowledge base, improving THE ECONOMIST
language skills, understanding key issues, etc. This section THE DIPLOMAT
(Editorial/ Opinions) is very useful for English Essay, Current GVS, THE NATION
Affairs, Pakistan Affairs – and sometimes Islamiat papers as the
NEW YORK TIMES
Exam emphasize more on analysis than giving facts.
The Washington post
The Wall Street J.
ICEP CSS/PMS INSTITUTE LAHORE

These MCQs are taken from
multiple sources including
newspapers, magazines, and
other websites.
MCQS section
Selected
Current affairs
mcqs
Dawn
Editorial
section
Deconstructed
All editorials are taken from prestigious Pakistan’s
newspaper like Dawn, Express, Daily Times etc.
National
Articles
section
All articles are taken from Pakistan’s prestigious
newspaper, like Dawn, Express, Daily Times, The Nation,
The News etc.
International
Articles
section
All articles in this section are taken from international
prestigious magazines: like Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy,
The Economist, The Diplomat etc.
ARTICLES PAGE
NO
Dawn editorials Section
Embrace Equity 06
Land irregularities 08
Counterterror talks 10
Afghans’ misery 12
US blacklist 14
Lasting harm 16
Bail for women 18
Bolan barbarism 20
Homeless children 21
Chinese prescription 23
Iran’s bomb contours 25
Internet curbs in India 26
Kabul’s moment 27
Aqaba accord 29
Write in fact-book: Facts and Figures from Editorials ✍️ 31-33
International Articles
Netanyahu Can’t Have It All 34
Why Asia – and the World – Must Stand with Ukraine 40
Anti-China Rhetoric Is Off the Charts in Western Media 44
ChatGPT in China's Tech Ecosystem Looks Very Different 49
National Articles
Trade and Climate adaptation 54
A lesson from the Taliban 58
Debt woes 61
Intolerable tides 64
The depth of India’s strategic vision 67
IMF and the Future of Pakistan 70
Islam and the feminist movements 73
Unilateral modification impermissible under IWT 76
The last workforce 79
Implications of a proposed change of guard at World Bank 82
China is here to stay in Pakistan 84
Learning from other countries’ achievements 86
Agricultural Farming and Pak Army Role 88
Pakistan’s ‘plan B’ to tackle TTP 91
Chat Gpt and the need for conspiracy theories 93
What does US-India tech coupling mean for Pakistan? 95
The Pakistani version of populism 97
Myanmar, Bangladesh “Potato Diplomacy” 99
Afghan Girls' Right to Education is Uncompromisable 101
TTP - Threat to Pakistan and Beyond 103
Genderising Inflation: How Inflation effects women 105
1 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

Current affairs MCQS Compilation
Who is the Current caretaker Chief Minister of PUNJAB?
A. Chaudhry Parvez Elahi

B. Mohsin Naqvi
C. Hamza Shahbaz Sharif
D. None of these
Famous writer and poet Amjad Islam Amjad died on?
A. Feb 9,2023
B. Feb 10, 2023
C. Feb 11,2023
D. Feb 12,2023
Lieutenant General (Retired) Nazir Ahmed Butt appointed as the

Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on?
A. 4th January,2023
B. 4th February,2023
C. 4th March,2023
D. None of These
Which of the following is the special Pakistani envoy to Afghanistan who

presented his resignation to PM Shehbaz Sharif after his three years’
service in march 2023?
A. Maleeha Lodhi
B. Mohammad Sadiq
C. Mohammad Kamran
D. Mohammad Shahid
The first ever woman to score a hundred for Pakistan in T20

internationals?
A. Bismah Maroof
B. Nida Dar
C. Muneeba Ali
D. Shazia khan
Who is the Current IG of KPK police?
A. Mr. Akhtar Hayat Khan

B. Moazzam Jah Ansari
C. Nasir Khan Durrani
D. Sanaullah Abbasi

Who is the Current Attorney General of Pakistan?
A. Mr.Ashtar Ausaf Ali

B. Shehzad Ata Elahi
C. Mansoor Usman Awan
D. Mr.Salman Aslam Butt
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),

Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Pakistan on?
A. 10 to 12 February
B. 12 to 14 February
C. 14 to 15 February
D. 15 to 16 February
Actor, producer, director and TV broadcaster Zia Mohyeddin passed

away at age of 91 in Karachi on Monday __________?
A. 11th January 2023

B. 13 January 2023
C. 12 January 2023
D. 14 January 2023
Who is the Current Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Industries &

Commerce?
A. Sardar Muhammad Bux Mehar

B. Jam Ikramullah Dharejo
C. Syeda Shehla Raza
D. Syed Sardar Ali Shah
PM Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated KANUP-3 on ____ in Karachi.
A. 1st February 2023

B. 31st January 2023
C. 2nd February 2023
D. 30th January 2023
Pakistan ranked __ out of 180 in international transparency index

2022?
A. 138th
B. 140th
C. 120th
D. 112th
Who is the Current Minister of Sindh for Cooperation Department?
A. Jam Khan Shoro

B. Fayaz Ahmed Butt
C. Jam Ikramullah Dharejo
D. Saeed Ghani

Who is the Current Provisional Minister of Irrigation in Sindh?
A. Nasir Hussain Shah

B. Jam Khan Shoro
C. Sohail Anwar Siyal
D. Mukesh Chawla
Former President of Pakistan died in?
A. Saudi Arabia
B. UAE
C. Oman
D. Iran
Former President General Retired Pervez Musharraf passed away in

Dubai at the age of______?
A. 59
B. 69
C. 79
D. None of these
General Pervez Musharraf died on?
A. February 3, 2023
B. February 4, 2023
C. February 5, 2023
D. February 6, 2022
When a special court handed Musharraf death sentence in the high

treason case against him?
A. On January 17, 2019

B. On March 17, 2019
C. On December 17, 2019
D. On June 17, 2019
Former president retired General Pervez Musharraf passed away on

____after a prolonged battle with the rare disease ____. He was
______.?
A. 3 February 2023 | Hepatitis C | 85

B. 5 February 2023 | amyloidosis | 79
C. 7 February 2023 | (COVID-19) | 95
D. 9 February 2023 | Campylobacter Infection | 65
Sindh govt launched Pakistan`s first ever pink people bus service for?
A. Women
B. Men
C. Children
D. Aged

Who is Current Chairman of Pakistan International Airline (PIA)?
A. Aslam R Khan
B. Muhammad Amir Hayat
C. Air Marshal Arshad Mahmood Malik
D. None of these
__ has announced closing its services in Pakistan after two decades as

on 31-12-2022.
A. BBC Radio Urdu

B. Sky News
C. Al-Jazera T.v
Dawn News
Who is the Current Ambassador of Pakistan to France?
A. Mr Sajid Bilal
B. Mr Masood khalid
C. Asim Iftikhar
D. Mr Nasr Ullah Khan
Who has been appointed as new Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign

Affairs?
A. Asim Iftikhar
B. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch
C. Ayesha Farooqi
D. None of these
Who is the current chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board?
A. Najam Sethi
B. Rameez Raja
C. Ehsan Mani D. Jahangir Khanzada
Who is the Current Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission of

Pakistan (SECP)?
A. Akif Saeed
B. Aamir Khan
C. Farrukh H. Sabzwari D. Shaukat Hussain
_____ has been appointed new chairman of Securities and Exchange

Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
A. Aamir Khan
B. Farrukh H. Sabzwari
C. Akif Saeed D. Ijaz Mansoor
7th census in Pakistan is currently scheduled to be held from

_________ ?
A. 5th January 2023

B. 1st Feb 2023 C. 15 July 2023

Embrace Equity | Dawn
INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of

women in their battle for gender equality; of course, every society on
account of its unique history is at a different point in that quest. Nor is
there always linear progression in this struggle.
Details:
In our own neighbourhood, Afghan women’s rights have waxed and waned over the
years; at present, the violently misogynistic Taliban regime is trampling (walking
over) on the gains they made during the two decades preceding. Across the world as
well, the trend is rather disheartening.
▪ According to a new World Bank report, the global pace of reforms towards
equal treatment of women under the law has fallen to a 20-year low, with only
34 gender-related legal reforms recorded across 18 countries — the least since
2001. At the current rate, women in many countries entering the workforce
today will retire without gaining the same rights as men. Essentially, the game
of catch-up for them will never end. In a speech on Monday, the UN secretary
general said the goal of gender equality will take 300 years to achieve.
Critical evaluation:
Encouragingly however, as per the World Bank report, Pakistan registered a higher
score this year because it enacted legal reforms in the entrepreneurship sector that
enable women to register a business in the same way as men. Specifically, since
December 2021, a married woman no longer needs to present her husband’s name
in order to register a business. Such changes of course augment a woman’s agency,
which has a salutary ripple effect on many other aspects of her life, and they deserve
to be lauded.
At the same time, this is where the relevance of this year’s theme of International
Women’s Day, #EmbraceEquity comes in. Equal opportunities alone aren’t enough
to raise women’s status, because each woman starts at a different place. For females
in a patriarchal society, day-to-day challenges hamper their ability to be productive
citizens, let alone be in a position to start a business. Domestic violence, underage
marriage, sexual harassment in the workplace, restrictions on choice of career or
having a career at all — these are some of the issues that prevent many females in
Pakistan from reaching their full potential.
Way forward:
To address these gaps, equitable measures must be taken to provide a level playing
field. These include implementation of pro-women laws, expansion of financial
access for women, provision of safe public transport, etc.

Vocabulary in context
1. Misogynistic - displaying hatred or prejudice against women

2. Salutary - producing good effects; beneficial
Phrasal verbs:
1. Wax and waned - to increase and decrease in a regular cycle

2. Catch-up - to reach the same level or position as someone or something else
3. Lauded - to praise highly
Idiomatic expressions:
1. Battle for gender equality - a struggle to achieve equal rights and

opportunities for men and women
2. At a different point - at a different stage or level of progress
3. Linear progression - continuous progress in a straight line without any
setbacks or interruptions
4. Game of catch-up - a struggle to achieve the same level or position as others
5. Ripple effect - a spreading effect or impact on other aspects or areas

Land irregularities | Dawn
THE Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment has sought the land

acquisition records of several housing schemes launched, managed
and maintained by the Lahore Development Authority in order to
probe allegations of widespread fraud and corruption during the last
five years.
Details:
The anti-corruption agency wants to look into various aspects of the land business
pertaining to these projects — from acquisition of land to sale and allotment of
developed plots to the plot exchange policy to changes in the original layout of
schemes, etc.
▪ An internal LDA inquiry has revealed that at least 100 residential plots in
Johar Town, one of the largest housing schemes in Punjab’s capital, which are
still owned by the authority on paper, have been allotted and sold, probably
multiple times, through forged documents and duplicate files. It is suspected
that some LDA officials connived with external elements to prepare bogus files
for these plots to make a quick buck.
It isn’t for the first time that LDA officials have been suspected of scheming with
property mafias to commit fraud through forged documents and facilitate land grabs
by powerful persons with significant clout in almost every major political party.
There have been numerous occasions previously, too, when LDA employees and
land grabbers illegally sold the same plot to scores of people, leading to long
litigations by buyers and the loss of their life savings. That is not all. The ‘plot
exchange policy’ is also frequently misused, and the rules of ‘land use’ are often
changed to benefit wealthy private developers and realtors and allow them to
convert residential plots into commercial ones for their schemes.
Under the Buzdar administration in Punjab, LDA by-laws were changed drastically,
apparently to help private developers make truckloads of easy money.
Wayforward:
The anti-corruption agency should not limit its probe to just LDA schemes or the
authority’s employees; it must also expand its task to investigate how the LDA has
benefited private developers to the disadvantage of the common people.

1. Allegations - claims or accusations that someone has done something wrong or

illegal
2. Widespread - happening or existing over a large area or among many people
3. Connived - secretly cooperated or conspired in wrongdoing
4. Bogus - fake or counterfeit
5. Litigations - legal disputes or lawsuits
6. By-laws - rules and regulations governing an organization or community
Phrasal Verbs:
1. Look into - to investigate or examine something
2. Allotted and sold - distributed and sold
3. Misused - used inappropriately or illegally
4. Changed drastically - changed significantly or substantially
Idiomatic Expressions:
1. Make a quick buck - to earn money quickly and easily, often by taking
advantage of others
2. Truckloads of easy money - a large amount of money earned easily and
quickly, often through unethical means
3. To the disadvantage of - to the detriment or harm of

Counterterror talks | The Express Tribune
Pakistan and the US are turning a new leaf in their counterterrorism

collaboration. It is a good omen that both the countries are aware of
the changing strategic realities, especially in the backdrop of
Washington’s hurried withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the
challenges that Taliban 2.0 non-inclusive government is facing at
home and abroad.
Details:
Moreover, the regrouping of terror outfits in the landlocked country has compelled
the State Department to review its policy. The fact that Islamabad is eager to strike a
new chord with the White House, and work on pivotal issues such as improving
defence cooperation, preventing and countering violent extremism and terror-
financing has set the ball rolling. The resolution is to prevent the region from
slipping into anarchy and abject terrorism.
The two-day dialogue is a great beginning, as it confirms the ground realities of
immense cooperation as Pakistan and Afghanistan see a new wave of terror attacks.
This huddle of counterterrorism officials, incidentally, has come days after a US
report categorically stated that the TTP is regrouping with other militant outfits in
Pakistan, and is determined to overthrow the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
province that borders Afghanistan. The intention of the TTP, and their likes, to
establish their own brand of Shariah has come as an immediate security threat to
the whole region. Thus, this dialogue and the outcome to cooperate by reviving the
level of understanding that existed in the wake of 9/11 attacks is a befitting response
to unscrupulous elements who are out to hamper trade and development.
Surely, the path of intermingling won’t be that easy for both the states. The first
required element is to buoy the trust factor between Pakistan and the US, and not to
highlight controversial issues that go on to infringe the sovereignty factor. Access to
the US in terms of land and airspace, in its endeavour to oversee the southwest
Asian region, had already created ripples.
Way forward:
This new understanding must be result-oriented and pro-security, rather than an
agenda of hegemony.

▪ turning a new leaf: starting a new chapter or beginning anew

▪ counterterrorism collaboration: working together to combat terrorism
▪ changing strategic realities: new circumstances or conditions that affect
strategic decisions and actions
▪ regrouping of terror outfits: the reorganization of terrorist groups
▪ strike a new chord: to establish a new relationship or connection
▪ pivotal issues: important and central concerns
▪ set the ball rolling: initiate a process or action
▪ prevent the region from slipping into anarchy and abject terrorism:
prevent the area from descending into chaos and extreme terrorism
▪ ground realities: the actual situation or circumstances
▪ new wave of terror attacks: a recent increase in terrorist incidents
▪ overthrow the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province: to remove the
current government in the province
▪ establish their own brand of Shariah: to impose their own interpretation
of Islamic law
▪ immediate security threat: a pressing danger to security
▪ level of understanding that existed in the wake of 9/11 attacks: the degree of
mutual understanding between Pakistan and the US after the 9/11 terrorist
attacks
▪ unscrupulous elements: dishonest or immoral actors
▪ hamper trade and development: impede economic and social progress
▪ buoy the trust factor: strengthen the level of trust
▪ controversial issues that go on to infringe the sovereignty factor: contentious
matters that violate the principle of national sovereignty
▪ endeavour to oversee the southwest Asian region: aim to supervise the
area of southwest Asia
▪ created ripples: caused disturbances or disruptions
▪ result-oriented and pro-security: focused on achieving outcomes that
enhance security
▪ agenda of hegemony: a plan aimed at establishing dominance or control

Afghans’ misery | Dawn
WHEN one thinks of the people of Afghanistan, it is impossible not to

be consumed by a deep sense of pessimism. Living in the shadow of
war and broken governance for decades, generations in our
neighbouring country have been repeatedly disappointed by those
who have vowed to find solutions.
Details:
Last week, a senior UN official highlighted that Afghanistan remains the world’s
largest humanitarian crisis this year, notwithstanding the devastating earthquakes
in Turkiye and Syria. The situation is abysmal; girls have been gradually withdrawn
from schools by the Taliban and not allowed to return. Women are kept out of the
workplace. Though women have been allowed to teach, and partake in the medical
field to provide services, they are only allowed to do so in the presence of a mahram.
Despite the international community’s criticism and pressure, the Taliban’s outlook
on women’s rights remains unchanged. Worse, the effects of climate change and
economic difficulties have plunged Afghans further into turmoil, with 28m people
now dependent on aid for survival. As GDP falls, food costs rise and unemployment
increases, families are left to spend most of their earnings on food.
Every report coming from Afghanistan paints a picture of suffering, neglect and
despondency. What is the future of Afghanistan, when the hopes of its people and
their abilities to work towards a better life are crushed? The international
community, and especially countries like the US, must remember why Afghanistan
is in this sorry state, and continue to provide assistance to its people at any cost. The
Taliban are stubborn, but this must not discourage rights organisations and political
leaders from attempting a breakthrough by constantly reminding them of human
rights.
Conclusion:
The Afghans have suffered for far too long, and have faced the harshest realities of
war. There is no clear solution to their misery, and certainly no shortcut, but
consistent engagement, support and pushback are critical to give Afghanistan’s
people some hope.

1. Gender equality - the state of equal rights, opportunities, and treatment for
people of all genders
2. Misogynistic - having or showing a dislike or hatred towards women
3. Taliban regime - a political group in Afghanistan that follows a strict
interpretation of Islam and is known for their oppressive treatment of women
4. Pace - the speed at which something is happening or progressing
5. Reforms - changes made to improve or update a system or law
6. Patriarchal society - a society in which men hold more power and are dominant
in social, political, and economic spheres
7. Domestic violence - violence or abuse that occurs within the home or family
8. Underage marriage - marriage of a person who has not reached the legal age
of marriage
9. Sexual harassment - unwanted sexual advances or behavior towards someone
10. Equitable - fair and just, giving everyone equal opportunities and
treatment.
Phrasal verbs:
1. Wax and wane - to increase and decrease in intensity or size

2. Catch up - to reach the same level or status as someone or something else
3. Augment - to make something greater or more significant by adding to it
4. Level playing field - a situation where everyone has an equal chance or
opportunity to succeed
5. Implement - to put into effect or action
6. Expand - to make something larger or more extensive
1. On account of - because of
2. Trend is rather disheartening - the current situation is not encouraging or
positive
3. Game of catch-up - the struggle to reach the same level as others or overcome
a disadvantage
4. Ripple effect - a chain reaction or series of consequences resulting from an
initial action or event
5. Hamper their ability - to prevent or limit someone's ability to do something.

US blacklist | Dawn
THE Pakistan-US relationship often results in bizarre contradictions.

While officials from both sides regularly issue statements about
improving trade and development ties, Pakistani firms are also put on
American blacklists, making it difficult for these companies to do
business internationally.
Details:
In the latest such development, a number of local firms have been put on the US
Commerce Department’s ‘entity list’, allegedly “for contributing to ballistic missile
programmes of concern, including Pakistan’s missile programme, and for
involvement in unsafeguarded nuclear activities”. Several Pakistani entities were
similarly blacklisted in December for apparently the same reasons, while Joe
Biden’s off-colour remark, terming Pakistan “one of the most dangerous nations in
the world” due to its nuclear programme, should also be recalled, even though the
US president’s handlers tried to spin his comments differently.
In the latest blacklisting, firms have also been targeted for aiding Russia and China’s
military ambitions, as well as helping Iran break sanctions. The US Treasury
Department warned the UAE recently for continuing to trade with Russia. It can
safely be assumed that rather than any legitimate concerns about Pakistani firms
breaking international laws, the blacklisting is purely geopolitical, in effect a
message from Uncle Sam in the same vein as ‘are you with us or against us?’
These developments should serve as a wake-up call for Pakistan’s policymakers. As
the Ukraine war drags on, and the US indulges in combative rhetoric with China,
Pakistan needs to plan accordingly. For if push comes to shove, especially on the
China front, Pakistan may be asked to make hard choices. This will obviously not be
an easy decision. Islamabad’s ties with Beijing are deep and strategic, but relations
with the US are also important.
Therefore, progressive and sagacious foreign policy decisions are required, keeping
Pakistan’s interest paramount, and not getting dragged into other people’s conflicts.
It must also be noted that while the US raises concerns about Pakistan’s missile
programme, Washington and its European allies are pumping billions of dollars’
worth of weapons into Ukraine, ensuring that the war drags on.
Wayforward:
Pakistan is a responsible state, and while our internal squabbles may not be sending
a positive message to the world, clarity is needed in foreign policy messaging.
Ultimately, Pakistan must stress the need to resolve all disputes peacefully and
reject bloc politics, while refusing to entertain unnecessary curbs on its defence
needs.

Ballistic missile programmes: programs related to the development, production,

and deployment of missiles that can travel in a curved path
• Un-safeguarded nuclear activities: nuclear activities that are not subject to
safeguards or inspections by international authorities
• Geopolitical: related to the political and territorial arrangements of countries
and regions
• Sagacious: having or showing good judgement and wisdom
• Bloc politics: politics based on groups or blocs of countries
Adjectives:
Bizarre: strange, unusual, or unexpected

•
• Legitimate: conforming to the law or to rules
• Combative: aggressive, confrontational, or ready to fight
• Progressive: moving forward, improving, or developing
Phrasal verbs:
▪ results in: leads to, causes

▪ issue statements: make public declarations or announcements
▪ put on: added to, included in
▪ blacklisted: banned, prohibited, excluded
▪ warned for: cautioned or advised about a potential danger or consequence
▪ bizarre contradictions: strange or unexpected inconsistencies

▪ in the same vein as: in a similar manner or style as
▪ wake-up call: a sudden event or situation that alerts people to a problem or
issue
▪ make hard choices: make difficult decisions
▪ push comes to shove: if a situation becomes critical or urgent
▪ deep and strategic: significant and important in a long-term and deliberate way
▪ pumping billions of dollars’ worth of weapons: providing large amounts
of weapons, often with the intention of escalating a conflict

Lasting harm | Dawn
TRACKING our economic predicament in recent months has been like

watching a train wreck in slow motion. Despite the chorus of well-
meaning voices asking him to act with reason and good sense, the
finance minister stubbornly stuck to his guns on policies that were
bound to put him in confrontation with the IMF till it was too late.
Details:
Few had believed him when he claimed soon after taking over that he could bend the
Fund to his will. A country on the brink of default does not dictate terms to its
creditors. He still went ahead with his ill-conceived approach. Instead of making a
serious effort to address core imbalances in the economy, he wasted time needling
the IMF and insisting on setting the terms of the bailout. As a result, the ninth
review of the funding programme, originally scheduled for October,
remains pending even though foreign exchange inflows have rapidly dried up.‘God-
willing, next week’ is a refrain we have grown accustomed to hearing every few
weeks from the finance minister. It was repeated again yesterday. Unfortunately, it
seems that we may finally be out of time.
Default — once pooh-poohed as an irrational fear — is now appearing increasingly

likely, however strenuously the finance minister may deny its possibility. Yet,
nothing seems to humble the PML-N or Ishaq Dar.
They remain unwilling to acknowledge that much of the present mess is attributable
to the bluster with which he has worked the finance ministry.
▪ Miftah Ismail had at least seemed proactive about addressing Pakistan’s issues
— something that insiders in Washington acknowledge. On the other hand, the
IMF appears unwilling to trust Mr Dar, who seems to have a below-par
understanding of Pakistan’s economic ailments and no stomach for needed
reforms. Thanks to him, we have reached a point where even IMF approval
may not be enough to spare us further harm. Lasting damage has been done
not only to the economy but also to the national psyche.
Faith in the country’s future — economic or otherwise — has evaporated. The vast
majority do not have enough for three meals, and even better-off Pakistanis are
vocalising fears about the country not having a stable future to offer them.
Our brightest young minds are planning to start a new life in foreign lands, having
lost all hope in theirs. This damage will take years, if not decades, to reverse. The
Sharifs had imposed Mr Dar on this country despite the vocal protestations of
everyone who had witnessed his policies thoroughly discredited in the past.
They had ignored voices from their own ranks warning them of the disaster he could
cause. They must stop insisting on supporting a man responsible for single-
handedly ruining the future of millions of Pakistanis. The country must now be
relieved of his burden.

1. ill-conceived: The finance minister's approach to addressing economic

imbalances is described as ill-conceived, meaning that it was not well-planned or
thought out.
2. stubborn: The finance minister is described as stubborn because he refused to
change his policies despite the advice of well-meaning voices.
3. bluster: The way in which the finance minister worked in the finance ministry is
described as bluster, which means that he used a lot of talk and noise but
achieved little.
4. below-par: The finance minister is described as having a below-par
understanding of Pakistan's economic ailments, meaning that his understanding
was not up to standard.
1. Economic predicament: A difficult economic situation.

2. Train wreck: A disastrous or catastrophic event.
3. Chorus: A group of voices speaking together.
4. Policies: The set of rules or guidelines adopted by the government to achieve
certain economic objectives.
5. IMF: The International Monetary Fund, an international organization that
provides financial assistance to member countries experiencing economic
difficulties.
6. Default: Failure to meet financial obligations or pay back debts.
7. Creditors: People or organizations to whom money is owed.
8. Core imbalances: Fundamental problems or issues affecting the economy.
Phrasal verbs:
• Tracking: following and monitoring closely.

• Stuck to his guns: refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
• Put in confrontation: caused a conflict or disagreement with someone.
• Needling: provoking or irritating someone with persistent comments or
actions.
• Dried up: decreased or stopped completely.
• Grown accustomed: become used to or familiar with something.
• Vocalising: expressing or stating opinions or feelings aloud.
• Imposed on: forced someone to accept or tolerate someone or something.
• Discredited: shown to be untrue or unreliable.
• Like watching a train wreck in slow motion: a disaster or catastrophe

that is happening gradually but surely and is impossible to stop.
• Bend the Fund to his will: having complete control over the IMF and its
policies.
• On the brink of default: being close to failing to repay a debt or a loan.
• Below-par understanding: having an insufficient or inadequate level of
knowledge or comprehension.
• Spare us further harm: prevent or protect from additional damage or injury.
• Lost all hope: became completely hopeless or pessimistic.
• Single-handedly ruining: causing significant damage or harm alone, without
help or support from anyone else.
• Relieved of his burden: removed from responsibility or duty.

Bail for women | Express Tribune
It is a welcome judgment by the Supreme Court that women accused

of offences, which are otherwise held to be non-bailable under the
relevant laws, are to be granted bail as per rule.
Details:
This rule also applies to disabled and those under 16 years of age. Only under
exceptional circumstances can bail be rejected. The judgment came as the top court
was dealing with an appeal against rejection of bail plea by a maid arrested for
house robbery.
The decision to grant bail to the woman will indeed set a precedence for future cases
dealing with such an issue, especially at the lower courts where non-bailable
offences are treated without any exception. Such judgments are important for
clarification of nuisances present in the law and help strengthen the legal system as
oftentimes influential people seek to use their power to suppress their opposition by
taking advantage of legal loopholes and vague laws. Apart from that, it will also go a
long way in protecting accused women and juveniles who eventually spend a long
time languishing in jails for petty crimes or acts they haven’t even committed.
Pakistan has a weak penal system and jails across the country are overcrowded as
thousands of cases remain pending in courts. The situation doesn’t just affect the
lives of prisoners, who are not provided with proper food or sanitation, but it also
uses up whatever little resources these jails have.
Conclusion:
Therefore, providing bail would equally help reduce prison populations and in some
cases speed up the legal process. While the court must ensure justice is served, it
also has to be cognizant of the rights of prisoners and the specific situation that each
case presents. The judgment will urge judges to consider expectational
circumstances, such as the probability of crime reoccurring, in each case.

Meaning of Difficult Words:
1. Non-bailable - An offence for which bail is not granted as a matter of right, and
the accused has to apply to a court for release on bail.
2. Precedence - An earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide
to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.
3. Nuisances - Small or minor aspects of something, usually perceived as
irritating or troublesome.
4. Loopholes - A way of evading a rule, law or obligation, by exploiting a
technicality or omission in it.
5. Juveniles - Young people who are not yet legally adults, typically under the age
of 18.
6. Penal system - The system of laws, courts, and prisons designed to deal with
criminal offenses and to punish offenders.
7. Overcrowded - Occupied by too many people or things, beyond the capacity of
what is intended or appropriate.
8. Cognizant - Aware or conscious of something, especially a fact or situation.
Phrasal Verbs:
1. Dealing with - To handle, manage, or cope with a problem or situation.

2. Languishing in - To remain in a miserable or unhappy condition, often for a
prolonged period.
3. Use up - To consume, exhaust, or deplete a resource.
4. Speed up - To increase the rate or pace of something, to make it happen more
quickly.
5. Take advantage of - To exploit or use something for personal gain.
6. Set a precedence - To establish a standard or example for future cases or
events.
1. Without any exception - Without making any distinctions or allowances,

without any deviation from a norm or standard.
2. Go a long way - To have a significant or far-reaching effect, to make a
substantial contribution to something.
3. Serve justice - To administer or provide justice, to ensure that the right action
is taken in response to a wrongdoing.
4. As a matter of right - As something that is guaranteed by law or by a set of
rules, without any need for negotiation or special consideration.

Bolan barbarism | Express
Another daredevil attack on the security forces in Bolan is a moment

of serious introspection. Reports say a suicide bomber allegedly
rammed his vehicle into a police van frequenting Balochistan
Constabulary personnel, killing and maiming more than a dozen
policemen.
Details:
The reserve force is deputed at special security details, and is considered as a
contingency at sensitive installations. Like previous attacks, this one too had been
planned minutely as is evident from the ease with which the bomber picked the
target at a faraway location on the Kambri Bridge bordering the restive Sibi and
Kachhi districts.
With no one claiming responsibility for the attack, it is widely assumed that the
residual non-state actors are behind it, as they are nursing a nefarious agenda to
bleed the province, and plunge the country into a renewed crisis. The fact is that
authorities have not been able to surf through the messy tracks of the desolate
province to this day to identify and exterminate the sleeping cells and their abettors.
So we are found wanting to the dreaded elements, as silent spectators, who are at
impunity to decide on death and destruction.
This new barbarism should not see another conventional ending, as we vow and
resolve to punish the culprits but go silent with the turn of the calendar leaf. Police,
Army and Constabulary have been under an attack for years, and they have
dispensed their duties with utmost resilience in their meagre resources. So is the
case with the hapless and resource-starved people of Balochistan who have held
their heads high hoping that the multi-billion-dollar CPEC will turn their lives
around. But it seems clandestine forces funded by foreign elements and black sheep
in the country hold a sway, and all efforts to exterminate terror are still unrealised.
Wayforward:
This necessitates a twin-dimensional approach, wherein pro-development and
political empowerment must follow suit with a neo-orchestrated clampdown on
terror outfits. Balochistan can sooner find a solution, if the people are instantly
taken on board by shunning prejudice.

Homeless children | Express
In 2022, the National Commission on the Rights of Child revealed

that there are 1.5 million street children in Pakistan and the number is
rapidly rising.
Details:
The phenomenon of homeless or street children is a consequence of social neglect.
These children spend their time out of their homes and schools in unsafe conditions.
In a bid to protect homeless children and enhance their prospects, the Punjab police
have signed an MoU with four government and private institutions working for the
rights and welfare of children.
Most street children receive insufficient nutrition and water and lack medical care.
They become easy prey for exploitation by beggar mafias, human and drug
traffickers, and other wayward elements. Early exposure to violence and abuse
affects their overall growth and development. The majority of these children fall into
drug abuse and other criminal activities. They remain trapped in poverty and
deprivation. Under the rehabilitation programme, orphan girls will be taken to SOS
village and other homeless children will be referred to the child protection bureau.
Children involved in begging will be brought to schools of the Care Foundation and
justice will be sought for crimes against children and children involved in crimes.
This is a commendable initiative as it aims to support children during their

formative years, which shape their personalities and behaviours and ultimately
impact societal development. The comprehensive nature of the programme has
brought different institutions working for children’s welfare together allowing them
to effectively address and potentially end the problems faced by homeless children.
Way forward:
The Punjab police must lead by example by ensuring the success of this initiative to
encourage other provincial police departments to undertake similar initiatives. We
must realise that we cannot achieve prosperity or equality by neglecting the less
fortunate. Homeless children should be allowed to become useful citizens and
welcomed into mainstream society.

Difficult Words:
1. Consequence - the result or effect of an action or event

2. Deprivation - a state of lacking something that is necessary for normal human
development or functioning
3. Formative - relating to or affecting the development of something, especially a
person's character or personality
4. Commendable - deserving praise or approval
5. Wayward - difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse
behavior
Phrasal Verbs:
1. Fall into - to begin doing something, especially something bad or illegal,

without intending to
2. Bring to - to take someone or something to a particular place or situation
3. Undertake - to agree or promise to do something
1. In a bid - attempting or trying to achieve something

2. Lead by example - to behave in the way that you want others to behave
3. Less fortunate - those who are not as wealthy, privileged, or lucky as others

Chinese prescription | Express
Beijing’s outlook of world view is in contrast with the Western

perceptions. Though China is very much part of the global capitalist
entrepreneur economy, it takes a departure when it comes to
fundamentals of poverty alleviation and development.
Details:
This is why a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry took no qualms in
stating that ‘certain developed countries’ have not lived up to the expectations of
buckling up underdeveloped states, and their policies had rather led to stagnation in
growth. This is no new synopsis, and is evident from the approach that China has for
interacting with developing countries as its aid and assistance does not come with
strings attached. Whereas, the West is in with an agenda and behind the excuse of
reforms, there is much that the poor recipient members have to suffer in the long
run.
It is not clear as to what entailed China to come up with such a categorical utterance
at this point of time. While it referred to Pakistan, the assumption is that it is
hinting at the plethora of conditionalities that Islamabad is being made to accept by
the IMF, as the former goes on to strike a new deal in restructuring its loans.
▪ As Pakistan sits on the edges of an imminent default, and with Western credit
rating agencies simply writing off the country’s tangibles, there is a fear that it
could lead to severe ramifications on the international financial index. On the
other hand, China, which has rolled over its cash tranches with Pakistan to
help it avert bankruptcy, has pointed out the enigma of walking away as the
Fund and other lenders are accustomed to. It is an undeniable fact that the US,
despite being an ally, has not pumped in any succour and that is what the
communist giant has pointed out.
Wayforward:
There is a cue to be picked from China i.e. all international creditors must evolve a
proactive lending policy, and developing states must be provided with space to
operate. There is no tailor-made prescription, and developing countries should be
free to reorient their policies as per their needs and requirements.

▪ outlook of world view : a particular perspective or attitude towards the world

▪ in contrast with: different from or opposite to
▪ takes a departure: deviates from or differs from
▪ poverty alleviation: the act of reducing or eliminating poverty
▪ developed countries: countries with advanced economies and high standards of
living
▪ underdeveloped states: countries with less developed economies and lower
standards of living
▪ stagnation in growth: a situation where there is little or no growth or
development
▪ strings attached: conditions or requirements that come with something
▪ enigma of walking away: the mystery or puzzle of abandoning or withdrawing
support
▪ succour: help, support or relief
▪ categorical utterance: a clear, unambiguous statement
▪ strike a new deal: negotiate a new agreement
▪ imminent default: a situation where a borrower is expected to default on their
debt soon
▪ credit rating agencies: organizations that assess the creditworthiness of
borrowers
▪ tangibles: physical assets or property
▪ severe ramifications: serious consequences or outcomes
▪ international financial index: a measure of the financial performance of
countries in the global economy
▪ rolled over its cash tranches: extended or renewed the loan agreements
▪ avert bankruptcy: prevent or avoid bankruptcy
▪ an ally: a friend or supporter
▪ communist giant: a reference to China's status as a communist country with a
large population and a significant influence in the world
▪ evolve a proactive lending policy: develop a strategy for lending money that
is proactive or anticipates potential challenges
▪ developing states: countries with less developed economies and lower standards
of living
▪ tailor-made prescription: a customized solution or recommendation
▪ reorient their policies: adjust or realign their policies

Iran’s bomb contours | Express
Iran’s bomb is back in the spotlight. Official declarations emanating

from the US House of Representatives and the IAEA say that Tehran
is inches away from producing a crude device with enough fissile for a
nuclear bomb.
Details:
Though there are still doubts that the Islamic Republic is far away from formally
churning out a nuclear device, the fact that it has mastered the technology to create
a dirty bomb in “12 days’ timeframe” has sent alarms ringing. The concern was
voiced by US Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl in a testimony as
Republican lawmakers went on to question the rationale behind reviving JCPOA,
which was unilaterally scrapped by the Trump administration in 2018. The enigma
is that had the 2015 signed P5+1 international accord been in force to this day, the
obsession of denuclearising Iran’s clandestine programme would have been realised.
Let’s analyse the equation in its totality.
If it is established that Iran is literally capable of producing a nuclear device in 12

days, then it goes without saying that it has gone back on its promise not to build a
bomb.
Likewise, IAEA’s confirmation that uranium particles have been enriched to 83.7%
purity is another sign that monitoring of sites had taken a backseat all these years. If
so, then none but the US is to be blamed. It is the White House under President
Trump that threw spanner in the works, and sabotaged the masterpiece of
disarmament struck by his predecessor, Barack Obama, in cultivating Iran for a
return to a non-nuclear regime.
Moreover, the labour of China, Russia and European allies in convincing Iran to
look beyond the bomb, and steer clear its path for confidence building measures,
went down the drain owing to Washington’s adamancy.
Wayforward:
The West’s policy perception towards Iran is one of bias and mistrust. It has been
content with slapping economic sanctions, and that has not worked to this day.
What is needed is an instant return to JCPOA, and marshaling the revolutionary
state to sign in for a thaw. It serves the purpose of peace and congeniality.

Internet curbs in India | Express
Another report by a digital civil rights group has slammed India’s love
of internet shutdowns, noting that almost half of all politically-
motivated internet blackouts worldwide in 2022 occurred in the
country.
Details:
Access Now says it recorded at least 187 internet shutdowns last year, 84 of which
were in India. For comparison, even though the report calls out Pakistan for also
using internet restrictions to combat protests, it has recorded only one internet
shutdown ordered by Islamabad — a two-hour disruption in multiple cities during
the PTI’s May 25 protests.
▪ Meanwhile, India, which has led the NGO’s shutdown list for each of the past
five years, ordered enough shutdowns to merit a further statistical breakdown
— 49 of the shutdowns only targeted Occupied Kashmir while the others were
broader.
There were also periods of about three days in January and February where back-to-
back shutdowns began to resemble outright internet bans.
Further underscoring the oppressive nature of the Indian government’s actions is

that the country ranked second on the list was Ukraine. But unlike India, the
Ukrainian government was not blamed for the shutdowns. In fact, Ukraine’s 22
shutdowns were all blamed on Russia — specifically the Russian military — as part
of its invasion of Ukraine. Think about that — India is treating its own citizens worse
than an unpopular foreign invader treats a belligerent local population.
The report also notes that internet shutdowns are “becoming a go-to weapon for
perpetrators to crush dissent and exert control”, and New Delhi’s proposed Indian
Telecommunication Bill, which grants the central and state governments
unrestricted powers to impose shutdowns, shows its “intention to continue down
this troublesome path, violating fundamental rights of expression and assembly and
providing opportunities to cover up human rights abuses.”
Conclusion:
Unsurprisingly, this wave of undemocratic activity continues to fuel dissent in the
country, not just in Occupied Kashmir and other disputed areas, but even in major
cities.

Kabul’s moment | Express
A major success in counterterrorism has come the Kabul’s way. In

what seems to be a well-choreographed operation, the Afghan Taliban
took out IS-K’s top leader, who was also its military and intelligence
chief.
Details:
This will surely act as a deterrent and will go a long way in further consolidating the
Afghan interim government’s grip over power, enabling them to tackle the terror
fissures in a more comprehensive mmanner
▪ Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid took pride in announcing

that senior-ranking IS-K leaders have been killed, and named one of them as
Qari Fateh.
It was also disclosed that another IS-K person supposedly working in cahoots for a
subcontinental terrorist outfit has been arrested. These major breakthroughs,
incidentally, have come close on the heels of a high-powered delegation from
Pakistan’s visit to the strife-torn country, and hints at a new epilogue of cooperation.
Mujahid’s submission that the exterminated IS-K man was the mastermind behind
many of the terrorist attacks in Kabul, and had served as a chief for Khorasan and
Kumar provinces, makes it certainly a big hit. The interim dispensation has to keep
its head high and not to lose the stream of going behind the dreaded elements. It is a
good thing that the Afghan Taliban are mindful of their pledge to ensure that no
non-state actor makes use of their soil for attacking any neighbouring country.
At the same time, it is essential that Afghanistan itself is cleansed from these
parasites who have brought in more death and destruction to the four decades of
revulsion-hit country but have also endangered regional peace and security. Booting
out the TTP’s fugitive elements in Afghanistan as well as the remnants of al-Qaeda,
IS-K and their abettors is a must.
Wayforward:
Tuesday’s success is in need of being eulogised, and neighbouring states must come
forward to buckle up Kabul’s resolve by taking care of its immediate concerns. The
region can neither afford to see instability nor return to war-mongering in
Afghanistan. The dividends of interconnectivity hinges on Kabul overcoming terror
fissures, and it has to be taken care of.

Difficult words:
a) Ephemeral - lasting for a very short time.
b) Solitude - the state or situation of being alone.
c) Obfuscate - to make something confusing or difficult to understand.
d) Perspicacious - having a ready insight into and understanding of things.
e) Ubiquitous - present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Phrasal verbs:
a) Put off - to delay doing something.
b) Bring up - to start talking about a subject.
c) Break down - to stop functioning or working properly.
d) Look into - to investigate or examine something.
e) Come across - to find or discover something by chance.
a) Break a leg - a phrase used to wish someone good luck.
b) Barking up the wrong tree - to pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action.
c) Cut corners - to do something in a hasty or incomplete manner in order to save time or effort.
d) Bite the bullet - to accept something difficult or unpleasant.
e) A piece of cake - something that is very easy to do.

Aqaba accord | Express
Some news of consolation for the stateless Palestinians. Israel, in a

departure from its encroachment policy, has promised to halt
authorisation of new Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Details:
Though the timeline of relief is merely six months, as it is meant to avoid any
untoward incident during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, it is nonetheless a
promising precedent in sight. The understanding reached between Israel and
Palestinian is a first of its kind in the last many decades, and has come under the
good-offices of Jordan. The fact that the United States has facilitated the move and
sent in its Mideast adviser, Brett McGurk, to Aqaba is worth appreciating.
Israel has conventionally been trigger-happy when it comes to addressing the

territorial disputes.
▪ The massacre in Jenin recently, in which more than 15 people were

slaughtered, hints at its criminalised mindset. Reports also say around 200
persons were killed in the year 2022, as political resolve to the two-state
solution has been in doldrums.
Moreover, this understanding has also come with Egypt’s backing, and coincides
with the UN Security Council statement castigating Israel’s settlements policy on
occupied Palestinian territories. A glance at Aqaba understanding also brings to the
fore the new policy perspective wherein Washington itself has allowed the UNSC to
take action against its ally Israel in six years.
The intention is to pledge de-escalation in an earnest attempt to broker a long-term

solution to the imbroglio. It has been a while since any negotiated aspect had
clicked, and any of the guarantors were ever honoured by the Jewish state.
Conclusion:
The need is to further the Abraham Accord’s perceptual context, wherein Israel is
eager for peace with Arab states, and for that the beginning has to be made from
Palestinian usurped lands. Freeing 2 million inmates of Gaza, the world’s biggest
open-sky concentration camp, and scrapping settlements policy on both the banks
of Jerusalem is the way to go. This is how coexistence can set in, and bring in some
aura of credibility to Israel in its regional policy.

Difficult words:
a) Encroachment - intrusion on a person's territory, rights, etc.
b) Precedent - an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to

be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.
c) Criminalised - to make something illegal or against the law.
d) Imbroglio - a complicated or confusing situation.
e) Perceptual - relating to the ability to become aware or understand through the

senses.
Phrasal verbs:
a) Halt authorization - to stop giving permission for something.
b) Come under - to fall within a particular category or classification.
c) Backing - to support or endorse something or someone.
d) Castigating - to criticize or reprimand severely.
e) Set in - to become established or begin to be felt.
a) Untoward incident - an unexpected or unfortunate event.
b) In doldrums - in a state of stagnation or inactivity.
c) Trigger-happy - prone to acting aggressively or without sufficient consideration.
d) Clicked - to function smoothly or effectively.
e) Bring in - to introduce or initiate something.

Facts and figures

FACTS AND FIGURES
Compiled From Editorials
▪ According to a new World Bank report, the global pace of reforms towards
equal treatment of women under the law has fallen to a 20-year low, with only
34 gender-related legal reforms recorded across 18 countries — the least since
2001.
▪ In a speech on Monday, the UN secretary general said the goal of gender
equality will take 300 years to achieve.
▪ Pakistan registered a higher score this year because it enacted legal reforms in
the entrepreneurship sector that enable women to register a business in the
same way as men.
▪ The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment has sought the land acquisition
records of several housing schemes launched, managed and maintained by the
Lahore Development Authority in order to probe allegations of widespread
fraud and corruption during the last five years.
▪ An internal LDA inquiry has revealed that at least 100 residential plots in
Johar Town, one of the largest housing schemes in Punjab’s capital, which are
still owned by the authority on paper, have been allotted and sold, probably
multiple times, through forged documents and duplicate files.
▪ The ‘plot exchange policy’ is also frequently misused, and the rules of ‘land
use’ are often changed to benefit wealthy private developers and realtors and
allow them to convert residential plots into commercial ones for their
schemes.
▪ The two-day dialogue between Pakistan and the US is aimed at preventing the
region from slipping into anarchy and abject terrorism, as terror outfits are
regrouping in the landlocked country.
▪ Afghanistan remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis this year, with
28m people now dependent on aid for survival. (From the article "Afghans'
Misery")
▪ Several Pakistani entities were blacklisted in December allegedly "for
contributing to ballistic missile programmes of concern, including Pakistan’s
missile programme, and for involvement in unsafeguarded nuclear activities".
(From the article "US Blacklist")
▪ Women, disabled individuals, and those under 16 accused of non-bailable
offences are to be granted bail as per rule.
▪ Only under exceptional circumstances can bail be rejected.
▪ The decision to grant bail to accused women and juveniles will set a precedent
for future cases and protect them from spending a long time languishing in
jails for petty crimes or acts they haven't even committed.

▪ Providing bail would help reduce prison populations and speed up the legal
process.
▪ According to the National Commission on the Rights of Child, there are 1.5
million street children in Pakistan, and the number is rapidly rising.
▪ Homeless or street children spend their time out of their homes and schools in
unsafe conditions and are vulnerable to exploitation.
▪ The Punjab police have signed an MoU with four government and private
institutions working for the rights and welfare of children to enhance homeless
children's prospects.
▪ Most street children receive insufficient nutrition and water, lack medical care,
and fall into drug abuse and other criminal activities.
▪ Under the rehabilitation programme, orphan girls will be taken to SOS village,
and other homeless children will be referred to the child protection bureau.
Children involved in begging will be brought to schools of the Care
Foundation, and justice will be sought for crimes against children and children
involved in crimes.
▪ China rolled over cash tranches with Pakistan to help it avert bankruptcy,
while the US did not provide any support
▪ Developing countries should be free to reorient their policies as per their needs
and requirements
▪ Topic 2: Iran's nuclear program and JCPOA
▪ US House of Representatives and IAEA declare that Iran is close to producing
a crude nuclear device
▪ Iran has mastered the technology to create a dirty bomb in a short timeframe
▪ If Iran is capable of producing a nuclear device in 12 days, it has gone back on
its promise not to build a bomb
▪ Trump administration's decision to scrap JCPOA sabotaged the disarmament
agreement
▪ The West's policy perception towards Iran is biased and mistrustful
▪ The way forward is an instant return to JCPOA for peace and congeniality.
▪ Internet shutdowns in India - At least 187 internet shutdowns were recorded
in 2022, out of which 84 were in India. 49 of these shutdowns targeted only
Occupied Kashmir.
▪ Counterterrorism operation in Afghanistan - The Afghan Taliban took out IS-
K's top leader, who was also its military and intelligence chief. Another IS-K
person working for a subcontinental terrorist outfit has been arrested.
▪ Israel-Palestine conflict - Israel has promised to halt authorization of new
Jewish settlements in the West Bank for six months. Around 200 persons were
killed in 2022 due to political resolve to the two-state solution being in
doldrums.

Netanyahu Can’t Have It All | Foreign Affairs
Amos Yadlin
AMOS YADLIN is the former head of military intelligence for the Israel Defense
Forces.
Outlines of the articles
Title: The Strained Relationship between the US and Israel under Netanyahu's
Leadership
Introduction
• Trying times for the US-Israeli relationship, despite being defined as ironclad
• Benjamin Netanyahu's return to power as Israel's prime minister, facing off against Joe Biden
• Netanyahu's actions in legalizing outposts and building settlements in the West Bank and undermining
Israel's independent judiciary, actions that the Biden administration has strongly criticized
• Hesitation to clearly support Ukraine in its fight against Russia and fostering closer Chinese-Israeli ties
during his previous terms
II. US Officials' Visits to Israel
• Israel hosted a succession of senior US officials who reaffirmed the importance of the US-Israeli
relationship
• Jake Sullivan, William Burns, and Antony Blinken's visits to discuss the main issues on the countries'
joint agenda, such as how to coordinate policy against Iran
III. Disagreements between US and Israel
• Biden does not agree with Netanyahu's stances on the Palestinian territories, internal Israeli politics,
and on Ukraine
• Biden's objections on Netanyahu's stances on these issues and the possibility of complicating
Netanyahu's life
• Biden is the only world leader capable of taking steps that will stop Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear
weapon and giving the Saudis the security guarantees they demand to normalize ties with Israel
IV. Netanyahu's Priorities
• Netanyahu's international priorities in his speeches

• Creating pressure on Iran to force the country into compromising on its nuclear program and curtailing
its regional aggression
• Fully normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia, building on the Abraham Accords that he signed in 2020,
which established diplomatic relations between Israel and Bahrain, Israel and Morocco, and Israel and
the United Arab Emirates
V. US and Israel Strategy on Iran
• US willing to take a harder line against Iran

• Coaxing Biden into helping Netanyahu coordinate a better campaign of maximum pressure, including
by credibly threatening military action against Tehran
• Formal declaration that the nuclear deal was dead and that stronger penalties were coming to convince
Iran to stop advancing its nuclear program and agree to a "longer and stronger" deal
• Jointly deter Iran from escalating, for instance, by making it clear they will use military force if Tehran
crosses certain redlines, such as enriching uranium to 90 percent, withdrawing from the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty, or taking steps to militarize its nuclear program
• The United States could also work with Israel to internationally isolate Iran, forming a broad coalition
of states to help and encourage the domestic protests in Iran, and establish the foundations of a new
Middle East security architecture in which participants share intelligence, air defenses, logistics, and
other resources to protect freedom of navigation and coordinate additional steps against Tehran.
VI. Conclusion
• Netanyahu will have to make tradeoffs to make headway on his top security and foreign policy goals by
compromising on aspects of Israel's domestic and foreign policy and making goodwill gestures to get
Biden's full partnership
These are trying times for the U.S.-Israeli relationship, which the U.S. government
often defines as ironclad. Benjamin Netanyahu has returned to power as Israel’s
prime minister in a governing coalition that is the country’s most right-wing and
religious in history. He is facing off against Joe Biden: a Democratic U.S. president
who, although a true friend of Israel, remembers Netanyahu’s fraught relations with
former U.S. President Barack Obama.
At home, Netanyahu is legalizing outposts and building in settlements in the West

Bank and undermining Israel’s independent judiciary, actions that the Biden
administration has strongly criticized. Internationally, Netanyahu has hesitated to
clearly support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, much to the consternation of U.S.
officials. And during his previous terms, Netanyahu fostered closer Chinese-Israeli
ties.
Within Netanyahu’s first month of taking office, Israel hosted a succession of senior
U.S. officials, all of whom reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Israeli relationship.
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, visited on January 18 to discuss the
main issues on the countries’ joint agenda, such as how to coordinate policy against
Iran. William Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, arrived on
January 26 to discuss operational issues, most likely with regard to Iran and the
Palestinians. Secretary of State Antony Blinken followed just four days later.
Netanyahu, then, has had many opportunities to get Washington’s help advancing
his top two international priorities: stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons
and normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia.
But these U.S. officials made it clear that Biden did not agree with Netanyahu’s
stances on the Palestinian territories, on internal Israeli politics, and on Ukraine.
Indeed, Blinken made lodging the president’s objections a central part of his visit.
Such disagreements could greatly complicate Netanyahu’s life. Biden is the only
world leader who is capable of taking steps that will stop Iran from ever acquiring a
nuclear weapon, and he is the only leader who can give the Saudis the security
guarantees they demand to normalize ties with Israel. But the U.S. president will not
be able to dedicate substantial time to these two issues when the Palestinian theater
is aflame, and he will struggle to convince his administration to help the Israeli
government when Israel is distancing itself from the West (by not firmly supporting
Ukraine) and weakening its democracy (by passing judicial reforms that will
politicize the judiciary and undermine the rule of law).
In order to make headway on his top security and foreign policy goals, then,
Netanyahu will have to make tradeoffs. He will have to compromise on aspects of
Israel’s domestic and foreign policy and make goodwill gestures in order to get
Biden’s full partnership.
OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES
In his speeches, Netanyahu has made his international priorities readily apparent.
The prime minister wants to create as much pressure on Iran as he can to force the
country into compromising on its nuclear program and curtailing its regional
aggression. He also wants to fully normalize ties with Saudi Arabia, building on the
Abraham Accords that he signed in 2020, which established diplomatic relations
between Israel and Bahrain, Israel and Morocco, and Israel and the United Arab
Emirates.

Just two years ago, Netanyahu may have struggled to advance this agenda,
especially when it came to Iran. When Biden entered office, he was determined to
resurrect the Iran nuclear deal—a step that would have required loosening
sanctions. But times have changed. Given Iran’s refusal to return to the nuclear
agreement, its decision to provide Russia with weapons, and its violent suppression
of antigovernment protests, Biden is willing to take a harder line against the
country. Netanyahu knows this, and he hopes he can now coax Biden into helping
him coordinate a better campaign of maximum pressure, including by credibly
threatening military action against Tehran.
It is easy to see why Netanyahu is so keen on obtaining U.S. support. If both states
formally declared that the nuclear deal was dead and that stronger penalties were
coming, they might be able to jointly convince Iran to stop advancing its nuclear
program and agree to the kind of “longer and stronger” deal that Blinken has said
the administration wants. They might deter Iran from escalating, for instance, by
making it clear they will use military force if Tehran crosses certain redlines, such as
enriching uranium to 90 percent, withdrawing from the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty, or taking steps to militarize its nuclear program. Washington might also
exert more economic pressure on Iran to change Tehran’s calculus, including by
significantly increasing the enforcement of existing sanctions.
Washington is still maintaining some distance from Israel’s Iran strategy.
The United States could also work with Israel to internationally isolate Iran. Israel
and the United States, for example, might point to Iran’s cooperation with Russia to
get the European Union to extend its conventional weapons embargo on Iran. The
two allies could also form a broad coalition of states to help and encourage the
domestic protests in Iran. Together, Israel and the United States could even
establish the foundations of a new Middle East security architecture in which
participants share intelligence, air defenses, logistics, and other resources to protect
freedom of navigation and coordinate additional steps against Tehran.
The Biden administration has recently signaled that it is willing to adopt a harder
line on Iran, which coincides with Netanyahu’s vision: both agree that they want to
prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and on the need to deter it from doing
so.
▪ Israel and the United States, for example, conducted joint military exercises
earlier this year, indicating their combined resolve. But Washington is still
maintaining some distance from openly embracing Israel’s strategy. The
United States has denied having any involvement in the late January drone
strikes on an Iranian drone factory in Isfahan or on Iranian weapons convoys
at the Iraqi-Syrian border. It clearly remains anxious and concerned that Iran
will retaliate, and this anxiety undermines Washington’s ability to deter Iran
from attacking U.S. forces, partners, and allies—and to deter Iran from seeking
nuclear weapons.
Washington is not as worried about promoting Israeli-Saudi ties. But even there, the
Biden administration’s positions could complicate Netanyahu’s efforts. There are
considerable—and growing—tensions between Biden and Saudi Arabia’s de facto
leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom Biden once deemed a “pariah.”
The Abraham Accords were dependent on support from Washington, which was
willing to provide the United Arab Emirates with advanced weapons such as F-35
jets (the Biden administration halted that deal due to the United Arab Emirates’ ties
with China) and change U.S. policy on Western Sahara (a self-governing territory
that Morocco claims) to get the participating states to establish relations with Israel.
Frosty U.S.-Saudi relations will make the path toward normalization with Riyadh
harder and perhaps put it out of reach. Before signing off on any agreement with
Israel, for example, the Saudis will likely want the Biden administration to provide
solid security guarantees, unhindered supplies of advanced weapons, and an
agreement to help build the country’s civilian nuclear infrastructure. Unless
Netanyahu becomes more flexible and generates goodwill with Biden, it is hard to
see Washington making such promises.
A FRIEND IN NEED
Netanyahu understands that preventing a nuclear Iran is a herculean task that

requires American support. He is also well aware that the clearest road to Israeli-
Saudi relations runs through Washington. Netanyahu should therefore know that if
he wants the United States to invest its capital in support of his policies, he will have
to align his own policies with Washington’s interests and values.
He can start with China. The United States’ great-power rivalry with Beijing is at the
top of Biden’s international agenda and is one of the few issues on which there is
bipartisan consensus within the United States. Although Netanyahu advanced pro-
Chinese economic policies during the last decade, he clarified in December 2022
that Israel’s economic ties with Beijing are subject to national security
considerations. It is a statement that suggests his government may be willing to
constrain Israel’s relations with China to better address U.S. concerns. Indeed,
Israel’s economic policies are already moving in a more pro-Western direction,
including by reducing the country’s technological exposure to Beijing, establishing
an oversight mechanism for foreign investment, and increasing public awareness
about the risks of working with Chinese entities.
Still, Israel may have to do more than just cooperate over China and Ukraine if it
wants renewed support from Washington. During his visit to Israel, Blinken made it
clear that Israel’s behavior toward the Palestinians was the greatest threat to the
U.S.-Israeli relationship. This needle will be extremely difficult for Netanyahu to
thread. The prime minister, like his predecessors, has a duty to protect Israel from
terror, and the level of terrorism in the Palestinian territories has been on the rise
since March 2022. Netanyahu’s government is also awash with far-right ministers
who want to annex more Palestinian territory, expand Jewish settlements in Judea
and Samaria, collapse the Palestinian Authority, and inflict a decisive victory over
the Palestinian enemy. Yet Netanyahu can help improve ties with Washington by
engaging in a quiet dialogue with the White House, away from the public eye, in
which he clarifies his policies, explains the limits on the power of his ministers, and
demonstrates that he is willing to improve the lives of the Palestinians while still
countering rising terrorism in the Palestinian territories and in Israel.
NETANYAHU’S RUBIK’S CUBE
Netanyahu does not have to join with Biden on every issue. The two politicians lead
different countries with varied interests: sometimes their paths will diverge. Yet
such differences are at play in almost every alliance based on shared values, and
they usually do not preclude close cooperation. If Netanyahu can make tradeoffs
with Washington, his and Biden’s disagreements do not have to impede their
partnership.

Some of these tradeoffs could be reciprocal. Netanyahu’s government, for example,
could decide that Israel will increase its contribution to the United States’
innovation base, improving Washington’s position in its technological competition
with Beijing even if Israel itself does not begin competing with China.
Israel could also denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and help the latter protect
against Russian attacks and Iranian arms. In exchange, the United States and Israel
could work jointly against Tehran’s regional aggression and weapons proliferation,
including by building a plan for military action if deterrence fails. Israel’s new
policies on Beijing and Moscow would have to be carried out carefully in order to
protect Israel’s economic ties with China and its interests in Syria and elsewhere.
Yet the course correction would be worth it should it result in help from
Washington.
And in many cases, the agreements between Israel and the United States would be
mutually beneficial. By expanding the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia and
making the agreements more durable, Washington could provide better regional
security while also fostering a pro-American coalition that would be less amenable
to Chinese and Russian influence in the Middle East. By avoiding more escalation
with the Palestinians, Netanyahu could decrease the danger to Israel’s own
population and help Washington (and other countries) focus on Iran instead of the
Palestinian territories.
None of this will be easy. Netanyahu is faced with a political and strategic Rubik’s
cube. To achieve his international goals—containing Iran and normalizing ties with
Saudi Arabia—he will need strong support and understanding from Washington,
which in turn requires taking steps opposed by his radical coalition partners both
domestically and on the Palestinian front. But ultimately, to solve the most critical
face of the cube, Netanyahu must prioritize coming to terms with the United States.
No matter how angry Israeli officials may be with Washington’s overtures to Iran or
criticisms about Israeli domestic politics, the United States is indispensable to
Israel’s safety and security.

1. Ironclad - very strong and cannot be changed

2. Fraught - filled with anxiety or tension
3. Hesitated - paused before saying or doing something because of uncertainty or
unwillingness
4. Consternation - feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something
unexpected
5. Coax - persuade someone gradually or gently to do something
Phrasal verbs:
1. Facing off against - confronting or competing against someone

2. Legalizing outposts - to make something legal or acceptable, especially when
it was previously forbidden or disapproved
3. Building in settlements - to construct homes or structures in a specific area,
typically a place where people live permanently
4. Pass judicial reforms - to put a new law or system into effect that affects the
court system
5. Curtailing its regional aggression - to limit or reduce its actions in a
specific area
1. Right-wing - a political belief or movement that supports conservative or

traditional values and opposes social or political change
2. Undermining Israel’s independent judiciary - to weaken or damage the
power of the court system that operates independently of the government
3. Aflame - in a state of intense emotion or activity
4. Joint military exercises - a training exercise or practice conducted by two or
more countries' military forces together

Why Asia – and the World – Must Stand with
Ukraine | The Diplomat
Elbegdorj Tsakhia
Elbegdorj Tsakhia is currently the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow at Stanford University.

Title: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom and Global Support
I. Introduction
Ukraine will rebuild and celebrate freedom and peace
Belief in the power of freedom and unity against authoritarianism
II. The Power of Freedom

Dictators offer limited solutions and opportunities that only benefit themselves
Putin’s fear of a free Ukraine as a threat to his regime
War between autocracy and democracy raging worldwide
III. Global Support

Ukrainians fighting for their right to exist and be free
Global support necessary and unconditional
Ukrainian victory will bring encouragement to freedom-loving people worldwide
IV. Evils of the War

Kremlin causing devastation and suffering to vulnerable populations
Russian authorities committing genocide against their own citizens
Ethnic minorities used as cannon fodder for Kremlin’s special operation
Free-minded people in Russia catastrophically diminished
V. Mongolia’s Historical Example

Mongolian support of the Soviet Union during World War II
Mongolia’s stance against Putin’s attack on Ukraine
Call to support those fighting for their right to exist
VI. Conclusion
Need for global support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom
Reminder of historical examples of solidarity in the fight against oppression

Ukraine will be glorious again. To the wounded hills of Ukraine, life will be
returned. The destroyed homes and streets will be rebuilt. Separated families and
loved ones will be united. Ukraine will celebrate freedom and peace along with the
rest of the world.
I have great trust in standing together as one, totally united. I have a firm conviction
in the power of freedom. No power, authoritarian dictator, or militant junta can
stand against the will of people determined to be free. The voice of the people and
their resolve are far more powerful than any gunfire. Freedom is non-negotiable
when it faces extermination.
Freedom is an opportunity for all; despots offer solutions and opportunities that
only comfort themselves. They claim they bring justice, but their justice is selective.
They dictate their chosen way of life to others. In truth, they worry more about the
regime’s and, ultimately, their own survival and longevity. Dictators are usually
desperate, servicing their corrupted web of crooks and pleasing the vultures that are
flying around them.
I know Vladimir Putin does not tolerate freedom. I have sat with him on many
occasions. He despises differences and competition. He fears a free Ukraine. As a
deep narcissist, he cannot abide more successful and prosperous neighbors. He
envisioned that a free, civil Ukraine could represent a grave danger for his regime.
The Russian aggression against Ukraine did not happen out of the blue. It was a
pinnacle of long-fought rivalries between ideas of freedom and fists of
suppression. The dimensions of this war are much broader, longer, and more
profound than the geographical bounds of Ukraine. The fiery frontline runs
throughout Africa, Asia, America, and the Middle East. This war is raging between
the free world and the suppressed, between autocracy and democracy.
Many ask why most Asian countries tend to have a neutral position compared to
Europe. The answer is simple: All they can do is watch with a heavy heart. Sadly, the
continent of Asia is also full of self-proclaimed rulers. In most cases, Asian
governments lack legitimate representation.
Ukrainians are fighting not only for their country, but they are also fighting for our
right to exist and be free. Their fight is global. As a result, our support should be
global and completely unconditional. Ukrainian victory will bring unprecedented
encouragement to all freedom-loving people on this planet. Autocrats everywhere
will be knocked down and devastated. If Russia prevails, however, dictators will
march in full swing.
We all must contribute as we can.
The evils of this war have no limit. The Kremlin is bringing devastation and
suffering to the most vulnerable: children, elders, and families. This horror is not
solely present in war-torn territories; it is also found in Russia itself. The Russian
authorities are even committing a genocide against their own citizens.
Putin’s so-called partial mobilization brought fear and tears to the most vulnerable.
The ethnic minorities who live in Russia are disproportionately drafted and thrown
to the frontline. The Buryats, Kalmycks, Tuvans, and other marginalized minorities
have been used as cannon fodder. The remote regions where ethnic minorities live
have almost run out of military-age men. By local accounts, the Kremlin is
committing textbook ethnic cleansing under the umbrella of its “special operation.”

In addition, the outspoken and brightest in Russia are mostly silenced. In any
nation, free-minded people are fundamental to offering differences and better
solutions. But, unfortunately, this very part of society in Russia has catastrophically
shrunken, if not dried out. The remaining brave people in Russia are still fighting
against corruption and the deeply intimidating war while facing torture and jail.
Therefore, the world is not against the Russian people but against the
Kremlin’s kleptocracy and atrocities.
Some observers are disappointed with Asian countries’, including Mongolia’s, stance
on the war against Ukraine. Due to its geography, tightly squeezed between Russia
and China, the government of Mongolia is forced to perform a balancing act.
However, public opinion in Mongolia is resolutely against the brutal attack against
the sovereign nation of Ukraine.
▪ In this regard, I would like to remind the world of a historical example. When
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler attacked the Soviet Union, the people of Mongolia
united against this fascist invader. They showed solidarity with the Soviet
people and spared nothing. Nomadic herders sent more than half of their
livestock to the Soviet Union. A quarter of all the horses on the frontline
during World War II came from Mongolia. In the days following the war’s end,
it was not rare to see a skinny but sturdy Mongol horse standing together with
victorious Allied forces in the ruins of Berlin.
Horses were logistical lifelines, moving heavy equipment and weaponry through
mud and rough terrain, including mined ground. In challenging circumstances,
Mongolian horses were at times the only means of transportation – and sometimes
a much-needed source of nourishment. Mongolian herders supplied over half a
million horses to the Soviets.
When Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, Mongolians stood with their
northern neighbor as best as they could. When Putin’s Russia attacked Ukraine,
from day one, the people of Mongolia stood against the brutal invasion. My point
here is: Do what the Mongols did. Offer support and contributions to those fighting
for the right to exist.
Sadly, most of the decisions by the West are always one step behind Russian
aggression in terms of supporting Ukraine. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy, from the first days of the war, asked not for an escape plane but for more
weapons. War-torn Ukraine is still begging for fighter jets and longer-range
missiles.
Ukrainians are paying the ultimate price for freedom. They are suffering, shedding
blood, and sacrificing everything precious to them. Ukrainians are fighting to
restore the damaged world order. They are fighting day and night to secure global
peace and freedom.
U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz might have time to
wait, but a wounded Ukraine does not.
There is no time to wait in the face of this blatant aggression and destruction.
Ukraine needs aircraft and missiles to delete, deplete, and defeat the invading
forces. Putin will only stop fighting once he exhausts all his arsenals. And Russian
aggression will only stop with its defeat.

As one family, as humanity, we all must support Ukraine because its people are
paying the ultimate price. We must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, not
only until its total liberation but also until its complete rebuilding.
No one in this day and age should ever attempt what Putin is doing in Ukraine. As a
result, Ukraine’s victory is a non-negotiable for the global community, to prove that
war is obsolete.
If Ukraine stops fighting, freedom and the free world will face continuous
intimidation and further extermination. However, if Ukraine is victorious, freedom
will prevail. The whole of humanity will pass the test of time and the test of dignity.
The free world has no right to lose.
Watch with a heavy heart: Observe with sadness and regret.
Out of the blue: Suddenly, unexpectedly.
Stand against: To resist or oppose.
Knocked down: To defeat or bring down.
Run out of: To exhaust or use up completely.
Shrunken: To become smaller in size or number.
Balancing act: To manage or cope with two difficult situations at the same time.
Spare nothing: To make every effort, to do everything possible.
Standing together: To work together or be united.

Anti-China Rhetoric Is Off the Charts in
Western Media | The Diplomat
Chandran Nair
Chandran Nair is the founder and CEO of the Global Institute for Tomorrow.
Title: The Relentless China-Bashing in Mainstream Western Media
I. Introduction
• Mainstream Western media is continuously engaging in China-bashing, with a lack of

understanding, often involving regurgitated trivia or fabricated stories with no evidence to
support callous statements about the country.
• International media struggle to counter the narratives as censorship is rife, and there is a
global compact to control the narrative, a propaganda war powered by today’s digital
technology.
• A positive story on China is hard to find any day of the week in leading global media outlets.
II. Three Core Ideas that Inform the Unspoken Guidelines in Reporting
on China A. China is a threat to the world
• The belief that China is a global threat is never explored; sound arguments do not matter.
• Left ignored is the plentiful evidence that shows China is not a global threat. B. China must be
linked to every possible global event that affects the West
• The opportunity for the West to demonize China while simultaneously burnishing its own
credentials as the supposed arbiters of what is right and wrong in international relations.
• Media outlets are reverting to the “yellow peril” of the late 1800s. C. Everything must be done,
even illegal and unfair methods, to arrest the rise of China
• The sentiment that everything must be done – even illegal and unfair methods – to arrest the
rise of China.
• The deeply entrenched view in the West from centuries of domination is that it will decide
which nations will be permitted to be participants in the global economy according to its self-
serving “rules-based order.”
III. Western Media’s View on Geopolitics and World Order
• Western media seem wholly tied to the hegemonic competition view of geopolitics.
• This view assumes conflict is inevitable and helps to demonize China while justifying the
hegemonic position of the West.
• This is an extremely belligerent position to take, and not something media should be egging on.
• Whatever happened to promoting multilateralism?
IV. Fixing the Issue
• People in China and the non-Western world must realize that when it comes to the workings of
the mainstream media, we are in a new era.
• It is almost everything else but fair, honest, and educational news, especially when it comes to
China or enemies of the West.
• The media war is real, tech-driven, and not a fight for eyeballs to deliver fair, honest, and
educational news.
• Western media need to promote multilateralism and not sideline people who speak to it as
idealists or China apologists.

A key feature of mainstream Western media today is the relentless China-bashing. It
is off the charts and tiring, often involving regurgitated trivia or fabricated stories
with no evidence to support callous statements about the country, demonstrating a
deep lack of understanding. But such stories continue to be churned out with no end
in sight.
Countering this in international media by offering more balanced views for a global
audience is near impossible as censorship is rife. There almost seems to be a global
compact to control the narrative, a propaganda war powered by today’s digital
technology.
Just try looking for a positive story on China any day of the week in any of the
leading global media outlets. Apart from reports in January about the Lunar New
Year, there will hardly be any, and these too are likely to have a negative spin. It
would appear there is a confidential memo circulating within Western media groups
that guides reporters and editors to ensure there cannot be any positive news arising
from a country with 1.3 billion people.
Typically, the negative stories adhere to three core ideas, which inform the
unspoken guidelines within these press rooms when it comes to reporting on China.
First is the belief that China is a threat to the world and that this belief must be
relentlessly reinforced at every available opportunity. How and why China is a threat
is never explored; such is the deep-rooted and almost religious nature of the belief.
Sound arguments do not matter. The basic tenets of good journalism are ignored
when it comes to a China story. There is no need to explain or give evidence of why
China is a global threat.
Left ignored is the plentiful evidence that shows China is not a global threat – even
if one can point to mistakes and overreach in certain areas. China has not invaded
any country in decades, or imposed sanctions that have devasted the lives of
millions in poor countries, unlike the West, led by the United States.
Second is that China must be linked to every possible global event that affects the
West. This provides an opportunity for the West to bash China while simultaneously
burnishing its own credentials as the supposed arbiters of what is right and wrong in
international relations. From the pandemic to the Russia-Ukraine war to carbon
emissions; from rising sea levels to the scramble for rare earths; from the building of
infrastructure in Africa to the production of vaccines – there must be an angle to
demonize the country and instill fear in Western nations (and beyond).
Indeed, media outlets are reverting to the “yellow peril” of the late 1800s. There is
no subtle and nuanced approach to instilling fear like this. It is full-on and very
often blatantly racist – but it is now acceptable for one to be racist about the Chinese
in Western media, despite the fact that Black-White relations are very carefully
described.
The third part of this phenomenon, which is surprisingly not challenged by liberal
readers of mainstream media, is the sentiment that everything must be done – even
illegal and unfair methods – to arrest the rise of China. Never mind the rights of
hundreds of millions of Chinese to have a better life after a century of poverty and
deprivation.
Headline after headline that capture this sentiment have normalized the view that
there is a need to curb the rise of China, and that this is a legitimate geopolitical
objective. There is no explanation about why or if it is even morally acceptable.
It has become a feature of Western commentary on China to say that its rise is a
concern and a threat. With this assumption unassailably in place, the West has the
right to galvanize – and even bully – its allies and ask the absurd question, “what
should be done about China’s rise?” – as if China does not have the right to carve its
own place in the new world.
There is even a school of thought in the United States that it was America that
magnanimously allowed China its first baby steps into the globalized economy, and
that in hindsight the U.S. was too nice to China. This view betrays everything that is
imperial about the West and why it is unable to come to terms with the legitimate
rights of other nations to grow and become powers in their own right. The
assumption is that the rise of others is a gift from the West, and accordingly they
must never challenge its supremacy. The deeply entrenched view in the West from
centuries of domination is that it will decide which nations will be permitted to be
participants in the global economy according to its self-serving “rules-based order.”
Indeed, Western media seem wholly tied to the hegemonic competition view of
geopolitics, constantly referencing the “Thucydides Trap” and being stuck in the
Western canon as if there are no other ways of looking at geopolitics and world
order. This view assumes conflict is inevitable and helps to demonize China while
justifying the hegemonic position of the West – and the United States in particular –
as a globally stabilizing force.
Needless to say, this is an extremely belligerent position to take, and not something
media should be egging on. Whatever happened to promoting multilateralism? And
why are people who speak to multilateralism side-lined as idealists or China
apologists? This flies in the face of fair reporting.
So, how to fix this?

First, people in China and the non-Western world must realize that when it comes to
the workings of the mainstream media we are in a new era – a propaganda war the
likes of which the world has never seen before, powered by today’s digital
technology. The media war is real, and tech-driven, and it is not a fight for eyeballs
to deliver fair, honest, and educational news. It is almost everything else but that,
especially when it comes to China or enemies of the West.
On one side is sheer propaganda aimed at the preservation of Western power.

Participants include the most well-known brands in the Western media world,
which are household names across the world.
The idea that Western media is run by fair-minded people who are independent,
driven only by a desire to talk truth to power, is a mirage. It is a myth, and it is a
bitter pill that needs to be swallowed. The idea that the Western journalist is a
paragon of virtue also needs to be banished from the minds of consumers of media.
That is the first stage in enabling one to step out of the propaganda mist we are
engulfed in on a daily basis, so that one can examine different viewpoints as news is
consumed. This is not easy, given the current dominance of Western media outlets
and their apparently collective mission.

The next step is to dismantle the dominance of Western media.
This too will be a long, hard fight. Mainstream Western media are the most powerful
in the world and for close to a century, Western media have had a stranglehold on
the dissemination of international news and viewpoints across the world. Many had
their origins in colonialism, the preservation of empire and later the spread of
Western ideas about how the world should be run. These outlets are a powerful
economic force and dislodging them will require investments.
Across the world there is an opportunity to contribute to this effort, not necessarily
by building large media companies but by investing in media companies that are
committed to fair and objective analysis, so that local audiences in the first instance
have choices and are not inundated by the propaganda of mainstream Western
media. This too will not be an easy task and there are many hurdles to overcome,
but this is not the space to dive into those details. Ultimately, it is all about readers
becoming more aware of global issues by having more non-Western sources to rely
on, so they are not victims of the current propaganda war. This is beginning to
happen as more alternatives flourish.
It is an urgent need in the West too so that the mass hysteria generated by
mainstream media is prevented from creating fear and pitting Western societies
against the rest of the world. Today the target is China; tomorrow India and then
maybe Africa.

China-bashing: Negative and biased coverage of China in mainstream Western media.
Off the charts: Excessive and beyond the norm.
Regurgitated trivia: Repetitive and unimportant information.
Fabricated stories: Fake news with no evidence to support it.
Callous statements: Insensitive and cruel remarks.
Propaganda war: A battle for influence and control over public opinion using manipulative
techniques.
Negative spin: A negative interpretation or bias.
Confidential memo : Private communication within media groups to guide reporters and
editors to report negatively on China.
Tenets of good journalism: Principles and ethics that guide responsible reporting.
Invaded: To enter and take control of another country.
Arbiters: A person or group that has the power to judge or decide what is right or wrong.
Demonize: To portray someone or something as evil or threatening.
Yellow peril: A term used to describe the supposed danger of East Asian people to
Western countries.
Nuanced approach: A subtle and sophisticated method.
Blatantly racist: Clearly and obviously discriminatory against a particular race.
Geopolitical objective: A political aim or goal related to international relations

and geography.
Hegemonic: Dominant and controlling.
Self-serving: Acting in one's own interest or advantage.
Rules-based order: A system of international relations based on agreed-upon rules and norms.
Thucydides Trap: A concept that describes the risk of conflict between a rising power and an
established power.
Belligerent position: Aggressive and hostile stance.
Multilateralism: Cooperation among multiple countries in international relations.
Idealists: People who hold to high standards and principles.
Non-Western world: Countries and regions outside of Europe and North America.

ChatGPT in China's Tech Ecosystem Looks Very
Different | Foreign Affairs
Rishi Iyengar
Rishi Iyengar is a reporter at Foreign Policy.
Title: The Battle of Chatbots: US and China’s Race in Artificial Intelligence
I. Introduction
• ChatGPT is a popular AI chatbot developed by OpenAI based in California and used by more
than 100 million people worldwide.
• Microsoft invested multibillion dollars in OpenAI to integrate the technology into Bing, and
Google is developing its own chatbot.
• Chinese tech companies such as Baidu, Alibaba, and JD.com have developed chatbots of their
own, and China has been investing in AI capabilities since 2017.
• However, US-China tensions on the technology front may be shrinking the room for
collaboration between the two countries.
II. ChatGPT and China’s AI Ambitions
• China aims to become a “global innovation center” in AI by 2030.

• The competition and collaboration between US and Chinese scientists and companies on AI
have taken place through labs set up by companies such as Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba in
Silicon Valley.
• Beijing’s AI “Sputnik moment” occurred in 2016 when a Google AI program defeated a Chinese
grandmaster in the board game wei qi.
• Graham Webster of Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center says that defining the chatbot
moment in overly nationalistic terms can be misleading, as OpenAI is a company with its own
values and ambitions.
III. National Differences in AI Regulation
• OpenAI’s Chinese counterparts will have to hew to Beijing’s rules on how the product affects
national security, which may require content moderation or censorship.
• China views AI as a critical technology that requires a regulatory framework, whereas the US
tends to approach AI as an added element of already regulated sectors.
• ChatGPT has not been made available in China, and Beijing has reportedly restricted Chinese
tech firms from using or offering its services to the public.
• The Chinese government is attempting to justify ChatGPT restrictions and broader censorship
by depicting it as part of the broader US-China rivalry.
IV. Challenges and Opportunities for Chinese Tech Companies
• Baidu’s chatbot Ernie was trained on English-language information from Wikipedia and
Reddit, which are both blocked in China.
• Companies operating in China’s tech space are used to navigating government regulation and
censorship requirements on their other products.
• Beijing will also likely use AI to produce propaganda and fake news at speed and scale that may
not be possible with people.
V. Conclusion
• US-China tensions on the technology front may limit collaboration in AI development.

• ChatGPT and Ernie represent a competition between the US and China in AI, but defining it as
a nationalistic race can be misleading.
• Chinese tech companies face challenges in navigating government regulation and censorship
requirements, but they also have opportunities to innovate and create AI products that can
benefit the world.

If you are reading this on the internet, then you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT. The
artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, made by California-based company OpenAI, has
taken the world by storm. More than 100 million people around the world are
estimated to have used it in the two months since it launched,
and Microsoft has made a “multiyear, multibillion dollar investment” in OpenAI to
integrate the company’s technology into its search engine, Bing (with some
initially frightening effects). Google is developing its own chatbot named Bard.
The furor around ChatGPT and similar alternatives has prompted a scramble in
China’s tech sector to join the party. Baidu, China’s leading search engine, said it
plans to roll out its “Ernie Bot” in March while other Chinese tech giants, such
as Alibaba and JD.com, announced chatbots of their own.
China has spent years developing its artificial intelligence capabilities, outlining
its ambitions in a 2017 plan that sought to make the country a “global innovation
center” in the field by 2030. Those goals have engendered competition but also
collaboration between U.S. and Chinese scientists and companies, including through
labs that the likes of Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba have set up in Silicon Valley. But
as the relationship between the world’s two largest economies becomes increasingly
adversarial—particularly on the technology front—the room to work together on
technologies such as artificial intelligence may rapidly be shrinking. The Biden
administration’s restrictions last October on the export of advanced semiconductor
chips to China, aimed in part at China’s AI capabilities, was a major broadside in a
relationship that has only become more acrimonious.
▪ The 2030 goal was set months after what could be described as Beijing’s AI
“Sputnik moment,” when a Google AI program beat a Chinese grandmaster at
the ancient board game wei qi, also known as Go. “That really set off China’s
AI revolution,” said Sam Howell, who researches technology and national
security at the Center for a New American Security.
But defining the chatbot moment in overly nationalistic terms can be misleading,
said Graham Webster, a researcher and editor in chief of the DigiChina Project at
Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center. ChatGPT is a far cry from the kind of tech
that has traditionally been developed in U.S. government labs. “I don’t think that
one should view ChatGPT as a win for the United States in some kind of race,”
Webster said. “OpenAI is a company, but it is not the United States. … It has its own
ambition and values that may sometimes align with most Americans and may
sometimes not, and it’s simply not directed by national interest.”
But national wrinkles still play a big part. OpenAI’s Chinese counterparts will have a
different calculus because of Beijing’s often restrictive tech regulations, its
vast censorship apparatus, and its broader government control of the private sector.
In China, generative AI will have to hew to Beijing’s rules on how the product affects
national security, Webster said.
“So there’s an automatic responsibility, essentially, to conduct what you could

consider content moderation or censorship—it’s frankly both,” Webster added.
There’s also a major difference in how China approaches regulation of artificial

intelligence, according to Paul Triolo, senior vice president for China and technology
policy lead at the Albright Stonebridge Group, adding that the United States tends to
approach AI as an added element of already regulated sectors.

▪ “Chinese officials on the other hand view AI as a critical technology that
requires a regulatory framework, both to control the negative aspects of AI
algorithm deployment but also to provide technology companies with a clear
sense of where the regulatory lines will be drawn to encourage innovation in
the sector,” Triolo said.
ChatGPT has not been made available in China, and Beijing

has reportedly restricted Chinese tech firms from using or offering its services to the
public. The Chinese government is attempting to justify ChatGPT restrictions and
broader censorship in China by depicting it as part of the broader U.S.-China rivalry,
said Angeli Datt, who researches Chinese censorship at free expression group PEN
America.
“When really, it’s the sheer fact that uncensored and free information outside of the
firewall counters Chinese Communist Party propaganda, misinformation, and
disinformation” about any number of sensitive issues, like human rights in Xinjiang,
Datt said.
An official at the Chinese Embassy in Washington said Beijing is focused on keeping

AI useful and safe.
“China is committed to building a community with a shared future for humanity in

the domain of AI and efforts to advocate a people-centered approach and the
principle of AI for good, ensure that AI is safe, reliable, controllable, and capable of
better empowering global sustainable development and enhancing the common
well-being of all humanity,” the official wrote via email.
Ironically, Baidu’s chatbot Ernie was trained on English-language information from

Wikipedia and Reddit, which are both blocked in China. “It’s going to be a difficult
balancing act for Chinese companies to find ways to use generative AI technology
without running afoul of Chinese censors,” said Paul Scharre, who recently
wrote Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
Beijing will also likely use AI to produce propaganda, Scharre said. “They’re
basically fake news generators, so they can be used to generate state propaganda or
fake news at speed and scale that may not be possible with people.”
More impactful than Beijing’s censorship regarding China’s ability to develop its AI
ecosystem could be U.S. export controls last year that all but cut off the sale of the
most advanced semiconductor chips—and the equipment needed to make them—to
Chinese companies. Those chips are crucial to the development of advanced AI
models, and the export restrictions could be the “biggest single impact of U.S.-China
technology competition on China’s AI development,” Triolo said.
“The restrictions will take time to bite, as Chinese organizations and firms have
stockpiled some chips. But over time, if Chinese companies cannot find
workarounds, they will be at an increasing disadvantage in terms of training AI
algorithms on cutting-edge hardware,” Triolo added. “This is particularly the case
with large language models, which are best trained on the most advanced
hardware.”
Not unlike the fight over global leadership of other advanced technologies, such as
5G mobile networks, there is more at stake than leadership in technologies that can
write clever texts on demand.

“Competition over AI—and emerging tech broadly—carries consequences that
extend beyond the digital domain. A country that leads in AI is going to reap
significant economic benefits and also gain a national security advantage,” Howell
said. “What’s at stake here is not just who leads in artificial intelligence but also who
sets the rules for how it’s going to be used around the world—so democratic values
and the concept of open societies are at stake in the AI race.”
What does ChatGPT itself think about China’s AI capabilities?
“China has made significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) in recent

years, and its capabilities in this area are rapidly advancing,” the chatbot
told Foreign Policy, referencing China’s aforementioned 2030 benchmark. “China’s
strengths in AI include natural language processing, computer vision, and machine
learning. The country has made significant progress in developing AI-powered
applications for various industries, such as healthcare, transportation, and finance,”
it added. It wasn’t all praise though: The bot also called out China’s “policies and
initiatives aimed at collecting and analyzing large amounts of data, which has raised
concerns about potential misuse and infringement on privacy.”
“Overall, China’s AI capabilities are rapidly advancing, and the country is poised to
become a major player in the global AI landscape,” ChatGPT said. “However, it will
be important for China to address concerns about privacy and ensure that AI is
developed and used responsibly.”

1. ChatGPT: an AI chatbot created by OpenAI, a California-based company.

2. Multiyear, multibillion dollar investment: Microsoft has made a
significant investment in OpenAI to integrate the company’s technology into its
search engine, Bing.
3. Artificial intelligence (AI): a field of computer science that involves
developing algorithms and models to perform tasks that would usually require
human intelligence.
4. Bard: a chatbot being developed by Google.
5. Ernie Bot: a chatbot created by Baidu, China’s leading search engine.
6. Silicon Valley: a region in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, known for
being a hub of technology companies and startups.
7. Advanced semiconductor chips: computer chips that use advanced
technology to process data faster and more efficiently.
8. Wei qi: an ancient board game also known as Go.
9. Nationalistic terms: terms used to describe something in a way that is overly
focused on a particular country or nation.
10. DigiChina Project: a research project at Stanford University’s Cyber
Policy Center that focuses on technology and digital innovation in China.
11. Generative AI: AI that is capable of creating new content, such as text or
images.
12. Content moderation: the process of monitoring and controlling user-generated
content on an online platform.
13. Censorship: the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news,
etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
14.Albright Stonebridge Group: a global strategy and business advisory firm.
15. Propaganda: information that is biased or misleading, usually with the aim of
promoting a particular political cause or point of view.
16.Regulatory framework: a set of rules and regulations governing a particular
sector or industry.
17. People-centered approach: an approach that puts the needs and well-being
of people at the center of technological development.
18. AI for good: the use of AI to solve social and environmental problems
and promote positive change.
19.Xinjiang: a region in western China that has been the subject of controversy
due to allegations of human rights abuses

Trade and Climate adaptation | Dawn
Ali Tuqeer Sheikh
The writer is an expert on climate change and development.
Outlines of the article
I. Introduction
A. Importance of adaptation to climate change for Pakistan's growing population

B. Lack of demonstrated capacity to adapt to climate change while increasing adaptation and
reducing emissions without compromising economic growth and poverty reduction
C. Need for Pakistan to weave commerce and trade into its adaptation strategies and
mechanisms
II. The complex interaction between trade and climate change
A. The challenge of agriculture for food security

B. Rising temperatures and frequent disasters affecting food security and trade
C. Trade as an important buffer to manage supply and demand to avoid societal disruptions
D. The role of strengthening environmental goods and services to enhance adaptive capacities
III. Barriers to trade and climate adaptation in Pakistan
A. High tariff and non-tariff barriers

B. Random and contradictory policy instruments
C. Restrictive standards and certifications
D. Lack of technical capacity for environmental standards in concerned ministries and
departments
IV. Carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs)
A. Introduction of taxes on carbon

B. Effort to augment growing carbon trading in voluntary and regulated markets
C. Perception of CBAMs as an exercise in protectionism
D. Expected shift in demand towards less carbon-intensive products
V. Co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation for trade and commerce
A. Corrective measures in Pakistan's projected emissions to protect long-term trade interests

B. Aiming for co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation for trade and commerce
C. Need for structural reforms to reduce loss, damage, waste, and system inequities and
inefficiencies
VI. Conclusion
A. Linkages between climate adaptation and trade

B. Need for Pakistan to build an institutional ecosystem to address trade and climate
adaptation barriers
C. Co-benefits that adaptation and mitigation ensure for each other and for economic and
social development

ADAPTATION to climate change is the defining element for the subsistence
(existence) of Pakistan’s growing population. While Pakistan is repeatedly hit by
climate disasters, it still has to develop its adaptation plans and policies in sectoral
policies at the national and provincial levels. Small wonder that the cost of climate
change is constantly increasing and the country has not as yet demonstrated any
convincing capacity to adapt to climate change while increasing adaptation and
reducing emissions without compromising the twin objectives of ensuring economic
growth and poverty reduction. Pakistan needs to weave commerce and trade into its
adaptation strategies and mechanisms to benefit from the nexus that exists between
trade and climate adaptation and mitigation.
The complex interaction between trade and climate change:

Trade and climate change interact in several complex ways. Agriculture typifies the
challenge. It makes food security even more of a challenge than it already is. As the
recent floods in 2022 have shown, rising temperatures and frequent disasters
threaten food security and affect cropping patterns and trade. Damage to standing
crops in many areas adversely affected not only our foreign exchange earnings, but
also increased pressure to import commodities to meet immediate consumer
demands, placing further pressure on our foreign reserves. Such occurrences add to
the price hikes and inflation. They add to political instability. Let’s see if long-term
and consistent responses can be considered.
Trade adds to climate emissions, but can also contribute to climate adaptation and
mitigation. International trade plays an even larger role in addressing food security
in the changing climate: farmers require better access to new and better markets,
technologies, machineries, and seeds — all this while meeting both adaptation and
mitigation objectives. Changing land use and deforestation for urban settlements
and agriculture have a direct bearing on Pakistan’s domestic commerce and
international trade. With negligible reserve and storage capacities, trade offers an
important, perhaps critical, buffer to manage supply and demand to avoid societal
disruptions.
Barriers to trade and climate adaptation in Pakistan :

Strengthening environmental goods and services to enhance adaptive capacities can
help reduce the cost of production as well as the cost of doing business. Instead,
there are still several barriers in the country. Tariff and non-tariff barriers are
typically high.
They are a victim of random and contradictory policy instruments. The tariffs on
renewable energy — for example, solar panels, wind turbines, EVs — have frequently
and abruptly changed several times in recent years. In most instances, standards
and certifications are restrictive and the tariffs high on environmentally preferable
products. If green technologies are the hardware, the technical capacity for
environmental standards in the concerned ministries and departments is the
software. Since Pakistan’s share of regional and international trade has been
declining, the challenges ahead for these departments are even more serious. The
global move towards net-zero emissions will not wait for them to prepare
themselves to meet these challenges. Trade adds to climate emissions, but can also
contribute to climate adaptation and mitigation.

Carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs):
New carbon border adjustment mechanisms, led mostly by the EU but keenly
followed by others, are on the horizon. They envision taxes on carbon. There is a
steady effort to introduce CBAMS, to augment the growing carbon trading in
voluntary and regulated markets. Many countries continue to view CBAMs as an
exercise in protectionism. Still, they are expected to shift demand towards less
carbon-intensive products. In the meanwhile, the private sector’s business carbon-
management schemes and carbon-labelling initiatives are becoming more
widespread.
Studies have shown that this will result in diversification of trading partners.
▪ For example, the recent introduction of green technology in textiles in

Bangladesh would give the latter an edge and stable access to the international
market compared to countries that have not transitioned towards green
technologies and fuels. For many developing countries like Pakistan, it
becomes imperative to not only reduce carbon emissions in its production line,
transportation and packaging, but also introduce carbon labelling. Most
importantly, we have to keep an eye on emerging trends set by trading
partners and competitors who are exporting similar products to similar
markets.
According to the Nationally Determined Contributions in 2021, Pakistan releases

more emissions from agriculture and forestry than from energy and industrial
processes. In this context, energy and manufacturing industries, together with
transport, have a direct bearing on the carbon intensity of products, as do livestock,
agriculture and land use for agricultural products. Some corrective measures in
Pakistan’s projected emissions will be in order to protect its long-term trade
interests. Assuming a fantastic nine per cent economic growth rate, Pakistan’s NDC
has projected 280pc growth in carbon emissions between 2018 and 2030. The
World Bank has recently estimated 7pc to 9pc GDP loss on account of climate-
induced disasters or up to 20pc GDP loss by 2050. This revisiting of the carbon
value can give us carbon competitiveness and an edge in access to such markets.
Co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation for trade and

commerce:
Specific measures to reduce emissions, as well as the suppressed rate of economic
growth over the last several years, will probably cut the exact emissions’ growth rate
to less than half the projected figures. But more importantly, Pakistan needs to aim
at co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation for its trade and commerce, particularly
since its agriculture is part of its mitigation story. Almost half of Pakistan’s total
emissions come from agriculture and their growth rate is higher in comparison to
several comparable economies.
Ironically, the country’s adaptation policies are driven by three genetic fallacies.
First, Pakistan, as a developing country, needs to prioritise adaptation and leave
mitigation for the developed countries to worry about. Second, Pakistan can achieve
adaptation without undertaking mitigation measures. Third, adaptation can happen
on its own, without mainstreaming in policy planning, resource allocations and
establishing local governments.

Conclusion:
The co-benefits that adaptation and mitigation ensure for each other, and for
economic and social development, can make way for much-needed structural
reforms to reduce loss, damage, waste and system inequities and inefficiencies.
Climate science, politics and technology have progressed sufficiently in the last three
decades to reveal the linkages between climate adaptation and trade. It is time for
Pakistan to build an institutional ecosystem to take advantage of the co-benefits.

A lesson from the Taliban | Dawn
Muhammad Aamir Rana
The writer is a security expert.
Title: Pakistan's concerns about TTP's terror onslaught from Afghanistan and its implications
for regional engagement
I. Introduction
• Pakistan's high-profile delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif visited Kabul
on Feb 22 to convey concerns about the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
• Taliban showed diplomatic skills but did not deliver anything substantial, similar to
their dealings with the US and the world since signing the Doha deal.
• Pakistan delivered a cold message to the Taliban calling for stern action against the TTP
and warned of targeting TTP hideouts in bordering areas inside Afghanistan.
• Taliban denied the TTP's presence in Afghanistan, but Pakistan presented solid proof to
contradict the claim.
• Mullah Baradar argued against allowing political and security concerns to affect
economic relations between the two countries.
II. Pakistan's approach towards Afghanistan
• Pakistan has been failing to use its leverage over Afghanistan in a progressive way.
• Frequent border closures and restrictions on visas for Afghans prove
counterproductive.
• Afghanistan is both a challenge and an opportunity for Pakistan, and state institutions
need to change the challenges into an opportunity.
• A myopic approach involving either full cooperation or no cooperation will complicate
affairs between the two states.
III. Multi-level engagement with the Taliban regime
• Pakistan needs to engage the Taliban regime on multiple levels.

• Security cooperation should be the top priority, but progress on transnational
developmental cooperation and bilateral economic ties should go side by side.
• Afghanistan and Pakistan have been involved in talks related to barter trade, and the
scope can be expanded to trade in local currencies.
• State institutions need to accommodate new ideas in their broader policy spectrum.
IV. Taliban's demands for financial assistance
• Taliban regime has demanded financial assistance from Pakistan to disarm and relocate
TTP militants from the border areas.
• State institutions must exploit such opportunities.
• Transformation process might be slow, but Pakistan can have a robust engagement plan
with the Taliban.
• Regional and international stakeholders, especially China, Iran, and the Central Asian
states, can be involved in certain initiatives.
V. Implications for eradicating the use of religion or ideology for

political purposes
• Pakistan must eradicate any minor symptoms left in its security doctrine regarding the
use of religion or ideology for political purposes.
• An ideological partnership works only when the interests of both stakeholders coincide.

JUST a week before the third anniversary of the Doha Agreement, a high-profile
delegation from Pakistan led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif visited Kabul on Feb
22.
It was not there to greet the Taliban leadership but to convey Pakistan’s serious
concerns about the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified
its terror onslaught against this country while operating from Afghan soil. The
Taliban received the delegation very warmly, while displaying their diplomatic skills
effectively but without delivering anything substantial; they have been dealing with
the US and the world in a similar manner since they signed the Doha deal on Feb 29,
2020.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, acting deputy prime minister of Afghanistan who had
signed the Doha Agreement on behalf of the Taliban, led the negotiations with the
Pakistani delegation. Reportedly, Pakistan has delivered a cold message to the
Afghan Taliban leadership, calling for stern action to prevent the TTP from
launching a spring offensive inside Pakistan. Some media reports claimed Pakistan
had warned the Taliban that their failure to stop the TTP from perpetrating cross-
border attacks would leave Pakistan with no choice but to target TTP hideouts in
bordering areas inside Afghanistan.
The Taliban have also expressed their concerns with the visiting Pakistani
delegation about the US drone strike that killed Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri
in Kabul last year using Pakistani airspace, and other border security-related affairs.
As expected, the Taliban denied the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan. Pakistan has
reportedly also presented a file containing solid proof to contradict the Taliban
claim. However, an interesting argument came from Mullah Baradar that Pakistan
should not allow political and security concerns to affect economic relations
between the two countries.
The argument sounds familiar as India had once offered similar advice to Pakistan,
but Islamabad maintained its position that the Kashmir issue be resolved first.
Ironically, the Pakistani delegation conveyed to the Taliban that bilateral
cooperation in other areas, including the resumption of TAPI, and railway projects,
will depend on how the Afghan Taliban address Pakistan’s concerns about the TTP
presence in their country.
Pakistan's approach towards Afghanistan:
Pakistan has been failing to use its leverage over Afghanistan in a progressive way.
No doubt, Pakistan’s apprehensions about the TTP presence in Afghanistan are

genuine, and direct and formal communication over the issue with the Taliban
regime is the right strategy. But showing a rigid approach and conditioning security
issues on economics reflects the same policy mindset that has produced little in the
past.
The Taliban have remained the Pakistani establishment’s blue-eyed boys for a long
time. Pakistan also takes the credit for delivering them to the negotiating table in
Doha. As it appears now, Pakistan had very high expectations but the Taliban’s
policies have shattered that delusion, triggering frustration among the architects of
its Afghan policy. Here, state institutions made a similar error, and despite focusing
on new approaches to deal with the emerging challenges, their attitude has been
based on knee-jerk reactions. Security and foreign policy are still exclusive domains,

and neither parliament nor the political parties have gotten involved in the process.
The result is that the Taliban’s image as a more pragmatic actor is growing.
Pakistan has been failing to use its leverage over Afghanistan in a progressive way.
Frequent border closures, and restrictions on visas for Afghans, who want to visit
Pakistan for treatment and trade and transit, are proving counterproductive.
Afghanistan is a challenge and an opportunity for Pakistan at the same time, and it
depends on the state institutions to change the challenges into an opportunity. A
myopic approach involving either full cooperation or no cooperation will complicate
affairs between the two states.
Multi-level engagement with the Taliban regime:
Pakistan needs to engage the Taliban regime on multiple levels. Security

cooperation should be the top priority, but progress on transnational developmental
cooperation and bilateral economic ties should go side by side for multi-level
engagement that can help accomplish difficult tasks.
▪ For instance, the Taliban regime has introduced a monetary policy to regulate
foreign currency and trade, hurting Pakistan’s economy the most. Afghanistan
and Pakistan have been involved in talks related to barter trade, and the scope
can be expanded to trade in local currencies.
Dozens of ideas and options are available to address trade and transit issues.
However, state institutions do not work towards accommodating them in their
broader policy spectrum; if the state gives some space to new ideas, these are
spoiled by an inefficient bureaucracy and mafias thriving on informal and illegal
economic structures.
Taliban's demands for financial assistance:

A few media reports also indicate that the Taliban regime has demanded financial
assistance from Pakistan to disarm and relocate TTP militants from the border
areas. Though the Taliban denied such reports, if there is indeed some substance to
them then the state institutions must exploit such opportunities. This is another
indication that the Taliban know the value of non-state actors present on their soil,
and they may bargain with any international or regional actor in return for favours.
One must not ignore the ideological bond between the Afghan Taliban, TTP and Al
Qaeda. The Taliban will try to find a solution to Pakistan’s and others’ concerns
without compromising on their ideology. The hardliners within their ranks may
oppose such initiatives, but their strength can decrease if their regime secures some
economic and political interests.
Eradicating the use of religion or ideology for political purposes
The transformation process might be slow, but Pakistan can have a robust
engagement plan with the Taliban, and regional and international stakeholders,
especially China, Iran and the Central Asian states, can be involved in certain
initiatives. All the neighbours can help the Taliban dislodge their ideological burden.
However, for Pakistan, it is of utmost importance to eradicate any minor symptoms
left in its security doctrine regarding the use of religion or ideology for political
purposes. It gives false hope to the state and its people and kills pragmatism.
What Pakistan can learn from the Taliban regime is that an ideological partnership
works only when the interests of both stakeholders coincide. The rest is mere fallacy.
Debt woes | Dawn
Ibrahim Shah
The writer is a civil servant and studied at Cornell University and the University of Oxford.

Title: Tracing the Impact of the Modern Debt Crisis and Its Ramifications
I. Introduction
A. Controversy over the G20 summit in Bengaluru, India
B. Significance of the IMF's call for debt restructuring for countries on the brink of default
II. Origins of the Modern Debt Crisis

A. Classical economic thinkers' differentiation between usurious and productive capital
B. Marx's belief that usurious capital had no basis in the productive economy
C. Mainstream economic thinking's claim of savings and loans generated by banks used for
capital formation and industrial investment
III. Predatory Lending and Debt Cycle

A. Most bank lending not geared towards capital or industrial investment
B. Banks generate debt to propel even further debt
C. Debt deflation scenario
IV. Asset Inflation

A. Rising asset prices due to a glut of capital and loans
B. Artificially escalated real estate prices and bubbles in housing markets
V. Consequences for Societies

A. States lose access to basic taxation and revenue
B. Elite capture at the heart of the system
C. Falling productivity levels, dwindling public reserves, and rising living costs result in
individuals struggling to make ends meet
VI. IMF's Call for Attention to Debt Restructuring

A. Affords interesting opportunities
B. History of the Fund and its ethos dampens hopes
C. Whether the Global South truly benefits remains to be seen.

THE G20 summit held recently in Bengaluru, India ended in controversy.
‘Burdened’ by the travails of a world in conflict and economic collapse, the Group of
Twenty failed to develop consensus on a narrative surrounding Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine. This prevarication (deception) perhaps overshadowed a very significant
development — the IMF’s call to consider debt restructuring for countries on the
brink of default.
Despite the ubiquity of debt in modern economic discourse, the origins of this crisis
and its ramifications lie shrouded in mystery. The IMF’s call for attention to debt
restructuring thus offers an excellent avenue to trace the impact of the modern debt
crisis and how it has restructured global and national economies.
Origins of the Modern Debt Crisis:
The fundamental premise underlying the present debt crisis is the generation of
debt and its utilisation. As Michael Hudson expounds in The Bubble and Beyond,
classical economic thinkers differentiated between usurious and productive capital.
Adam Smith castigated money lenders for generating income from money. Marx
called usurious capital “fictitious capital”. This sobriquet stemmed from his belief
that usurious capital had no basis in the productive economy, and instead, served as
a constraint on the productive capacities of economies.
For Marx, the inexorable pull of industrial growth would result in usurious capital
falling under the ambit of industry, resulting in an unprecedented productive boom
in the transient capitalist epoch. Oddly, mainstream economic thinking would latch
onto this view, claiming that savings and loans generated by banks would be used
for capital formation and industrial investment. Open any standard
macroeconomics textbook, and you will see the equation S (savings) equals I
(investment) staring back at you.
Predatory Lending and Debt Cycle:
Reality, unfortunately, has played out differently. Predatory lending continues to

dominate financial markets, and this is where we need to focus to highlight the rise
in debt and its fallout. Hudson again paves the path for us. As his seminal work
highlights, most bank lending today is not geared towards capital or industrial
investment. Instead, banks generate debt to propel even further debt, giving birth to
an interminable cycle of debt.
This occurs on several levels. Banks loan to corporations predominantly to shore up

stock prices through buy-back options, mergers, predatory takeovers and asset
acquisition including real estate. Similarly, individuals garner personal debt to gain
an education, buy a car or own a house. Most modern banking therefore, omits the
‘productive’ capital generation that thinkers like Marx imagined, and instead,
remains predicated on avenues that enhance the overall level of debt in societies.
This results in two concurrent phenomena. On the one hand, economies fall victim
to ‘debt deflation’, a scenario where increasingly large amounts of personal and
corporate income are set aside for debt repayment. This acts to suppress both
demand and supply since firms and individuals do not possess the disposable
income to spend on goods and services. Modern American and Pakistani households
serve as an example. As the economy slows and productivity falls, debt levels do not
mitigate. The economy thus falls further into the abyss, resulting in downturns.
The other outcome is what Hudson calls “asset inflation” — rising asset prices owing
to a glut of capital and loans. Artificially escalated real estate prices, bubbles in
housing markets all stem from asset inflation, which makes home and land
ownership even more evasive for average households. Think about the
mushrooming of housing societies in Pakistan and the inability of most Pakistanis to
now own or construct a house.
Consequences for Societies:
All of this holds dangerous consequences for societies. As debt deflation strangles
the economy, states lose access to basic taxation and revenue. More ominously,
certain segments come to dominate policymaking and work to eschew taxation in
certain sectors. Think again of real estate and land in Pakistan. Elite capture, thus,
lies at the heart of this system. In fact, any comprehensive analysis of elite capture —
a term frequently highlighted on these pages recently — must scrutinise the cryptic
workings of finance capitalism.
Falling productivity levels, dwindling public reserves through falling taxation and
rising living costs through asset inflation result in an outcome where individuals
struggle to make ends meet, while states fail to provide essential services owing to
their debt woes.
IMF's Call for Attention to Debt Restructuring:

The IMF hinting at debt restructuring at the G20 summit thus affords interesting
opportunities. The history of the Fund and its ethos, however, dampens hopes.
What this leads to and whether the Global South truly benefits is something only
time will reveal.

Intolerable tides | The Express Tribune
Eric Shahzar
The writer is Phd candidate.
Title: Accelerated Climate Change Driving Massive Scale Climate Displacement and
Humanitarian Crisis
I. Introduction
▪ Ecological disruption leads to a significant increase in the number of climate refugees

▪ Climate change is expected to create more refugees than war
▪ Developing countries are most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change
II. South Asia
▪ Pakistan: the number of climate refugees expected to skyrocket to 2 million by 2050

▪ Bangladesh: over 19 million people will become internal climate refugees by the end of
2050
▪ Maldives: rising sea levels threaten the existence of the world's lowest-lying nation
III. Africa
▪ Droughts, violence, and loss of agriculture activities in the Lake Chad region create a
major humanitarian crisis
▪ Somalia faces a bleak future with piracy becoming common and fisheries on the decline
IV. The Need for Preparedness
▪ Governments and policymakers must invest in preparedness to mitigate future

protection needs
▪ Waiting is not an option
V. Conclusion
▪ Accelerated climate change is driving displacement and exacerbating the vulnerability

of those already forced to flee
▪ The ignored climate emergency is the most defining crisis of our time

With ecological disruption in place comes an intolerable tide of people, forced to
become refugees. In the future, more refugees will be created by climate change, not
war. Since 2018, a whopping 21.5 million people have been forcibly displaced by
climate-induced disasters such as floods, storms, wildfires and extreme
temperatures. While climate trauma sees no boundaries, most shockwaves are now
felt in developing countries — which have contributed little to nothing to the climate
crisis we face today.
South Asia:
The number of climate refugees in Pakistan is expected to skyrocket from 680,000

in 2020 to a whopping 2 million by 2050. Communities in vulnerable situations,
children, women, persons with disabilities and those living in climate hotspots are
disproportionately at risk from adverse impacts of accelerated climate change. With
fast melting glaciers, torrential rains and floods becoming the norm, massive scale
climate-displacement remains on the cards.
Bangladesh, also called Asia’s next tiger, remains one of the most vulnerable
countries to accelerated climate change. According to World Bank, more than 19
million people in Bangladesh will become internal climate refugees by the end of
2050. Around 2000 climate-displaced people move to Dhaka, the capital city of
Bangladesh, on a daily basis. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
states that around 70% of Dhaka’s slum-dwellers moved there fleeing some sort of
environmental shock. The question is: for how long will Dhaka, which is already
overpopulated, host climate refugees?
Another South Asian country which is most vulnerable to climate-induced

displacement is Maldives. Located in the Indian Ocean, Maldives is the world’s
lowest-lying nation, which indicates that rising sea levels and soil erosion threaten
its very existence. According to the World Economic Forum, more than 80% of the
country’s land area lies at less than one metre above sea level. Rising seas will force
out millions to leave their homes, inevitably creating a massive climate refugee
crisis.
Africa:
While South Asia’s humanitarian crisis is expected to quadruple with the making of
climate refugees, another region which faces the same fate is Africa. With extreme
weather temperatures and lack of rainfall, the African continent is facing record-
breaking droughts on a daily basis. With limited resources, fierce competition
between local communities is out in the open. What’s more disturbing is that
violence between Boko Haram, a terrorist organisation, and the Nigerian state has
dwindled agriculture production since 2009, sparking a major humanitarian crisis.
Ecological disruption, Boko Haram’s extremist moves, extreme hunger, disease and
poverty are converging on an already vulnerable community in the Lake Chad
region.
As climate change gains momentum with chronic droughts and loss of agriculture
activities, more Somalians are moving towards piracy, violence in the Gulf of Aden
region. Somalia’s once thriving illegal fishing industry also witnesses a bleak future.
Over the last 50 years, the world has lost half of its coral reefs. It is crucial to point
out that around 30% of the world’s fisheries depend on coral reefs. With the fish
count on a downward trajectory, Somalia inevitably faces a huge dent in its fishing
industry, which is now forcing locals to move towards piracy. With piracy becoming
common and fisheries on the decline, Somalia is moving towards a massive
humanitarian crisis. It is evident that accelerated climate change is quadrupling the
number of climate refugees, who now look towards counterproductive means, such
as piracy, as a source of livelihood.
The Need for Preparedness:
Today’s ignored climate emergency is the most defining crisis of our time, impacting
every region across the planet. Accelerated climate change is driving displacement
and exacerbating the vulnerability of those already forced to flee. Governments and
policymakers must invest in preparedness to mitigate future protection needs and
prevent further climate caused displacement. We’ve already witnessed destructive
climate-induced disasters. Waiting isn’t an option anymore.

The depth of India’s strategic vision | Daily
Tim
Sharjeel Siddiqiue
The writer is
Title: India's Great Leap Forward: Its Achievements, Leadership, and Lessons for Pakistan
I. Introduction
• India's current great leap forward in terms of its economy, infrastructure, and foreign
policy
• Domestic issues with Hindu nationalism and human rights violations in Jammu &
Kashmir
• India's strategic vision as a major player in the world
II. India's Revamp of Air India: A Major Development in the Aviation

Industry
• Tata Company's purchase of Air India for $2 billion and decision to buy 500
passenger planes
• The significance of this development in India's strategic vision for global
communication, travel, and technology
III. India's Role in Global Affairs: Presidency of G-20 and Influence of

Indian Diaspora
• India's upcoming G-20 summit and hosting of global events

• Influence of Indian diaspora in major world capitals
IV. India's Economic and Technological Achievements in the Last Three

Decades
• Dr Manmohan Singh's role in opening up India's economy to foreign direct investment

• Eradication of poverty, illiteracy, and empowerment of women and youth
• India's IT exports, remittances, and tourism
V. Leadership and Ownership in India's Great Leap Forward

• Importance of leadership in shaping a country's destiny
• Contributions of S Jaishankar in India's foreign policy and strategic thought process
• India's political stability and focus on governance and economy
VI. Lessons for Pakistan

• Differences in political stability and economic chaos between India and Pakistan
• India's growing confidence in projecting its power in the world today
• The need for Pakistan to put its own house in order
VII. Conclusion
• India's achievements, leadership, and lessons for Pakistan
• India's position as a major player in the world today.

A ‘great leap forward’ is being witnessed in India today in terms of its vibrant
economy, modernisation of its infrastructure and leadership role in the realm of
foreign policy. Barring its domestic fault lines viewed in the context of Hindu
nationalism and severe human rights violations in illegally occupied Jammu &
Kashmir, the depth of India’s strategic vision is able to neutralise negative images
and focus on transforming the country as a major player in the world today.
India's Revamp of Air India: A Major Development in the Aviation

Industry:
In January 2022, Tata Company of India bought Air India for $2 billion.
Interestingly, the Indian government had nationalised Air India after the partition
when it was owned by Tata Company but after around 70 years it purchased the
same airline and decided to buy 250 airbuses and another 250 other passenger
planes at a cost of $100 billion. Tata’s decision to revamp Air India by purchasing
500 planes in coming eight years is a major development in world aviation industry
and reflects a great leap forward in India’s strategic vision to compete
internationally in major fields of communications, travel and technology.
India's Role in Global Affairs: Presidency of G-20 and Influence of

Indian Diaspora:
Likewise, India holds the presidency of G-20, a major international group of

industrialized countries, and the group’s 18th summit will be held in New Delhi on
9-10 September 2023. Whereas the G-20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in the
Indian capital in early March this year is another opportunity for the sitting
government to host an event of global significance. How this surge in Indian
diplomacy and economy should be a lesson for Pakistan is not difficult to gauge.
India's Economic and Technological Achievements in the Last Three

Decades
India was way behind Pakistan in key economic indicators five decades ago. Its
currency was lower than Pakistan’s and its per capita income along with economic
growth rate lagged behind ours, but the ‘great leap forward’ took place in 1991 when
Dr Manmohan Singh took charge as Economic Affairs Minister and opened up his
country’s economy attracting several hundred billion dollars of foreign direct
investment. Indian foreign exchange reserves which were less than $6 billion in
1991 are now more than $600 billion. PIA, which was world’s finest airline 5
decades ago, has now touched the rock bottom with a debt of $100 billion. Indian
railways has the world’s largest network with high speech trains connecting various
cities. In 1984, Calcutta (now Kolkata) became the first South Asian city to have
underground metro train which is now available in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and
Chennai. There is a long list of India’s achievements made in the last three decades
along with several hundred billion dollars worth of IT exports, remittances and
tourism.
India, like China, focused on the policy of self-reliance and a simple lifestyle which
paid off as the two Asian giants are the world’s second and fifth largest economies.
Eradication of poverty, illiteracy, empowerment of women, youths and transforming
majority of population from liability to an asset made it possible for China and India
to influence global economy, technology and politics. The Indian diaspora has had a
notable impact on the policies of major world capitals which is reflected in their
placement in influential positions like the US Congress as well as EU and NATO

headquarters in Brussels. The depth of India’s strategic vision which has
transformed it as the world’s fifth largest economy and an influential player in
global affairs is because of three main reasons.
Leadership and Ownership in India's Great Leap Forward:
First, it is not only Dr Manmohan Singh who is credited of countless achievements

in Indian economy but also its current Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar who
is the brain behind his country’s ‘great leap forward’ in the arena of foreign affairs.
From any stand-point, it is the leadership which is responsible for either destroying
or making a country. Imbued with skills, competence, integrity and other leadership
qualities, Jaishankar, the son of former Indian strategic icon K Subrahmanyam, has
a major contribution to shaping his country’s foreign policy and strategic thought
process with an aim of countering challenges and projecting India’s image and
power in the world today. It is because of Indian leadership since 1947 that military
has not usurped power and is under a civilian control. One can criticise the Modi
regime over its projection of Hindu nationalism and usurping the rights of religious
minorities, but its adherence to political process and focusing on governance and
economy is helping India take centre stage in global affairs.
Second, ownership and strategic vision in transforming India as a major power is a

reality. In the last 32 years, like China, India has managed to pull millions of people
from poverty; modernize infrastructure; provide opportunities in the field of
information technology; and focus on scientific education. As a result, if China is
world’s second largest economy, India is the fifth and is set to overtake Japan and
Germany to become the world third largest economy by 2029. Will India be able to
maintain its current economic growth and modernisation of infrastructure depends
on its leadership both in the government and in opposition.
Lessons for Pakistan:
Unlike Pakistan, where political stability has long been non-existent, resulting in
economic chaos, in India things are different where despite cleavages, political
parties do not compromise on the country’s integrity and stability. Pakistan’s dismal
performance in economy and unabated political polarisation reflects its failure to
put its own house in order. Few years ago, the Indian PM in a public address
challenged Pakistan to compete in poverty alleviation, economy and governance and
ridiculed that his only western neighbour is unable to control things in Sindh,
Balochistan, K-P and in G-B. While there may be exaggeration in India’s comparing
with Pakistan but pragmatic public perception does reflect New Delhi’s growing
confidence projecting its power in the world today.
▪ Buying 500 passenger planes for Air India in coming eight years is just one
example of the booming Indian aviation industry. Manufacturing of electric
buses and cars in order to offer clean and cheap energy is another evidence of
how innovation is patronised by the Indian government in order to improve
quality of life of its people.
Conclusion: Third, individuals and institutions — with foresight, vision,

competence and clarity — brought about a miracle in India in just three decades,
transforming the country into the world’s fifth largest economy. Facts on the ground
should be the yardstick to judge the performance of Pakistan’s eastern neighbour
rather than holding prejudices and unrealistic and negative perception about its
perceived 'enemy'.
IMF and the Future of Pakistan | Express
Sharjeel Siddiqiue
The writer is a Fulbright PhD candidate at Texas A&M University and a graduate of the
University of Tokyo

Title: The Culture of Borrowing in Pakistan: A Vicious Cycle
I. Introduction
• Pakistan's 13th balance-of-payments crisis since 1988 and 23rd IMF
programme since 1958
• The question of why Pakistan relies on financial help from other countries
II. Endemic Culture of Borrowing

• Pakistani society's tendency to live beyond means and rely on loans
• Little remorse for not repaying loans
• Envy towards personal success and financial independence
III. Diplomacy and National Success

• Diplomatic relations focused on borrowing money and maintaining good
terms with lenders
• National success measured by amount of foreign loans, deferred payments and
aid
IV. Growing Debt and External Locus of Control

• Pakistan owes the world $100 billion and will have to repay $70 billion in the
next three years
• Dependency on soft creditors leads to economic, social and moral decline
• External locus of control perpetuates belief in lack of agency
V. Long-term Solutions
• Tax collection remains low despite repeated identification of the problem
• Imports are shrinking while consumer-oriented society continues to import
non-essential items
• The government needs to change the culture of borrowing and promote
entrepreneurship
VI. Conclusion
• Failure to address the problem could lead to exhaustion of lenders
• Pakistan's reliance on borrowing may become a case study of the failure to
address financial problems.

As Pakistan inches towards another IMF programme, in tatters with a crippled
economy, the hope to get long-term relief may just be a farce for a country that is
experiencing its 13th balance-of-payments crisis since 1988 and is in its 23rd Fund
programme since 1958.
Endemic Culture of Borrowing:
However, between all the panic of going bankrupt and having a fragile sigh of relief
at the expected IMF programme, the question lingers on especially in the minds of
cognitively active: Why do we beg? Has it become our second nature as a society to
make ends meet by relying on financial help from other people? Why do we feel
ourselves entitled for help from the others and have an intrinsic aversion from
work?
Discussions in the offices are no different where people spend the entire day
lamenting the skyrocketing inflation and their struggle to make the ends meet.
However, if you pass through any busy road in the metropolitans of the country, the
restaurants and malls will be found filled to capacity. People in our society take
loans to spend extravagantly on things they do not need at all – a cultural mistake
that is costing us our peace of mind and self-respect at every level.
It’s endemic in our society that we don’t live within our means and are always ready
to extend our arms for asking financial help with almost no intention to repay.
People find it almost impossible to budget their house expenses and don’t shy away
from asking for loans and feel almost no remorse for not paying them back.
On the other hand, personal success is always envied. Successful businessmen are
always termed materialistic, and the desire to be financially independent is looked
down upon. The buck unfortunately does not stop at the individual level.
Diplomacy and National Success:
Our diplomacy is now seemingly focused on borrowing money and maintaining

good terms with potential lenders abroad. Even at the national level, our success at
home is gauged by how much foreign loans, deferred payments and aid we can
amass. The irony – this is even celebrated!
Growing Debt and External Locus of Control:

Currently, Pakistan owes the world about $100 billion and has to repay $21 billion
to foreign lenders during the current fiscal year. And during the next three years, it
will have to return similar or larger amounts each year totaling about $70 billion.
So, what happens four years from now? Will we have repaid about $90 billion to our
creditors and owe only $10 billion? Sadly, no. We have no resources to repay our
lenders. We will just have to try to borrow from one creditor to pay off another.
From the US to China, Russia to EU, and Saudi Arabia to Turkey; our ‘friendships’
are pinned on the anticipation of finding a soft creditor. The tendency resulting in
our economic, social and moral slip down the hill.
It’s not hard to guess that with every passing year the country is going to sink deeper
into the quagmire of debts leaving us with no option but to borrow even more loans.
International Financial Institutions have already slashed the projected growth of
Pakistan in half in the coming years, but no political seriousness is in sight.

This is a textbook example of what psychologists call an external locus of control,
referring to the belief in some individuals and societies that they do not have agency
over what happens to them, and that their life outcomes are determined by external
factors beyond their control.
Long-term Solutions:
Despite the repeated identification of the (same) problems, tax collection has
doggedly remained mired at around 10% of GDP for over seven decades. Imports
are shrinking and our spending habits have created a consumer-oriented society
where we are importing extravagantly non-essential items. Work is for the
underdogs!
Way forward:
It’s time the government should look for a long-term solution of changing a culture
of living on borrowing, and promoting a friendly perception in society for
businessmen and entrepreneurs; else the world will be tired of lending to us and
someday Harvard Business School may have a case study on us: why did they beg;
despite no apparent reason?

Islam and the feminist movements | Express
Tribune
Sharjeel Siddiqiue
The writer is a consultant dentist and social activist

Title: Islam and Feminism: An Unacknowledged Relationship
I. Introduction
• The feminist movement began in 1848 in New York, demanding voting rights
and gender equality
• The movement has spread globally and is divided into four waves
• Islam's contributions to feminist ideas and movements have often been
overlooked
II. Waves of Feminism

• The first wave called for voting rights, political representation, and education
• The second wave called for an end to violence against women and gender
equality
• The third wave called for legal reforms and progressiveness
• The fourth wave called for an end to discrimination
III. Islam and Feminism

• Prophet Muhammad's teachings and actions supported women's rights and
gender equality
• Khadija was the first believer and financier of Islam, and Sumaiya was the first
martyr
• Zainab binte Ali assumed leadership roles at Karbala centuries ago
• Women accompanied men in battles and were part of decision-making
processes
• The Quran addresses humans, not just men, and emphasizes the importance
of knowledge and learning
• Islam grants property rights and heirship to women and shuns discrimination
based on class, creed, and color
IV. Good and Bad in Feminism

• Some clauses of the fourth wave that promote delinquent behavior contradict
Islamic teachings
• Cultural affiliations may hinder understanding the true relationship between
Islam and feminism
V. Conclusion
• Islam's contributions to feminist ideas and movements are often overlooked
• Understanding the true relationship between Islam and feminism requires
looking at authentic sources

Year 1848 marked the inception of feminist movements as women gathered in New
York to demand voting rights. Suffragists went on asking equal wages and an entire
change of customary attitudes towards women in political, social and economic
spheres. The movement gained support and has now spread globally — from
developed to developing countries — achieving significance.
Waves of Feminism:
Divided into four waves, the movement kept coming with new postulates. In the first
one, women called for voting rights, political representation and education; for
gender equality and end to violence in the second one; legal reforms and
progressiveness in the third; and end to discrimination in the fourth. It is to wonder
why Islam is not accredited for pioneering these waves for it voiced for all the
aforementioned demands centuries earlier.
Mary Wollstonecraft is celebrated as the founder of feminism as she, in 1792,

advocated for women education and civil rights through her writings. But what
seems bigotedly ignored in the pages of history is that some 1,200 years before
Wollstonecraft rose her voice for the cause of women, a female child was even
devoid of the right to live and was buried alive just minutes after birth. And the
revered soul who fought and succeeded in its abolition goes unnoticed. In a society
where female infanticide was rampant, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
prophesied heaven for the one raising daughters well and termed them God’s gift.
Islam and Feminism:
Islam is often labeled as anti-feminist while it goes ignored that its first believer and
financier was Khadija and first martyr was Sumaiya. The first wave of feminism
centred around demands for women’s role in legislation and leadership in the early
19th century, but history fails to notice how Zainab binte Ali, a granddaughter of
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), assumed the leadership role at Karbala centuries ago.
Two amongst the few believers who took the pledge of allegiance at al-Aqabah were
women, meaning they were part of the decision-making and pursuance. Women
believers also accompanied men at wars, right in the battlefield and in assistance or
planning.
A prophet is by birth a prophet; however it is at a certain stage that he announces

prophethood. Therefore, all his life, he never goes astray; hence his entire life serves
as a role model. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) worked for Khadija as a tradesman
with impressive honesty. This indicates the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) support for
businesswomen and how one should deal with them in all fairness — the foremost
demand raised in the second feminist wave.
Amongst the demands in the third wave was gender neutrality in speech and
writings. Words like mankind was successfully substituted for humanity, chairman
for chairperson, etc. Worthy to notice is that the Quran, revealed 1,400 years ago, is
throughout gender-neutral. It generally addresses “Ya ayuhan naas” translating to
“O humans” or at other places it specifies its address on the basis of ideology i.e. “O
you who believe”, but never does it address as “O men”.
The Quran commenced with the word “read” and discussed paper and pen right
after. It has necessitated the believers to learn and says, “Could those who don’t
know be equal to those who know.” The Holy Prophet (PBUH) in a gender-neutral
saying made it mandatory for every believer to obtain knowledge. He would set

public meetings with believing women so he could teach them about the religion. He
rewarded freedom to war captives after they spent some time teaching Muslim girls
and boys and declared learning as virtue. The Prophet (PBUH) prepared his wives
and other believing women to be his representatives in knowledge. He delegated the
authority to convey on his behalf and declared teaching an exalted profession.
Islam holds women in high esteem. The Quran uses the word “wahi” for revelation
and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a whole book. The Holy Book says the Almighty
had sent revelations to the mother of Jesus and the mother of Moses. Prophet
Muhammad’s (PBUH) progeny is traced by his daughter Fatima who is held in
towering admiration. The Prophet (PBUH) would stand in her respect and
admonished the believers to seek his happiness in the happiness of Fatima and vice
versa.
For a mother, the Prophet (PBUH) said heaven lies beneath her feet. For a daughter,
the Prophet (PBUH) promised heaven. For a wife, the Prophet (PBUH) said to men
that the best amongst you are those who are best to their wife. For a sister, the
Prophet (PBUH) commanded love and strictly ordered for her property rights to be
taken due care. Islam is first amongst the world religions to grant property rights
and heirship to women and safeguards it with all means possible.
The Prophet (PBUH) in his last address shunned all sorts of discrimination on the
basis of class, creed and colour. This has been in the charter of demand of the black
feminism.
Conclusion:
One must look into the authentic sources for accurate learning. It could be that
some cultural affiliations have hindered the viewing of the rightful picture.
Therefore, there could be no denying that it was actually Islam that coined the
feminist ideas. However, as any code of conduct has yays and nays, similarly, the
Quran ordains the good and forbids the vices. Clauses of the fourth wave which
speak on queer-meaning delinquent behaviour are totally in contradiction and
therefore abandoned while the rest are but the voice of Islam.
It could be that some cultural affiliations have hindered the viewing of the rightful
picture.

Unilateral modification impermissible under
IWT | The Express Tribune
Maham Naveed
The writer is Chair, Lawfare & International Law at IPRI

Title: India Calls for Modification of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan
I. Introduction
• India issues notice to Pakistan to modify the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 (IWT)
on January 25, 2023.
II. Background of the IWT

• The IWT was signed between Pakistan and India with the help of the World
Bank as a broker in 1960.
• The Treaty divided the water of the Indus Basin between Pakistan and India
according to Articles II and III of the IWT.
• Both countries are "under an obligation to let flow" the waters of the rivers
designated to the neighboring country.
III. Dispute Over Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects
• In 2016, Pakistan and India had a disagreement over the designs of the
Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects.
• Pakistan made a request for empanelment of the Court of Arbitration under
Annexure G of the IWT, and India made a request for appointment of a
Neutral Expert under Annexure F of the IWT.
• The World Bank paused the dispute resolution mechanism of the Treaty due to
problems related to continuing with both processes concurrently.
IV. World Bank's Decision and India's Response
• In April 2022, the World Bank decided to continue with both empanelment of
the Court of Arbitration and appointment of the Neutral Expert.
• India responded by issuing a notice to Pakistan, calling for a modification in
the IWT and asking Pakistan to respond within 90 days.
V. Legality of Modifying the IWT

• The IWT can only be modified through another treaty drafted for that purpose,
with the consent of both Pakistan and India.
• The IWT is state-specific and binding on both states equally, with no unilateral
exit provision.
VI. Consequences of Unilateral Action by India

• If India unilaterally claims to have modified the IWT and refuses to abide by
any of its provisions, Pakistan will have recourse to the Court of Arbitration.
• Unilateral action by India will have consequences beyond the legal realm and
must be answered politically.

On 25 January, 2023, India issued a notice to Pakistan, calling for the modification
of the historic Indus Waters Treaty 1960 (IWT).
Background of the IWT:
The water sharing arrangement was signed between the governments of Pakistan
and India, following negotiations spanning nine years between the then newly
formed states. Thirteen years after the partition of the Indian subcontinent, the IWT
was signed, with the World Bank acting as a broker. The backdrop of this Treaty
included more than a decade of hostility and mistrust between both countries
amidst multiple other disputes that erupted following the creation of Pakistan and
India.
The water of the Indus Basin was divided amongst Pakistan and India according to
Articles II and III of the IWT. According to Article II, India has been given the
waters of the Eastern Rivers, which include the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi. According to
Article III, Pakistan has been given the waters of the Western Rivers, which include
the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. With regard to the waters of the other country, both
countries were “under an obligation to let flow” the waters of the rivers designated
to the neighbouring country.
Dispute Over Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects:
Following a disagreement on the designs of the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower

projects, in 2016, Pakistan and India both made two different requests to the World
Bank. Pakistan made a request for empanelment of the Court of Arbitration under
Annexure G of the IWT. This was followed by India’s request for appointment of a
Neutral Expert under Annexure F of the IWT. Although Pakistan’s request was first
in time, the World Bank decided to start both processes simultaneously. However,
due to problems related to continuing with the two processes concurrently, in
December 2016, the World Bank “paused” the dispute resolution mechanism of the
Treaty.
However, a settlement could not be reached between the two countries, primarily
owing to India’s intransigent behaviour. Thus, in April 2022, the World Bank
decided to continue with both — empanelment of the Court of Arbitration and
appointment of the Neutral Expert.
World Bank's Decision and India's Response:
As a response to this, two days before the hearing of the Court of Arbitration in The
Hague, India sent a notice to Pakistan, calling for a modification in the IWT and
asking Pakistan to respond to the notice within 90 days. India has taken issue with
the simultaneous processes being initiated by the World Bank.
Legality of Modifying the IWT:
Legally, the IWT can only be modified, through another treaty, particularly drafted
for that purpose. Article XII of the Treaty, dealing with termination and
modification, clearly states that neither modification nor termination can take place
without the consent of both Pakistan and India. Article XII(3) states, “[t]he
provisions of this Treaty may from time to time be modified by a duly ratified treaty
concluded for that purpose between the two Governments.” The Treaty is clear that
a modification treaty has to be drafted by both states and then ratified by both, to
change the IWT.
It would be correct to assert that the IWT is not regime-specific, but rather state-
specific. It will not expire or be changed with regime change. It is binding on both
the states equally and offers no unilateral exit provision. Therefore, so far as the
question of IWT is concerned, neither India nor Pakistan can unilaterally modify or
revoke it unless it consults with the other party and obtains its consent in the form
of a written agreement to that effect.
Consequences of Unilateral Action by India:
In the event that India unilaterally claims to have modified the IWT and refuses to
abide by any of its provisions, the effect of that will be that the Treaty will remain
valid in its original form and a violation of the Treaty would have taken place.
Legally, this would give Pakistan recourse to the Court of Arbitration, as provided in
Article IX and Annexure G of the IWT. The entire dispute resolution mechanism will
have to be followed to bring India to task for violating the Treaty.
However, it needs to be understood that such a unilateral action by India will have
consequences that go beyond the legal realm and will have to be answered politically
as well.

The last workforce | The Express Tribune
Farukh Khan
The writer is an Islamabad-based TV journalist.

The Denial-Based Immunity to AI's Potential Displacement of Human Workers
I. Introduction
• Discussion of a scene from the dystopian sci-fi TV series, Revolution, to highlight the
shock value of irreversible changes in our lives
• Explanation of the irreversible changes brought about by the internet and smart
machines
• Countless professions already displaced by technology
II. The Potential Rise of Artificial General Intelligence and Tech

Displacement
• AI's potential to replace human workers in jobs is of greater concern than the potential
rise of artificial general intelligence
• The human race's denial-based immunity to the prospect of tech displacement is a

recipe for disaster
• The need to demolish the facade of denial around the subject
III. The Failure of Counter-arguments
• Simplistic counter-arguments that new jobs will emerge as old jobs vanish do not hold
water
• Lack of specificity in arguments and optimism is not a policy
IV. Inevitability of Displacement
• AI's evolutionary cycles are shorter than humans
• The customizability of AI when installed in bodies or exoskeletons
• Infinite reach of AI through mobile telecommunications and cloud unlimited retentive

and processing power
• AI's ability to turn every smart machine a part of its collective and reproduce physically
due to 3D printing
V. Conclusion
• AI will soon make the human race redundant
• Qualification of the assertion with reasons to be offered later

In the dystopian sci-fi TV series, Revolution, where an unknown phenomenon
causes the permanent shutdown of electricity worldwide (implausible, bordering on
stupid, I know), there is a scene which merits mentioning here. The power has just
gone out. Our protagonist knows it is a permanent outage and lets his children
finish the stored ice cream with the full knowledge that they will never have it again.
The absolute finality of that scene gets to you. And the emotive appeal of that scene
is precisely the reason behind its inclusion.
And this shock value of this scene is exactly the reason why I brought it up. In case
you have not noticed, humongous and likely irreversible changes have been
occurring in our lives for the past three decades. These changes have been driven by
the internet and smart machines like your phone, tablet or laptop. And these
changes have already gobbled up countless professions without raising any serious
alarm. The photoshop next door, which developed your pictures in dark rooms,
gone. The video store and the music record shop down the lane vanished without a
trace. Many bookshops disappeared from the face of the planet. All of them were
once considered permanent fixtures of civilisation. When you are determined not to
pay attention, come hell or high water, you don’t.
The Potential Rise of Artificial General Intelligence and Tech

Displacement:
Today’s piece is a continuation of our discussion on the subject of AI. As I have often
pointed out, the potential rise of artificial general intelligence, which you see in
films, does not concern me much. We have it on good authority that such an
eventuality might be far away. However, as I have repeatedly pointed out, the
prospect of tech displacement certainly does. And it seems the human race has
developed denial-based immunity and is not too keen to pay much heed. This is a
recipe for disaster.
The Failure of Counter-arguments:
Since my piece “Ready to lose your job?” dated April 26, 2018, appeared in this
space, I have done everything to keep my readers interested in the question. An
interview with ChatGPT, the budding AI-powered language model, last week seems
like a culmination point of this effort. Today, I want to demolish the facade of denial
around the subject. There are reasons for us to believe that no matter what we do,
workwise, the human race will soon be redundant. And there is no rocket science
about it. It looks like we, or at best, our children, will be the members of the last
active workforce. Dramatic pronouncement, you say? Well, not quite.
I will offer reasons to qualify my assertion a bit later. For now, however, I need to
highlight how simplistic the counter-arguments are.
For the last five years, I have tried to read as many books, research papers and
articles on the subject as I could. The question was simple. If machines took all our
jobs, what would humanity do for a living? Remember, in such a scenario, the
employers would inevitably be humans. Hence a small class of super-rich. But what
would the rest of us, the working people, do? In response, the researchers offer their
belief that new jobs would emerge. To advance this argument, they cite the example
of past transitions when humanity seemed just as clueless or fearful.

After the discovery of fire, the invention of agriculture, industrialisation and finally,
the cyber age, there were dire predictions about humanity losing its utility, but that
did not happen. Old jobs did vanish, but new, better-paying jobs took their place,
and as a result, humanity had more leisure time and longevity. All true. But their
operationalising of this argument in our current study does not hold water. When
they say new jobs will most certainly emerge, the question then arises what kind of
jobs. This is where their arguments fail the test of specificity. Optimism is not a
policy. The previous transitions might have amended some aspects of human life
but never impeached its unique selling proposition, the human mind. Fire,
domestication of animals and plants, mastery over industrial machinery and finally,
computer connectivity all seemed to complement human existence, not seek to
supplant it. That cannot be said about our current friends.
As if in a daze, we are next told that AI’s use in the economy will create a boom.
Since the business owners will make more money, they, in collaboration with
governments, will be able to offer regular remunerations to all citizens. Capital idea.
Except have you met any entrepreneurs or politicians? Also, explain how this entire
idea of an economic boom will work when the workforce has been made redundant
and has no purchasing power. You amaze me.
Inevitability of Displacement:
Now a word on the inevitability of this displacement. Let me cite Max

Tagmark’s Life 3.0 again to remind you where we are on the evolutionary scale. Life
1.0 is amoeba and such life forms that can neither reprogramme their hardware nor
software. Life 2.0 are us. We can change our software but not our hardware. Our
eyes can’t zoom in or out, and we cannot add more eyes to our bodies — the same for
our limbs or other parts. And since our brains are encased in our skulls, we can’t
augment them with more living tissue. Life 3.0 is AI. Its evolutionary cycles are
incredibly shorter than ours. It doesn’t need a climate to breathe, and when installed
in bodies or exoskeletons, it is totally customisable.
But that is not all. Thanks to mobile telecommunication, it has almost infinite reach,
owing to cloud unlimited retentive and processing power, courtesy internet of
things, the ability to turn every smart machine a part of its collective and an ability
to reproduce physically due to 3D printing. With all of this going for AI, do you
really think it will not be able to replace you in any job? You are told it will be cost-
prohibitive. Not really. Technology cost does not matter in an economy of scale.
Since my last piece, Facebook has launched its AI-powered language model called
LLaMA. Google’s Apprentice Bard is taking long evolutionary strides. Microsoft has
incorporated ChatGPT into its search engine Bing and now testing it in robots. At a
time when all humanity should be coming together to mull over its future, we are
busy fighting wars and spreading hate. Hate is one element that the new technology
should not be introduced to, but you know who cares before the problem becomes
too big. So, in other words, we are about to be redundant. And judging by the
priorities of our political overlords doomed.

Implications of a proposed change of guard
at World Bank | Express
Syed Muhammad Ali
The writer is an academic and researcher.
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are well known
entities within resource-constrained countries around the world. It thus makes
sense that the proposed change of guard at the World Bank, which aims to usher in
a new President of South Asian origin, has evoked significant international
attention.
The World Bank and the IMF were established right after WWII. The purpose of the
IMF is to provide loans to help economically distressed countries achieve macro-
economic stabilisation. The World Bank, on the other hand, attempts to help poorer
countries achieve sustainable economic growth. The roles of the IMF and the World
Bank in achieving these objectives, however, remain the topic of much contention.
In principle, all member countries are meant to have a say in the appointment of
Presidents of the World Bank and the IMF. However, voting power in each of these
entities is concentrated in the hands of richer countries which hold a higher share of
capital stock within these entities. The European Union still gets to choose who will
head the IMF, whereas the US appoints the President of the World Bank.
At the end of last month President Biden nominated Ajay Banga, a Sikh-American,
to lead the World Bank. The fact that the US president has nominated someone who
was raised in India has caused a predictable stir within the so-called ‘developing
world’. The World Bank’s board needs to confirm this nomination in May, but that is
basically a formality. Mr Banga is thus poised to be the first Indian-American, and
the first Sikh-American, to get this important post. However, beyond the optics of a
member of an ethnic minority being the face of the World Bank, Mr Banga’s
appointment would not mean much in terms of how this lending agency works.
For the first few decades of its existence, when Keynesian supply-side economics
still held sway, the World Bank used to lend money to the governments of poorer
countries to support their goal of improving the lives of their people. However,
financing top-down economic policies was not only prone to corruption, but such
efforts also failed to let wealth trickle down to the masses.
While the debts of poorer countries continued to balloon, the World Bank came
under the sway of neoliberalism. It increasingly began to use loan conditionalities to
pry open the economies of borrowing countries, to discourage public spending, and
instead to increasingly encourage the use of the market mechanism to cater to the
needs of ordinary people.
While economic growth has occurred due to structural adjustment, this growth has
been erratic, and the problem of elite capture, increased indebtedness and glaring
inequalities continue to plague most World Bank borrower nations.

It is in this context that the appointment of a new World Bank President must be
assessed. Mr Banga formerly headed Mastercard, and he has extensive experience
working on Wall Street. President Biden has chosen Mr Banga to succeed David
Malpass, a President Trump appointee, who resigned a year before the end of his
term. Mr Malpass, a former Under Secretary of the US Treasury, had apparently
been appointed by Trump due to his tough stance on China. However, Mr Malpass
seems to have upset the Biden administration due to his skepticism about global
warming being caused by human action.
President Biden wants his new nominee to steer the World Bank toward addressing
climate change, but it is unlikely that Mr Banga will change how the World Bank
approaches this problem. Mr Banga is likely to intensify reliance on private capital
in the effort to raise additional funds for poorer countries struggling with climate
changes that they have done so little to cause. World Bank critics thus remain
skeptical about the ability of this new appointee to contend with the climate crisis or
to alleviate global inequalities via increased reliance on the private sector, which
itself is responsible for much of the environmental stress and inequality plaguing
our world today.

China is here to stay in Pakistan | Express
Imtiaz Gul
The writer heads the independent Centre for Research and Security Studies,
Islamabad and is the author of ‘Pakistan: Pivot of Hizbut Tahrir’s Global Caliphate’
To the context of the new-found warmth in the US-Pakistan relations with the visit
of the high, multi-agency delegation from Washington, the message from Beijing is
loud and clear: we are here to stay in Pakistan without influencing its decision-
making or meddling in its internal affairs.
Pakistan’s distinct shift away from China is visible like never before. FM Bilawal
Bhutto Zardari’s four visits to Washington followed by a high-level US delegation
led by Derek Chollet, the Counselor of the US Department of State, underscores the
renewed urge for engagement.
Is this a source of concern for the Chinese leadership?
Certainly not! Instead it inflames the desire to double up diplomatic and economic
initiatives.
A synthesis of recent discussions — both private and extracted from public forums —
is worth considering in this context.
Firstly, China expects that Pakistan’s relations with other countries don’t expand at
the cost of Sino-Pak relations. This is a bond that exists between the peoples of
China and Pakistan and has little to do with any political person or party.
Our sole objective is Pakistan’s political stability and economic progress. We will, as
friend, oppose any malign influence meant to disrupt or undermine the Sino-
Pakistan friendship, is the message out of Beijing. This relationship transcends
buildings, dams, roads and bridges.
Nong Rong, the former ambassador Chinese ambassador in Pakistan, has been
elevated to the level of a deputy foreign minister. His predecessor Sung Wei Dong as
well as former deputy Lijian Zhao also enjoy similar influential Asia-focused
positions in the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs. That should be seen as a signal
for an elevated level of engagement with Pakistan.
Secondly, taking care of the basic governance issues is the exclusive responsibility of
the central and provincial government. Even prioritisation of projects is the job of
Pakistani officials.
In this context, Chinese officials and business executives mention several power
plants, Thar coal exploitation, new highways, upcoming Gwadar International
Airport, Orange Line, the 950km Matiari-Lahore High-Voltage Transmission Line,
vocational training institute at Gwadar, etc as benchmarks for the time-tested
friendship.

Despite this, detractors are turning unaddressed simmering socio-economic issues
in places such as Gwadar and extended Balochistan into exploitable fault-lines. Haq
Do Tehreek by Maulana Hidayatur Rehman in Gwadar is one such ploy that Chinese
suspect is being used to malign China and CPEC.
How can China be held responsible if civil, military authorities and politicians fail in
addressing the problems resonated by Haq Do Tehreek; many Chinese are involved
in multiple projects across Pakistan? Why should we be held responsible if short-
sighted Pakistani leaders and bureaucracy acted recklessly with little knack for long-
term planning and efficient execution? The only way to prevent this is to genuinely
and urgently resolve basic governance issues, Chinese official argue.
Thirdly, if the US can be a positive factor vis a vis Pakistan, we will welcome it
because that creates a win-win for all. But Beijing will strongly oppose any attempt
to drive wedge between Islamabad and Beijing. We must all resist any move aimed
at steering Pakistan away from China through unfair geo-political maneuvers or
economic pressures.
This reiteration obviously stems from the way former Army Chief General Qamar
Bajwa attempted to pull Pakistan away from China in an apparent attempt to
assuage American concerns. This also generated an unprecedented element of
distrust — however miniscule — among the Chinese leadership which had been
alarmed over the “negative vibes” that they discerned in GHQ under Bajwa.
Fourthly, Afghanistan remains a primary concern in Beijing as far as security and

counterterrorism is concerned. Yet, it hopes all regional stakeholders, Russia and
the US can synergise their positions on the war-battered country. But Afghanistan
must not be allowed to turn in to a breeding ground for proxy terrorism detrimental
to the interests of neighbouring countries, sounds the warning.
We should remember: Chinese by nature don’t bluster, are not emotional, and are
extremely measured. They don’t say things straight in your face out of deference.
This is a civilisational trait. But in September 2021 they had gone wary of Bjawa’s
duplicity. Even they used words “negative signals from GHQ” instead of calling him
duplicitous. Why should they then uncover their intent in an amorphous situation
defined by alignment with the US?
Chinese also wonder if Pakistan has already become an instrument of the American
Asia-Pacific Policy — originally floated by President Obama as the Asia Pivot
policy.What are the conditions accompanying the resolve to improve and strengthen
the US-Pakistan relations?
Regardless, though, China is determined to push its economic connectivity via the
Belt and Road Initiative, backed up by President Xi Jinping’s latest conceptual
endeavour i.e. the Global Security Initiative. It symbolises the Chinese quest for
peaceful co-existence and economic cooperation.Taking cognizance of increasing
polarisation across the globe, Xi urges nations to adapt to the drastically shifting
global environment and to approach the complex and interconnected security
concerns with a cooperative mutually win-win mindset.
It appears even the Chinese government is waiting for the political mist to clear in
Pakistan before reenergising its economic initiatives into the next level. But there is
no stepping back from “our iron brother [Pakistan]” under any circumstances.

Learning from other countries’ achievements|
Express
Talat Massood
The writer is a retired lieutenant general of the Pakistan Army and a former federal
secretary.
In the last three to four decades the world has witnessed a phenomenal rise of
China. Literally, within a span of 40 years it rose from being a low-income nation to
the second largest economy of the world. As economists are predicting that barring
any untoward development within China or globally, it would not be but a few
years before its GDP gets close to that of the US. Similarly, India in 1947 at the
time of independence had a GDP of $2.7 lakh crore and in 2021 it stands at $3.176
trillion. It has risen to the fifth position in economic hierarchy and likely to overtake
Germany in the near future. Latest estimates indicate that the Indian economy has
grown in double digits in the first quarter of the current financial year.
Deepak Bagla, the head of the Treasury Leadership Forum, a government setup
established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, gave a talk recently at a
special meeting. He highlighted the rapid progress India has made in the last few
years in multiple fields. He focused primarily on the economy, politics and the
social sector and is available on the YouTube so that the achievements of Modi
government are widely publicised at home and abroad.
Some of the facts and figures are impressive and PM Modi’s contribution to driving
the economy to new heights deserves recognition. Bagla kept reminding the
audience that India is currently the fastest growing economy and its foremost
characteristic is the openness of the Indian market. And its strong point, according
to him, was that two-thirds of it is driven by domestic demand. The digitisation of
the Indian economy is another major breakthrough that the present government was
able to achieve. The foreign direct investment last year was also one of the highest,
reflecting the attractiveness and confidence of international community in India’s
economic growth.
While speaking about the social sector, Mr Bagla pointed to the huge asset of the
educated youth under 45 years of age, the youngest in comparison to other countries
that would be available up to 2070. He also mentioned the interest of the people —
especially the youth — in a democratic system, as 90 million were first time voters.
The dark side of Modi’s policies was deliberately set aside. It seems this
presentation was meant to project Modi’s achievements with elections in mind.
There was no mention of what was happening in Occupied Kashmir or in India with
the Muslims. It is not that the West and other major powers are not aware of the
gross discrimination of Muslims in India and the plight of the Kashmiris, or the
high-handedness of Modi toward his political opponents, but these are overlooked
as expediency trumps principles.
Another major factor that PM Modi is exploiting is the support that the US and the
West are extending to India to counterbalance China’s rising power at the regional
level. Modi is playing the balancing game shrewdly by retaining its traditional ties
with Russia. India refused to vote against Russia in the recent UN General
Assembly resolution that called for “a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in
Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations”.
The border dispute of India with China does erupt on and off but is being managed
so that it does not come in the way of thwarting economic progress. It is not
surprising that despite these odds, mutual trade with China is flourishing.
I have been fortunate to witness first hand, during my frequent visits to China, the
remarkable progress the country has made in the last four decades to become the
world’s second largest economy. It is no ordinary feat to lift over a billion people
from the shackles of poverty. China today has a strong middle class and is dealing
with considerable confidence and finesse the pressures that the US is mounting to
retard its rise.
South Korea is another country that should inspire us. In a few decades it has
become one of the world’s largest economies and currently ranks at the
10th position. In sharp contrast, North Korea that boasts of being a nuclear power
and a large conventional force has a struggling economy and is literary a police
state.
The object of highlighting the salient features of the progress China, India and
South Korea have made especially in the economic field is to remind ourselves as to
how we have strayed from focusing on the essentials that are necessary to change
the nations’ destiny and raise the quality of the lives of millions of people that are
even finding it difficult to afford two square meals. Pakistan, of course being a
smaller nation and comprising areas that were relatively less developed, started with
a smaller economic base. But its progress has been dismal and the present situation
of political infighting, wrong national priorities and weak adherence to basic
constitutional obligations by the military have retarded its economic development,
sullied its international image, and created fertile ground for TTP and other militant
outfits to expand their activities and be on the offensive.
Pakistan’s leadership cannot remain oblivious to how we are trailing behind while
nations starting with similar base line have moved ahead. It is not that we are not
aware of the ingredients and triggers that prompted their rise. The priorities and
focus of our leadership lie elsewhere. Even if leaders are insensitive to the needs of
the people or to be fair to them, then in their own self-interest they should return the
government to the party or coalition that genuinely commands the support of the
people. Hopefully, the Supreme Court would ensure that elections are held in time
and a genuine representative government emerges.
A fragile interim setup is intrinsically handicapped to deal with a country facing

multiple challenges. More so it is unable to take difficult decisions as it is not fully
anchored to the people and lacks their genuine support.

Agricultural Farming and Pak Army Role |
Daily Times
Ali Anwar
The writer is an old Aitchisonian who believes in freedom of expression, a freelance
columnist, entrepreneur and social activist.
Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy because nearly 60 per cent of

Pakistan’s income is directly related to agriculture. Over 60 per cent of the
country’s population lives in villages. Due to this, it can be easily guessed why
agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. Then, you can extract the data
of wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, potato, onion, and tomato for any agricultural
species and will see how Pakistan stands among the first ten countries in the world
in its production.
On the other hand, if we are an agricultural country, are we agriculturally self-

sufficient? It is an important question that we do not import agricultural products
for our needs. Because if any country is not self-sufficient in the production of
agricultural commodities, it cannot be considered a food-independent state unless it
produces more food than the needs of its population, but unfortunately, despite
being an agricultural country, we have not yet become self-sufficient in terms of
agriculture. Because even today, we import wheat, pulses and other agricultural
commodities for our needs from outside the country which is a point for us to think
about. Ukraine is smaller than Pakistan in area, but it is supplying wheat to the
whole world and that is why, it is also called the warehouse of the whole world,
from where the people of the world buy wheat for their needs. Well, the authorities
need to think about it. My intention is not to criticize anyone.
Pakistan’s population ratio is also increasing, due to which the increase in food
requirements in proportion to the population is also a natural requirement.
Agricultural farming has not yet been practised according to modern scientific
methods, due to which Pakistan has not been able to become self-sufficient in wheat
production. Today, if our farmer grows 30 maunds of wheat from one acre, then the
farmer in America and China is getting 60 to 70 maunds of wheat from one acre. So
the land there is better than the land of Pakistan? Or is the farmer there more
hardworking than the farmer in Pakistan? So it’s not like that. He is getting a higher
yield per acre only because of modern agricultural farming.
Ukraine is smaller than Pakistan, but it supplies wheat to the whole world.
An agricultural country like Pakistan, which is currently suffering from severe

economic conditions, has to urgently understand the importance of agricultural
farming.
In this regard, it is very important to take into account the progress and methods in
agricultural farming of developed countries to stabilize the economy, because where
we are far from modern agricultural farming, on the other hand, due to the lack of
policy and control, agricultural land is being depleted. The gradual conversion of
agricultural land into residential land has become an alarming situation that needs to
be stopped.
On the other hand, although the land of Pakistan is agricultural, a large part of it
also consists of barren land, which needs attention because such barren lands are
wisely used for agricultural farming all over the world, but in Pakistan, except for a
few institutions no special attention was given.
In the past, efforts were made in this regard and the experiments were also
successful, which not only made the desert and barren land arable but also provided
employment opportunities. If such barren land is given to the youth and they are
encouraged to do modern agricultural farming there, firstly we can become self-
sufficient in food and secondly unemployment can also be eliminated. By bringing
in technology and local manpower, such land can be produced like gold.
Where the government can use the barren land for modern agricultural farming, the
strong and organized institutions of the country, including the Pakistan Army, can
play a key role in this regard.
However, it is said that now the wars in the world will not be due to possession of
land or because of demeaning each other, but for getting food and water.
That is why the forces of the developed countries of the world, especially China,
America, Israel and other countries are also supporting their governments by
participating in agricultural farming and strengthening the country’s economy.
While Pakistan is taking steps to reform taxes and increase its collection after the
IMF program, along with other positive reforms, agricultural farming can reap the
benefits of the agriculture sector.
A lot of benefits can be obtained in a very short period from the wise planning of
agricultural farming. In the declining economic situation, considering agricultural
farming as a national need should be included in the top priorities of the current
government because this is a sector that needs attention. Pakistan can emerge from
the economic vortex.
Just as the Pakistan Army has performed its duties in the past in country-wide
projects such as the construction and expansion of the Karakoram highway,
Cleaning of Canals, WAPDA duties, Reko Diq planning, Polio campaign, security
of the election and other sectors, it has done agricultural farming in the same way.
Even in this case, if the experiences of the Pakistan Army are put to good use, then
its substantial benefits can be brought to the country’s economy.
In the situation of increasing population ratio, constantly changing weather

conditions and other economic crises, Pakistan Army must play its role in this
regard.
Along with its primary security responsibilities, the Pakistan Army is capable of
carrying out agricultural farming efficiently and if the government takes the support
of the army in the matter of agricultural farming and takes advantage of the
experience of the Pakistan Army, where the burden of economic difficulties will be
reduced. There will also be an end to unemployment. Of course, the Pakistan Army
will also respond to the call of the Government of Pakistan, because the Pakistan
Army has always been the first to sacrifice whenever the country faced any
difficulties.
Even in the current economic conditions, the Pakistan Army was the first to
announce a reduction in its expenditure, after which the Prime Minister started the
austerity campaign, so the government should now take a step further and contact
the Pakistan Army with regard to agricultural farming. Pakistan should be self-
sufficient in the agricultural sector and the country should be able to cope with
difficult situations with the help of agricultural farming.
The writer is an old Aitchisonian who believes in freedom of expression, a freelance

columnist, entrepreneur and social activist.

Pakistan’s ‘plan B’ to tackle TTP | The Express
Tribune
Kamran Yousaf
The writer is a senior foreign affairs correspondent.
Last week, a high-powered Pakistani delegation led by Defense Minister Khawja

Asif visited Kabul. The delegation also included ISI Director General Lt-Gen
Nadeem Anjum, the foreign secretary and the special envoy on Afghanistan.
This was the first high-level visit from Pakistan to Afghanistan since the spike in
terrorist attacks in the country and the change of army leadership. There was one
clear difference, even if it was just for optics, that there was a civilian government
representation in the delegation. It was not the template followed during the PTI
government or at least when Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was at the helm. At that time
most of the policymaking and execution was being done by the security
establishment. This was even confirmed by Khawja Asif in his fiery speech at the
National Assembly. The senior PML-N leader castigated both Gen Bajwa and
former ISI chief Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed about how their flawed policy allowed TTP
to stage a comeback. Asif referred to one of the closed door briefings given to the
parliament by Gen Bajwa and Gen Faiz who disclosed their plan to bring back TTP
fighters under the deal being negotiated. He said the policy only brought negative
results as TTP mounted major terrorist attacks after that. He sought explanation
from both to come and justify their decisions.
Against this backdrop, the visit of the Pakistani delegation was important. What
transpired during the visit, as per official sources, was that Pakistan took a far
clearer stance. The Afghan Taliban were confronted with hard evidence about the
presence of TTP and shared the precise location of its leadership. The Afghan
authorities gave a briefing to the Pakistani side. They listed actions they took
against certain groups of the TTP and their future strategy. One of the plans given
by the Afghan Taliban to control the TTP includes disarming the terrorist outfit and
their relocation from the border areas. However, the Afghan Taliban wanted
Pakistan to bear the cost of that plan.
It is believed that the Afghan authorities made a similar offer to China, which is
also concerned over the presence of East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). But
the problem of TTP is far more challenging and complex given the fact that the
number of ETIM fighters is around 300 while anti-Pakistani terrorists range
between 8,000 and 12,000. The number goes up to 30,000 if TTP family members
are included.
What we know so far is that Pakistan found some of the proposals unsatisfactory.
There is skepticism that the Afghan Taliban may be using the new plan to deflect
pressure. It is clear that unlike the past, Pakistan has given a clear message to the
Afghan Taliban. Previously, the Afghan Taliban convinced Pakistan to enter into
negotiations with the TTP when they were pressed to take action against the
terrorist group. But Pakistan is no longer seeking talks with the TTP and has been
telling the Afghan Taliban to take tangible steps. Therefore, it appears that the
Afghan Taliban came up with this new idea of disarming the TTP and their
sanctuaries, with Pakistan bearing the cost.
The Pakistani delegation, on return from Kabul, was hopeful that the Afghan
Taliban would do something about the TTP. But they are not complacent either.
While there is a push to seek the resolution of the TTP issues through appropriate
channels, Pakistan is also working on a contingency plan. The sense is that Pakistan
is preparing for the worst. In case the Afghan Taliban fail to address our concerns,
there is a possibility of cross-border strikes targeting the TTP sanctuaries. Pakistan
did carry out such strikes once in April last to put pressure on the Afghan Taliban,
though it never publicly owned those raids. This may be the policy going forward
— targeting the TTP hideouts across the border without publicly acknowledging it.

Chat Gpt and the need for conspiracy
theories | Express
Imran Jan
The writer is a political analyst. Chat Gpt and the need for conspiracy theories | The
Express Tribune
Neanderthals, our ancient human relatives, used to have slightly different physical
features. They used to have larger noses than ours. Evolution was responsible for
those large noses so that those humans could deal with the environment at the time.
The distinct nose helped in warming and humidifying the cold and dry air of those
ancient times.
Chat Gpt is sometimes described as a revolutionary product in the world of internet

and AI. However, in my humble view, it’s actually an evolutionary product. Just as
those large noses helped make breathing easy, Chat Gpt helps make feeling easy.
The humans of today are very inclined toward believing in conspiracy theories.
Whether the coronavirus or climate change, we have crafted almost believable
fiction to deal with harsh realities. Just as those noses made the air breathable,
conspiracy theories make difficult-to-investigate truth digestible and entertaining by
turning it into lies. Using the brain is much harder and an undesirable route than
using something to relax the brain.
We share the planet with flat earthers. These are the people who believe the earth is
flat, not round. Many believe that the moon landing was fake, that 9/11 was an
American plot, that Bin Laden was an American agent, that Imran Khan is a Jewish
agent, that skyscrapers are built with a pointed top in order to harness the devil’s
energy, that the porn industry was created to destroy the Muslim youth, the list goes
on.
What conspiracy theories do is they help us enjoy mental laziness. We don’t want to
investigate or research the truth. We don’t want to come out of this comfort zone
and try to understand the nuances of truth. So, we easily settle for some entertaining
story someone tells and settle the matter. We very comfortably connect the dots
using ridiculous pieces of information, some of which may be fake, and create a
picture that our lazy brains can make sense of. I wish it was that easy.
What Chat Gpt does is to write the story for us. Noam Chomsky rightly said that
Chat Gpt was basically “high-tech plagiarism” and “a way of avoiding learning”.
No more explanation is necessary to describe it because that exactly is what it is.
Chat Gpt is a high-tech product to help us avoid using our gray cells. This
technology is an extension of an unbelievable human trait, which I’d take the liberty
to label as the anti-curiosity.
Humans are usually understood to be driven by curiosity about the world and the
universe in which they dwell. I am not so sure if I can say the same about the
current lot because then Chat Gpt would be designed to find the unknown truth. It is
rather a tool to create the truth for us. There’s nothing new it helps find. It only uses
the existing imperfect ingredients to come up with something totally inside of the
box. No human imagination or creativity involved.
Google, Meta and others are entering the AI race. It is the next big thing. They’re
all busy making high-tech drugs to help humans indulge in mental laziness.
There’s a fine line between technology making human life easier and technology
rendering humans useless because the one feature humans have that animals don’t
is the intelligent brain. Many machines that mankind invented help humanity leap
forward. Automobiles and planes help humans move faster than animals. Chat Gpt
is a technology that can help humans outpace the animals again; except this time in
repeating unintelligent steps needed in order for some higher being, such as Chat
Gpt, to make decisions for them.
Einstein once said that imagination was more important than knowledge. Those
words have never been more relevant than today. Chat Gpt uses a huge wealth of
knowledge and information that’s in the ether. What it kills is the human
imagination.

What does US-India tech coupling mean for
Pakistan? | Express
Javerya Atif
The writer is a digital media and policy advocacy specialist at IPRI.
Perhaps the most significant facet to the US-India partnership is the growing
technological coupling, parallel to US-China tech decoupling. This intensification
and shift of tech policies from China to India is evident and exemplary of the
geopolitical rivalries. While initiatives like the Initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technology (iCET) and the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) are no doubt
great achievements by India, it comes with certain implications for Pakistan, even if
Pakistan is not the primary target in this tech coupling between the US and India.
Pakistan’s digital transformation is in its nascent stage, and vulnerable to a

problematic political-economic matrix. Added to these troubles is the resurgence of
violent extremism, dragging the country back into a state of security paralysis.
Unfortunately, the frozen Indo-Pak ties do not help Pakistan either. India’s
evolution and revolution as a technologically advanced state becomes a natural
factor of unbalancing strategic stability in South Asia. The iCET between the US
and India is the lynchpin upon which India could become the next technological
might, perhaps even an extension of the Silicon Valley. Access and advancement of
critical infrastructure technologies will allow India to have further leverage and
influence in regional and global politics.
This growing technology cooperation between the Western countries and India
creates multi-level implications for Pakistan even if its sole target is China. Some
are briefly identified here:
Increased competition and access to technology: Already a staggering economy,

Pakistan will face an increased competition in the global arena of tech sector,
particularly in areas of software development and IT services. India’s growing tech
partnerships with the US may provide it with greater access to cutting-edge
technology, which could give it a competitive advantage over Pakistan in certain
areas. For example, the intensified information sharing will allow the US and India
to collaborate on critical infrastructure technology which, for Pakistan, can be
concerning. It may also lead to the development of new vulnerabilities that could be
exploited by cybercriminals or sponsored hacking groups. This could result in
cyberattacks against Pakistan’s government, businesses and citizens: the Pegasus
episode is still a fresh memory.
Moreover, the US-India cooperation will result in a more strategic competition in

South Asia due to the advancement of military technology, including cyber-
weaponry. This could result in the development of more sophisticated and advanced
cyber-weapons, enhancing the asymmetry between Pakistan and India. As Noor Ul
Ain writes for South Asian Voices, “The India-Pakistan rivalry is not restricted or
solely aggravated by the U.S.-China strategic rivalry. However, competition
between the United States and China has resulted in an accelerated piling of
weapons, enabling India and Pakistan’s capabilities against each other.”
Not only has that but India intended to shift the technology supply chain value and
mechanisms towards itself. The semiconductor industry is part of the larger
technology rivalry taking place between the US and China. This partnership aims to
build and innovate within this industry to perhaps even stop reliance on Taiwan
entirely. The US and Indian semiconductor counterparts will be setting up a
taskforce not only dedicated for this but also for emerging telecommunications and
space technology. Naturally these advancements will unfortunately make Pakistan’s
existing capabilities from a security and economic outlook quite redundant.
Therefore, Pakistan must stay vigilant on this front and take proactive measures to
— if not entirely insulate itself from these implications — at least be prepared to
deal with them. In such a scenario, Pakistan must not only rely on competing
powers like the US and China to sustain itself in the tech-driven world, but capture
the opportunity through technology to revitalise its economy, governance and
people.

The Pakistani version of populism | Express
Syed Muhammad Ali
The writer holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne and is the author of
Development, Poverty and Power in Pakistan,
The idea of populism is neither new nor is its use exclusive to Pakistan. However,
all populist leaders spin their own distinct version of a populist narrative to harness
public sentiment within a specific context and at a specific time.
The current manifestation of populism within Pakistan is distinct from its earlier
versions, especially that exercised by ZA Bhutto, who blended right-wing and left-
wing rhetoric during the 1970s to propel himself to power, despite the loss of
Bangladesh. Imran Khan’s populism is considered more divisive.
To some extent, all politicians and political parties aim to articulate unique
solutions to major public problems such as deprivation, insecurity or lackluster
growth. However, populist leaders articulate narratives which purposefully create a
corrosive political atmosphere. Hence, the phenomenon of populism is not only
about the popularity of a given leader amongst ordinary citizens. Populist narratives
are meant to trigger an emotional response and solicit support from the public
feeling disgruntled with major political parties, the establishment, or even with
given ethno-religious or minority groups. There can thus be varied versions of
populism ranging from anti-elite populism to ethno-populism and religious
populism. Some forms of populism are also an amalgam of these different elements.
Most populist leaders focus little on delivering effective governance. Instead, they
amplify and leverage public discontent towards real or perceived influential groups
in the bid to secure power for themselves. Trump, for instance, had claimed that he
would ‘drain the swamp’ despite being a beneficiary of the status quo himself, and
he also often described American problems in xenophobic terms.
Khan’s brand of populism blends elements of anti-elitism, anti-imperialism and

disgruntlement with the establishment, while he himself is a product of these same
forces. Khan promised to change Pakistan by taking power away from corrupt
leaders, yet he had to woo many of the ‘electables’ who had formed the backbone
of his opponent parties, to win elections.
Once in power, Khan deflected attention away from his own government’s
inadequacies and chose to pursue a very narrowly crafted accountability drive to
undermine political rivals. He bemoaned the debt trap of international lending
agencies, and the opaqueness of Chinese investments in Pakistan. Yet, he was quick
to approach the IMF after assuming power, and he did nothing to alter the top-
heavy implementation of CPEC projects.
As a Prime Minister, Khan did pay attention to social welfare, health and
environmental issues. Yet, these efforts were piecemeal and many other lofty
promises of changing Pakistan for the better remained unrealised. His disastrous
attempt to create a single national curriculum for schools threatened to increase
myopia instead of alleviating inequalities within the education system.
Like his predecessors, Khan also used the religion card to further his own
ambitions. He aimed to selectively champion the cause of Muslim persecution in
India, and in the West. Yet, he remained silent about the alleged Chinese
persecution of Muslim Uyghurs and the persistent persecution of religious
minorities within Pakistan itself.
While he was recently very critical of the assault against journalists, and decried the
brutal murder of Arshad Sharif, his own government had also severely clamped
down on the media.
Once his political opponents managed to orchestrate his ouster, Khan decided to use
the ace card of growing anti-American sentiment in Pakistan. He inflated the
significance of a bilateral diplomatic exchange to portray it as evidence of an
imperialist conspiracy which had overthrown him for his pursuit of independent
foreign policies to bring back a corrupt and compliant government.
Unfortunately, Pakistan, like many other countries in our region and beyond, faces a
choice between imperfect leaders. Let’s see who comes to assume the helm of
affairs after the next general elections, and whether this new leader will be able to
do a better job of ensuring justice and inducing the much-needed tsunami of
change, which ordinary citizens in the country are so desperate to witness.

Myanmar Bangladesh “Potato Diplomacy” |
Daily Tim
Sharjeel Siddiqiue
The writer is
Myanmar, Bangladesh "Potato Diplomacy" - Daily Times
Potato is a starchy tuberous crop and becomes an integral part of much of the
worldwide food/potato food supply and suppliers. It is the world’s fourth-largest
food crop, following maize, wheat and rice. Bangladesh is now one of the big
potato-producing and exporting countries in the world. In the year 2021, potato
exporters in Bangladesh produced 15 million M. Ts of potatoes among which
around 50% is exported and it is increasing year by year.
For the year 2025 production target is 50 million M.Ts. Potato is now one of the
good export qualities of agro-products of Bangladesh.
The main importing countries of Bangladesh-origin potatoes are Singapore,

Malaysia, Sri Lanka, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Vietnam, Philippines and Russia.
Bangladesh’s climate and soil are very suitable to grow tropical country potatoes
with the best competitive price as the labour cost of a farmer here is quite low
compared to any other potato and Agro product-growing country.
Asian countries are seeing potatoes as their possible salvation as they scramble to
feed their people at reasonable prices in the future in a region where the population
is estimated to soar by some 35 per cent to 4.9 billion by 2025.
Food security is vital in the region as many governments fear unrest if food staple
prices keep going up. India said in 2008 that it wanted to double potato production
in the next five to 10 years. China, a huge rice consumer, has become the world’s
top potato grower. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the potato is expanding more than any
other crop right now.
Potatoes are a great source of complex carbohydrates, which release their energy
slowly and they have only five per cent of the fat content of wheat.
Myanmar has shown interest to import potatoes from Bangladesh because of the
low price of the item here.
Bangladesh starts to export potatoes to that country primarily.
Bangladesh may get higher export prices for potatoes from Myanmar due to the
low-price facility
The entry of various varieties of domestic and foreign potatoes pushed down the
price in the Yangon market, especially for large-sized potatoes.
These days, potatoes from Sinphyukyun and Bhamo regions, potatoes from China
and Bangladesh, as well as Shan potatoes, entered the market. With the influx of
potatoes from the Sinphyukyun area, the price of large-sized potatoes has
decreased. At the time of the arrival of Shan potatoes, the wholesale price of S1 and
S2 sizes (large sizes) stood at K1,850 and K2,100 per viss respectively.
When Sinphyukyun potatoes entered the market, the wholesale price of S3 sizes
including S1 and S2 sizes was only K1,400 per viss on 14 February.
Normal sizes of potatoes A1, OK, S1 and S2 were valued at K1,600, K1,700,
K1,700 and K1,400 per viss each. Similarly, the price of Bhamo potatoes and China
potatoes were only K2,000 and K2,150 per viss these days.
A total of 96,000 visses of potatoes from various regions arrived at the market on
18 February and 66,000 visses entered the market on 20 February. Potatoes from
Bangladesh were sold in various sizes at depots in Yangon, and the price of
medium-sized potatoes stood at only around K1,500 per viss. The price of large-
sized potatoes decreased due to the low demand in the market.
In early December 2022, when onion was valued at K4,000 per viss, the price of
potato was only half of the onion price. Currently, potato and onion prices are
almost the same.
Although onion is a daily necessity, it is used less when the price is high. Potatoes
are used as a side dish. Thus, when the potato price is hi/gh, consumers use other
vegetables instead of potatoes.
Lalita potato grown in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Kurigram and Comilla has been the top
export product in Myanmar for two years. Exports are made through Teknaf land
port in Cox’s Bazar. Bangladeshi Lalita potatoes are in huge demand in Myanmar
due to three reasons. First of all, Bangladeshi Lalita potatoes are cheap. Second, in
Rakhine State, where there was potato cultivation, production decreased due to the
establishment of barracks by the security forces. Third, the number of unemployed
and poor people in Rakhine State is increasing, which also increases the demand for
low-cost goods.
According to the information of the customs department of Teknaf land port, about
17 thousand metric tons of Lalita potatoes were exported to Myanmar through
Teknaf land port in the last financial year 2021-22, the export value of which is
about 12 crore 12 lakh taka. To reach Teknaf land port, the price of potatoes fell to
700 takas per kg. In the three months from July to September of the current
financial year 2022-23, 119 metric tons of potatoes have been exported to
Myanmar. The export value of which is about 18 lakh taka. The price of potato per
kg is more than 18 rupees when it reaches the port. The potato traders of Teknaf
said that although Lalita potato is used more in the Rohingya camp of Ukhia-Teknaf
and hotels and restaurants in Cox’s Bazar, local people are used to eating native
potatoes. Buddhists, including Rohingyas in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, turned to
Bangladeshi Lalita potatoes because of lower prices.
The writer is a London-based Bangladeshi expatriate who is a Bangladesh and

Myanmar affairs observer, analyst, and researcher

Afghan Girls' Right to Education is
Uncompromisable | Daily Times
Maryana Khan.
It is universal that no life on planet earth is possible without food, water and oxygen.
Similarly, people around the globe agree on the fact that no progress is possible
without education. The international community is well aware of the significance of
education. So, they not only accepted it as a means of life transformation, but they
also extended it to their citizens. The triumphs of education-focused nations have
always been witnessed. When we talk education of a nation, it means the education
of males and females.
In the modern age, when education is considered an unrivalled power and source to
gain financial independence that enables one to facilitate themselves with basic
living necessities, education is more a
need than leisure. The more the state wants to progress, the more it needs to invest
in education. Thus, investment benefits the state in multiple ways: from an indicator
of poverty reduction to a just and empowered society. In developed countries,
gender equality is nearly achieved. The problems faced by third-world countries
where gender discrimination is still a norm have led to difficulty in women’s
approach to educational institutions. Young women’s access to quality education
must be ensured. In such a time, when the importance of education is an
unchallenged reality, the uprising of any group who claim women to be principally
women, wives and daughters than independent citizens and give the authority of
their bodies to men by referring it to family values is nothing but despotism. The
secret to the nation’s prosperity is women’s access to education and equality, their
participation in society and the political sphere.
In the modern age, education is considered an unrivalled power and source to gain
financial independence.
The oligarchic setup in Afghanistan by the Taliban denies women freedom, liberty,
and dignity. They also have shown hostility to women’s education. Earlier in March
2022, the Afghan government vetoed Afghan women’s right to higher education,
which was followed by the closure of university education in late December 2022.
This action of the Taliban has devastated and infuriated women not only in
Afghanistan but throughout the globe. It has also triggered protests in Afghanistan,
in which male students of universities also participated.
One can easily imagine how hazardous the consequences of women’s inaccessibility
to education would be. International organizations have condemned this brutal act
of the Taliban. On March 24, 2022, UN Human Rights Expert criticised the process,
by saying: “This decision must be reversed immediately, And girls of all ages in
every part of Afghanistan should be allowed to return to their classes safely!”
UN on December 21 also directed immediate re-opening of universities. Acting

Higher Education Minister, Nida Muhammad Naeem, responded to black lash and

called women’s education unIslamic and non-cultural. In contrast, the Taliban have
always misused Islam for their wicked thoughts. Islam has directed everyone to
learn, “Can those who know and those who won’t be alike? So only do the wise
receive admonition(Al Zumar).”
The verse needs to clarify that only wise men should receive an appraisal. Islam has
called the illiterate blind. So how can it support this cause? Isn’t it worth thinking
about? The setback of 50% population isn’t only an alarming matter for the
concerned gender; it’s the nation’s social, political, economic, medical and literacy
problems. The cause was widely taken by international communities and liberal and
feminist organizations, but no proper actions have been performed; instead, tweets
and statements have been issued for no good.
The globalized world is well aware of the situation in Afghanistan, yet only silence
can be heard. Neither Western nor any Islamic country has denounced a move
barring Afghan women’s education. The problem doesn’t belong to liberals; only
conservatives and liberals should develop a consensus on the issue and the
sensitivity of the cause. Women have always been targeted, but the Taliban ensure
no stone is left unturned to bow down the rights of females in Afghanistan. I’m sure
the international community will take notice of this severe and threatening move of
the Taliban towards this already war zone territory. Regardless of state ideology,
population access to education or their basic rights is un compromisable.
Afghan women’s dreams are dying, and no ray of hope can be seen. They still are
surviving and fighting the fascist and inhumane Taliban. The international
community must encourage the Taliban regime to undo their decision. The
government of Pakistan can play its role in convincing Afghan Taliban to realize the
actual teaching of Islam and allow female education. The Islamic world should also
convince the Taliban that this decision is creating a bad image of Islam, and they
must follow the true spirit of Islam regarding the education of women.

TTP - Threat to Pakistan and Beyond | Daily
Times
Nawazish Ali
As Pakistan struggles with a major economic crisis and an ever-turbulent political

scene, the growing threat posed by Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is yet another
challenge for the stressed homeland. The latest suicidal attacks in Peshawar and
Karachi were the deadliest since Afghan Taliban took over Afghanistan. The lethality
and the ability of the attackers to penetrate deep inside security installations, the
most secure part of Karachi and Peshawar, imply that the TTP has re-constituted a
critical capability of urban terrorism, signifying the ascendant trajectory presenting
a major medium- to long-term challenge for Pakistan.
The TTP serves as a crucial case study due to its hidden roots with the Afghan
Taliban, Al-Qaeda, East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Islamic State
Khorasan Province (ISKP), and various other splinter groups of militant
organizations operating in Afghanistan and the Middle East North Africa (MENA).
Additionally, the TTP had aligned some of its objectives with the political goals of
certain Pakistani religio-political and ethnic parties, particularly a subset of Baloch
and Pashtun nationalists. In recent decades, these ethnic minorities have protested
allegedly discriminative and exploitative state policies of Pakistan. They are located
within the Pakistan tribal belt bordering Afghanistan and serve as a support base to
TTP.
The TTP’s escalating campaign of violence is a function of its growing political and
material strength. It reflects in its political cohesion, expanding cadre of trained
fighters, suicide bombers, and weapons/equipment. Much of the TTP’s political
leadership and capability is based in Afghanistan. However, in Pakistan, the TTP
has regained some territorial influence in southern districts of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, like South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Tank, Bannu and Lakki
Marwat.
The TTP has re-constituted a critical capability of urban terrorism.
In spite of the Taliban’s firm strategic calculus in favour of the TTP, Afghan
leadership appears to understand the importance of maintaining a functional
relationship with Pakistan or at least preventing tensions from deteriorating into a
full-scale conflict. The Afghan Taliban’s posture of moving forward appears like a
tug-of-war, alternating between moments of tension and de-escalation. There are
other foreign fighters in Afghanistan with varied regional agendas, who will find safe
havens in Pakistan should the TTP make a major territorial gain. This possibility is
real yet not imminent. If it was to materialise, it will raise the spectre of eroded
Pakistani security, broader regional instability, and migration concerns. The key
factor shaping the Pakistani response is the country’s deteriorating economy, which
is on the brink of a default limit.
All this said the TTP’s main concern remains the implementation of ‘sharia laws’ in
Pakistan based on its strict interpretation of Islam. The group says that it will not lay
down its arms until this goal is achieved. Thus, the likelihood of a quick peace deal
between the state and the TTP remains low; Pakistan cannot afford any political

settlement that comes at the cost of replacing a democratic system with strict
theocratic regulations. Yet, a political settlement remains the only option for both
sides given to geopolitical realities.
The current economic and political crisis in Pakistan necessitates that the
‘International players’ of GWOT need to interact with Pakistan about the essentials
to focus on and develop a clear counter-TTP strategy. Besides, the Government of
Pakistan should initiate a comprehensive blueprint that encompasses both military
and non-military measures to effectively counter the ensuing threat. The use of
military force should be limited to determined hotbeds of insurgency and operations
should be coordinated with other organs of the state in order to ensure an inclusive
approach against the TTP. The state should also invest in socio-economic and
education initiatives in the tribal areas and support programs that promote dialogue
and reconciliation among communities. But, the larger question will be how
Pakistan will handle the Afghan Taliban who provides a safe haven to the TTP.
Additionally, the Government of Pakistan should strengthen its international

alliances against the growing threat of religious extremism and terrorism,
coordinating efforts with the United Nations, the United States, and other key
international partners. Furthermore, domestic efforts should focus on improving
the security apparatus and ensuring effective enforcement of the rule of law. Lastly,
civil society organizations should be encouraged to contribute towards conflict
resolution and peace-building in the tribal belts. For this, the Government of
Pakistan should seek the support of its international allies, strengthen its security
apparatus, invest in developmental initiatives, and pursue efforts that promote
dialogue and reconciliation.
In conclusion, while military forces may succeed in limiting the activities of the TTP,
it is not a sustainable solution. A comprehensive package of both kinetic and non-
kinetic operations and measures is required to effectively counter this threat.
Pakistan sorely needs a new anti-terrorism policy that restricts the state institutions
from differentiating not only between “good” and “bad” Taliban but between “good”
and “bad” militants. In the past, several armed groups were given concessions by the
authorities hoping for such groups would help the government forces to fight the
anti-Pakistan militants. Not differentiating between such groups means Pakistan
will have to indiscriminately act against all those involved in violent acts and disarm
them without examining their loyalties.

Genderising Inflation: How Inflation effects
women |Daily Times
Noor Ali
Pakistan is facing a major inflation crisis. According to the latest report, the annual
inflation rate in Pakistan has risen to 24.5 per cent. Such a high level of inflation has
sent prices of goods and services soaring. And it is therefore urgent to counter this
cost-of-living crisis to protect people’s pockets.
Notably, the crisis affects women and girls disproportionately. Undoubtedly, men
and women face different levels of vulnerability to financial shocks. An area where
this becomes more pronounced is unpaid caring labour where women carry
unevenly more burden than men, with implications for growth. In many households
with limited income, the healthcare and education of male family members are
prioritized over female members.
Not only this, but inflation is also higher for products and services aimed at women,
who are less likely to have salaries that keep pace with inflation.
Similarly, the increase and intensification of unpaid household labour, in addition to

the continuous shrinking of public services provision in health, social care and
education, due to budget cuts, leads to higher intergenerational costs.
The increase and intensification of unpaid household labour, in addition to the

continuous shrinking of public services leads to higher intergenerational costs.
According to the report ILO, men generally work in greater numbers in industrial
sectors and financial business services, which tend to offer better compensation.
However, women are more likely to seek “vulnerable employment”, including work
in services, agriculture, textile etc. Given this structure, women find themselves
harder hit by the economic crisis, which can intensify their vulnerabilities.
Women, due to limited employment opportunities, are less likely to be hired, and
more likely to be fired as compared to men. Reports suggest that employers these
days are laying off women in disproportionate numbers.
Furthermore, the recent hike in petrol prices has created a major concern about its
impact on women. Keeping in view that for many people the main reason for driving
vehicles is to get to work, the lack of adequate resources and access to safe and
cheap transportation for women hinders their ability to actively contribute to the
country’s economy.
In a phallocentric society like ours, where men are assigned the role of primary
breadwinner, women seeking work opportunities find it extremely difficult to secure
jobs in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
While the Pakistani government is negotiating with IMF, ‘not so women friendly’
SAPs are expected to make an appearance quite soon, as in the past structural
adjustment has often led to spending cuts on important welfare and social
development programs specifically designed for women such as education and
health care.
Feminists, activists and academics have pointed out that these biases against certain
classes of women under SAPs have their roots in the effects of gender inequality in
society on dominant discourses in many disciplines, and economics is no exception.
Scholars and researchers argue that these prejudices against a certain class of
women in the SAPs become the cause of gender inequality in society in dominant
discourses in many fields, and economics is no exception.
At the same time, financial crises bring to a head the paradoxical position of women
within the household. With the growing expenses of education, girls belonging to
the middle and lower middle class are more likely to abandon their formal
education.
To conclude, it would appear that inflation has far more serious consequences on
women regardless of their socio-economic background. It is high time for those
sitting in the power corridors of the state to reconsider women’s legitimate place in
society while devising policies for the development of human resources, the
reconstruction of the education systems, and the eradication of poverty.


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Dawn

ICEP Institute • M. USMAN

ICEP CSS/PMS INSTITUTE LAHORE

1 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

Who is the Current caretaker Chief Minister of PUNJAB?

A. Chaudhry Parvez Elahi

Famous writer and poet Amjad Islam Amjad died on?

Lieutenant General (Retired) Nazir Ahmed Butt appointed as the

Which of the following is the special Pakistani envoy to Afghanistan who

The first ever woman to score a hundred for Pakistan in T20

Who is the Current IG of KPK police?

A. Mr. Akhtar Hayat Khan

2 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

A. Mr.Ashtar Ausaf Ali

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),

Actor, producer, director and TV broadcaster Zia Mohyeddin passed

A. 11th January 2023

Who is the Current Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Industries &

A. Sardar Muhammad Bux Mehar

PM Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated KANUP-3 on ____ in Karachi.

A. 1st February 2023

Pakistan ranked __ out of 180 in international transparency index

Who is the Current Minister of Sindh for Cooperation Department?

A. Jam Khan Shoro

3 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

A. Nasir Hussain Shah

Former President of Pakistan died in?

Former President General Retired Pervez Musharraf passed away in

General Pervez Musharraf died on?

When a special court handed Musharraf death sentence in the high

A. On January 17, 2019

Former president retired General Pervez Musharraf passed away on

A. 3 February 2023 | Hepatitis C | 85

4 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

__ has announced closing its services in Pakistan after two decades as

A. BBC Radio Urdu

Who is the Current Ambassador of Pakistan to France?

Who has been appointed as new Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign

Who is the current chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board?

Who is the Current Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission of

_____ has been appointed new chairman of Securities and Exchange

7th census in Pakistan is currently scheduled to be held from

A. 5th January 2023

5 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of

6 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

1. Misogynistic - displaying hatred or prejudice against women

1. Wax and waned - to increase and decrease in a regular cycle

1. Battle for gender equality - a struggle to achieve equal rights and

7 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

THE Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment has sought the land

8 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

1. Allegations - claims or accusations that someone has done something wrong or

9 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

Pakistan and the US are turning a new leaf in their counterterrorism

10 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

▪ turning a new leaf: starting a new chapter or beginning anew

11 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

WHEN one thinks of the people of Afghanistan, it is impossible not to

12 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)

1. Wax and wane - to increase and decrease in intensity or size

13 (ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)