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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
From Standoff to Setback: Modi's Policies and India's Diplomatic Challenges
Modi says water once flowing out of India will now be retained and used domestically for India's interests. PHOTO: FILE Post Pak-India clashes scenario has once again established the fact that non resolution of Kashmir, water and terrorism issues would continue to hinder peace in the South Asian Region. Besides reestablishing Pakistan's conventional deterrence Pak-India standoff helped in revival of the Kashmir issue on the international stage, which served as a blow to India's diplomatic standing. Narendra Modi's wrong policies have not only led to disappointment for India diplomatically, moreover, his policy of bilateralism on Kashmir has suffered a significant setback. The Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) in its report titled 'Sixteen hours that reshaped South Asia' has termed Modi's flawed policies the main reason of severe blow to India's interests since India's defeat in 1962 war against China. Human history is replete with wounds inflicted by humans on other humans, but it is also true that societies, as they traverse the stages of cultural evolution, gradually begin to shed their animalistic tendencies. However, our misfortune is that we have a nation living in our neighborhood that still adheres to the philosophy of Machiavellian deceit and barbarism, as embodied by its political deity Chanakya, and its foreign policy is founded on the same philosophy. However, there is another side to the picture. The law of nature dictates that anything built on deceitful thinking will eventually decline. Not long ago, India had complete influence over all the small countries in the region, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal, and its voice was paramount in these countries. But when India's true face was exposed, the world witnessed how India's puppet regime, in the form of Sheikh Hasina Wajed, met its ignominious end. To harm Pakistan's existence, India invested heavily in Afghanistan, establishing centers of terrorism and using its proxies to target CPEC, in an attempt to deprive the region of developmental progress. India is also working on a plan to eliminate China's presence in Pakistan and the Arabian Sea region. Despite India's continuous efforts to create differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan, recent diplomatic developments have strengthened ties between the two brotherly nations. China, emerging as a reliable regional partner, has further reinforced this trilateral alliance with a commitment to economic cooperation and mutual security. Afghanistan's formal inclusion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) marks a new era, which has thwarted India's destructive designs. India's fabricated narratives have failed to isolate Pakistan, which has consistently demonstrated responsibility, restraint, and patience, as evident in the recent India-Pakistan conflict. While India continues to engage in provocations, Pakistan has shown utmost responsibility. In contrast, the region, home to two billion people, might become a victim of Modi's political vendetta and obsession – this is not leadership but preparation for collective destruction.
Express Tribune
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'Sixteen hours' that reshaped South Asia
The Pakistan-China Institute (PCI), a leading Islamabad-based think tank, has released a detailed report on the 2025 Pakistan-India standoff, describing it as a turning point that reaffirmed Pakistan's strategic deterrence and exposed what it called a "monumental miscalculation" by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Titled "16 Hours that reshaped South Asia: How Modi's miscalculation led to Pakistan's primacy", the 25-page report was launched by PCI Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed. He described the confrontation as "India's most serious setback since Nehru's defeat in the 1962 war with China". The report analyses the regional implications of the conflict that followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, tracing events through to the eventual ceasefire. According to PCI, Pakistan's armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar, responded with flawless inter-service coordination and strategic clarity. Hussain praised the military's use of sophisticated technology, including electronic warfare tools, claiming Pakistan achieved cyber supremacy during the confrontation. He also highlighted the role of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), crediting their professionalism, training, and operational skill as vital to the successful response. Calling the episode "Pakistan's finest hour" since the 1998 nuclear testsduring which he served as Information MinisterSenator Hussain said the state exhibited "perfect planning, perfect coordination and perfect execution", further enhanced by deft diplomacy and effective media messaging. The report's cover, featuring images of JF-17 Thunder and J-10C fighter jets, symbolises Pakistan's advanced military capabilities. It also underlines China's pivotal support, noting that under President Xi Jinping, Beijing stood by Pakistan "like a solid rock". The United States also received praise. Hussain credited President Donald Trump with brokering the ceasefire and helping revive the Kashmir issue on the international stage, which the report described as a blow to India's diplomatic standing. The think tank recommends a comprehensive strategic approach based on three pillars: proactive regional diplomacy, "creative lawfare" on issues like the Indus Waters Treaty, and global narrative shaping through think tanks, media, and diplomatic engagement.
Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan hailed for military and diplomatic success in PCI report on 2025 conflict
Listen to article The Pakistan-China Institute (PCI), a leading Islamabad-based think tank, has released a detailed report on the 2025 Pakistan-India standoff, describing it as a turning point that reaffirmed Pakistan's strategic deterrence and exposed what it called a 'monumental miscalculation' by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Titled '16 Hours that reshaped South Asia: How Modi's miscalculation led to Pakistan's primacy', the 25-page report was launched by PCI Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed. He described the confrontation as 'India's most serious setback since Nehru's defeat in the 1962 war with China'. The report analyses the regional implications of the conflict that followed the April 22 terror attack in Pehelgam, tracing events through to the eventual ceasefire. According to PCI, Pakistan's armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar, responded with flawless inter-service coordination and strategic clarity. Hussain praised the military's use of sophisticated technology, including electronic warfare tools, claiming Pakistan achieved cyber supremacy during the confrontation. He also highlighted the role of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), crediting their professionalism, training, and operational skill as vital to the successful response. Calling the episode 'Pakistan's finest hour' since the 1998 nuclear tests—during which he served as Information Minister—Senator Hussain said the state exhibited 'perfect planning, perfect coordination and perfect execution', further enhanced by deft diplomacy and effective media messaging. The report's cover, featuring images of JF-17 Thunder and J-10C fighter jets, symbolises Pakistan's advanced military capabilities. It also underlines China's pivotal support, noting that under President Xi Jinping, Beijing stood by Pakistan 'like a solid rock'. The United States also received praise. Hussain credited former President Donald Trump with brokering the ceasefire and helping revive the Kashmir issue on the international stage, which the report described as a blow to India's diplomatic standing. According to PCI, the conflict produced three lasting strategic outcomes: Pakistan's restoration of deterrence, China's emergence as a de facto party to the Kashmir dispute, and the United States' role as a peace stabiliser in South Asia. The think tank recommends a comprehensive strategic approach based on three pillars: proactive regional diplomacy, 'creative lawfare' on issues like the Indus Waters Treaty, and global narrative shaping through think tanks, media, and diplomatic engagement. The report also draws historical parallels, comparing Modi's decision-making to other infamous strategic errors, including Hitler's 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union. Senator Hussain concluded with a warning: despite the absence of imminent war, India is still pursuing what PCI terms a '3-D strategy' — to demonise, damage, and destabilise Pakistan. He urged vigilance, national unity, and a healing of political divisions to counter these threats and preserve the morale and cohesion demonstrated during the conflict. 'This episode has strengthened national self-confidence and revived public pride in the future of Pakistan,' he said. The report includes a detailed timeline of events, international reactions, and assessments of how coordinated responses and popular support contributed to Pakistan's strategic success.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pakistan, Afghanistan move towards ‘restoring ties' in talks with China
Islamabad, Pakistan – As Pakistan remained embroiled in a war of words with its archrival India – following a dramatic exchange of missiles and drones nearly two weeks ago – it this week advanced diplomatic efforts with two other neighbors: China and Afghanistan, which could lead to the formal resumption of diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Kabul after nearly four years. In an 'informal' trilateral meeting held in Beijing on May 21, the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan convened under a forum first launched in 2017, and which last met in May 2023. This time, a key outcome from the meeting, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was a renewed willingness by both Pakistan and Afghanistan to restore diplomatic relations after heightened tensions in recent years. 'Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed clear willingness to elevate diplomatic relations and agreed in principle to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible. China welcomed this and will continue to provideassistance for the improvement of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations,' Wang said. He added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – a $62bn mega project under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – will now be extended into Afghanistan. A Pakistani diplomat with direct knowledge of the talks told Al Jazeera that the next round of the trilateral meetings will be held 'very soon', within a few weeks, to build on the momentum from the Beijing conclave. 'I am reasonably optimistic about the outcomes. It was a great confidence- and trust-building exercise between the three countries,' said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity about the Beijing meeting. The meeting came after a four-day standoff between Pakistan and India, with both countries claiming 'victory' and launching diplomatic offensives to assert dominance. The conflict, from May 7 to May 10, followed Indian strikes on what it called 'terrorist infrastructure' in Pakistan, in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month that left 26 civilians dead. India blamed the attack on Pakistan-based armed groups, an allegation Islamabad denies. While China urged restraint on both sides, its support for Pakistan was evident on the front lines of the conflict, with the Pakistani military using Chinese fighter jets, missiles, and air defence systems. On the other hand, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on May 15 that he appreciated Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's 'condemnation' of the Pahalgam attack, in a conversation between the two. Indian media also reported a visit to New Delhi by senior Taliban figure and deputy interior minister, Ibrahim Sadr, in early May. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, executive director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan-China Institute, called the Beijing meeting 'very significant', given Afghanistan's geopolitical sensitivity. For Pakistan and China, the 'conflict with India has reinforced strategic clarity' on the need to work closely with Afghanistan, Sayed said. Kabul-based political analyst Tameem Bahiss agreed. 'This [the call between Muttaqi and Jaishankar] signals a major shift in India-Afghanistan relations, one that could raise concerns in Islamabad amid an already volatile regional climate,' he said. 'The timing of this trilateral meeting, not just its content, reflects an urgent need for coordination among these three countries as new geopolitical dynamics take shape in South and Central Asia.' When the Afghan Taliban returned to power in August 2021, many saw it as a win for Pakistan, given its historical ties to the group. From 1996 through 2021, Pakistan was one of the Taliban's key allies. India, meanwhile, viewed the Taliban as a proxy of Pakistan's intelligence agencies and refused to engage with it. However, relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have deteriorated. Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to launch attacks across the border, an allegation the Taliban vehemently deny. The TTP, formed in 2007, shares ideological roots with the Afghan Taliban but operates independently. According to the Pak Institute for Peace Studies, Pakistan suffered 521 attacks in 2024 – a 70 percent increase from the previous year – resulting in nearly 1,000 civilian and security personnel deaths. But in a trip that was seen as a potential breakthrough in strained ties, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul on April 19, just days before the Pahalgam attack. Ihsanullah Tipu, an Islamabad-based security analyst, says Pakistan's renewed diplomatic outreach to Afghanistan prioritises key concerns, with security taking precedence over trade, border disputes, and border closures, a sentiment he said China also shares. 'To foster meaningful trade ties, Pakistan's security concerns must be addressed first,' Tipu told Al Jazeera, warning that failure to do so could escalate tensions to armed conflict. 'But given China's global influence and close ties with both Pakistan and Afghanistan, Beijing can play a pivotal role as a guarantor of any commitments made,' added Tipu, who co-founded the security research portal The Khorasan Diary. While Pakistan continues to accuse the Afghan Taliban of harbouring fighters who attack targets in Pakistan, many of these assaults have been directed at Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects. Pakistani government figures estimate that about 20,000 Chinese nationals live in the country. At least 20 have been killed in attacks since 2021 in provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Groups including the TTP have claimed responsibility. China has also expressed concern over the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), alleging that its fighters use Afghan territory to stage attacks against China. Sayed of PCI stressed that both Pakistan and China see security as their 'core interest' in Afghanistan. 'This is a shared threat, and in the past the ETIM has also had a significance presence in Afghanistan. And these militant networks are connected with each other as well. So that is a pre-requisite for any cooperation to move forward, to first neutralise these terrorist outfits, which seem to be operating freely and comfortably in Afghanistan,' he said. However, Bahiss noted that since the Taliban's return to power, most regional countries, including China, have found the security situation inside Afghanistan acceptable, enabling ongoing economic engagement. 'The key exception is Pakistan, which continues to face serious threats from Afghan soil. While Pakistan prioritises eliminating or containing the TTP, Kabul is focused on trade, transit, and regional integration,' he said. This is where China's pivotal role could come into the picture, the Kabul-based analyst said, adding that the country is uniquely positioned to mediate by encouraging security cooperation while also advancing trade and transit initiatives that benefit all three countries. During the civilian governments in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, India and Afghanistan developed close ties, despite several attacks on Indian diplomatic missions by the Taliban and its allies. In recent months, there has been increased interaction between officials from New Delhi and Kabul, including the recent Jaishankar-Muttaqi conversation. Does this warming of ties raise alarm in Islamabad? Sayed doesn't think so. 'Pakistan doesn't mistrust Kabul. But Pakistan has asked for action. The rulers there need to walk the talk regarding TTP and other terrorist outfits. I don't think either Beijing or Islamabad opposes Kabul having positive relations with India, as long as it doesn't compromise the interests of Pakistan and China,' he said. However, Bahis said New Delhi's rapprochement with the Taliban could lead to worries in Pakistan and China, both of which have historically had tense ties with India. 'While recent India-Afghanistan contacts are still in early stages, their timing may raise concerns in Islamabad,' he said. 'Afghanistan has the sovereign right to engage with any country, including India. But it must tread carefully. Clear messaging is essential to ensure that its growing ties with New Delhi aren't misinterpreted as threats by other regional players,' Bahiss said. 'Balancing these complex relationships will require diplomacy, transparency, and mutual respect.'
Express Tribune
19-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
'Gwadar to become heart of regional trade'
President Asif Ali Zardari smiles for a group photo at the conclusion of an international conference in Islamabad. PHOTO: EXPRESS President Asif Ali Zardari has said Pakistan is exploring options to bring water from Tajikistan to Balochistan and the feasibility study in this regard has already been completed with the support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government. "Gwadar is no longer a promiseit is a reality, and the port city is set to become the beating heart of regional trade, investment, and logistics," the president said on Tuesday in his keynote address at the International Conference on "Regional Connectivity & Pakistan: Emerging Opportunities". The conference was organized by Pakistan-China Institute (PCI), a think tank that brought together high-level government officials, diplomats, business leaders, and experts to discuss Pakistan's pivotal role in fostering regional connectivity, trade expansion, and investment opportunities. The conference, structured into three sessions, provided a platform for open discussions reaffirming Pakistan's strategic importance in linking South Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf, and China. President Zardari also reaffirmed Pakistan's "unwavering commitment" to regional connectivity and has outlined a three-pronged vision that includes transforming landlocked Central Asian nations into land-linked economies through Balochistan's Gwadar port. Explaining the other two parts of the three-pronged vision, Zardari said the country wants to position itself as a strategic trade bridge between East and West, and to leverage Pakistan's deep-sea portsGwadar, Karachi, and Port Qasimto propel the blue economy and maritime trade. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, chairman of the PCI, underscored Pakistan's pivotal role as a regional connectivity hub, linking South Asia, China, Central Asia, and the Gulf. He highlighted the success of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has attracted $26 billion in investments, transforming Pakistan's economic landscape while positioning Gwadar Port and the newly developed Gwadar International Airport as key regional transit hubs.
