India
Pakistan relations seem to be frozen and there seems to be little hope that
these will normalise very soon. This, however, is not exactly correct, as there
is ongoing movement in these apparently frozen relations. This page will
document these changes on a monthly basis. Recent happenings (air strikes, Pulwama attack, downing of Indian planes etc.)are a setback, but nevertheless there is still some movement towards normalisation .
India
Pakistan Relations: July,
2019
Introduction
The apparently frozen India Pakistan relations are
evolving. Pakistan Army /government have made various statements to the effect
that they would like to normalize these relations. The Army seeks normalization
to result in stop to unconstrained Indian firing over the Line of Control..
Better than words, actions by the Army and government have very clearly
exhibited the keen desire of Pakistan to achieve normal relations with India.
India has expressed no desire for sub normalization, but there are
undercurrents that suggest otherwise. There is also this inference that I draw
for Pakistan Army actions and statements that they The Pakistan Army is engaged
in Track two diplomacy, with India, on Kashmir and normalization of relations.
1.
Sialkot guradwara:
July, 1, 2019: A gurdwara dating back 500 years in Sialkot
has now been opened for Sikh pilgrims coming in from India. Pilgrims from the
neighbouring country and from abroad can
now flock to perform their religious obligations at Gurdwara
Babe-de-Ber. According to the Sikh tradition, when Guru Nanak
arrived in Sialkot from Kashmir in the 16th century, he stayed under the tree
of Beri. Sardar Natha Singh then built a gurdwara in his
remembrance at the site.
2.
Kartarpur opening; July, 2,
2019:
Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor project on the
550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in the last week of November, at a
ceremony which could be attended by his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Both the countries have had a
high-level communication in this regard. According to the Prime Minister House
sources, Prime Minister Modi is also expected to show up at the inauguration
ceremony
3.
Hafiz Saeed booked: July, 4,2019: The
Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab on Wednesday in a major crackdown
against terror financing registered 23 cases against Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief
Hafiz Saeed and 12 aides for using five trusts to “funnel funds to terror
suspects”. The CTD said it had registered cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act in
Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan against the leadership of banned outfits JuD,
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF). They will be
prosecuted in anti-terrorism courts.
They were raising funds for terror financing using five trusts — Dawatul
Irshad Trust, Moaz Bin Jabal Trust, Al Anfaal Trust, Al Madina Foundation Trust
and Alhamd Trust. Those booked include Saeed’s brother-in-law Abdul Rehman
Makki, Ameer Hamza, Yahya Aziz. MaliK Zafar Iqbal, Muhammad Naeem, Mohsin
Bilal, Abdul Raqeeb, Dr Ahmad Daud, Dr Muhammad Ayub, Abdullah Ubaid, Muhammad
Ali and Abdul Ghaffar. “All the assets of these organizations and individuals
will be frozen and taken over by the state,” said a counter-terrorism senior
official. They are accused of “promoting terrorism and rising funds to
facilitate terror activities”. These proscribed outfits were operating under
the guise of charities and raiding funds for terror financing, the CTD
said.
4.
Track II talks: Jan 25, 2019:
The sixth round of Track-II dialogue between Pakistan and India will begin in
Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday with the main focus on the issues related to
nuclear safety and security in the region. The talks are being
arranged jointly by a newly formed think-tank Jinnah Institute Pakistan (JIP)
and Institute of Peace and Security, India. Talking to Dawn on Tuesday, JIP
president and a Pakistan People's Party MNA Sherry Rehman, who will lead the
Pakistan delegation, said the agenda of the talks included resumption of
dialogue between India and Pakistan at the official level and preparation of a
roadmap for sustainable peace between the two South Asian neighbours. She said
leading experts and retired military and Foreign Service officials from both
the sides would focus on the positions of the two countries on issues such as
nuclear safety and security, stability and crisis management, arms control and
disarmament, nuclear risk reduction measures and possible avenues of
cooperation. Former high commissioner to India Aziz Ahmed Khan, former army
chief Gen (retd) Jahangir Karamat, TV anchor Nasim Zehra, Dr Rifaat Hussain,
professor and chair, Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam
University, former foreign secretaries Humayun Khan and Najmuddin Khan, former
DG Air Force Strategic Command AVM (retd) Shehzad Chaudhry and Sehar Tariq of
the JIP will also represent Pakistan at the dialogue. The Indian side, led by
Gen (retd) Dipankar Banerjee, a retired army man and an eminent defence,
foreign policy and strategic expert, includes Prof Amitabh Mattoo of Jawaharlal
Nehru University, former director Research and Analysis Wing A. S. Daulat, Net
Assessment and Simulation, National Security Council chairman Admiral (retd)
Raja Menon, former high commissioner to Pakistan G. Parthasarthy and Siddharth
Vardarajan, strategic affairs editor of The Hindu. Ms Rehman said it was a
comprehensive dialogue process. She agreed that there had been some changes in
the both sides, but the two countries brought core groups of experts that
ensured continuity and some level of trust. .
5. Kartarpur: July, 15,2019:
India on Sunday mounted pressure on Pakistan to act against New
York-based 'Sikhs for Justice', which the Government of India has outlawed, and
linked it to further progress in Kartarpur Corridor talks even as Islamabad has
done a damage control exercise and ejected Khalistani separatist leader Gopal
Singh Chawla from its official panel. After the crucial second round of talks
held at Wagah on Pakistani side of the international border near here, SCL Das,
the leader of Indian delegation and a joint secretary in Ministry of Home
Affairs, told reporters here that Pakistani delegation has been conveyed
"in very emphatic terms" about all concerns on security related
matters. "Pakistan side assured our delegation that no anti-India activity
would be allowed," an MEA statement said giving details of the parleys on
the modalities for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at Wagah.
".....they will act on it...," Mr Das said to a question at the media
briefing on whether India trusts Pakistan on these assurances. "About
security concerns, we have said earlier also and now I am repeating, it is a
matter of paramount concern...There is no possibility of any let up from either
side. . Indian side handed over a
dossier on security matters and a gazette notification copy of July 10 ban
imposed on 'Sikhs for Justice' by the central government. "On July 10, centre
took a firm stand in pursuance of its 'zero tolerance' against terror and
banned New York-based SFJ. "We have
reports that the SFJ operates in Pakistan and especially in parts of Punjab in
that country itself". "....We will definitely keep things under close
watch and we will follow up on whatever we have said today. There is no let up
in this....we will keep a very close watch on how things evolve," he said.
Pak on back foot: For its part, Pakistan though put on back foot vis-a-vis Khalistani Gopal Singh Chawla issue remained
optimistic and termed Sunday's talks as "positive developments". The
Kartarpur corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur with Dera
Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district and is aimed at ensuring a visa-free
movement of pilgrims to pay homage at the Kartarpur Sahib, which was set up in
1522. The first Sikh guru and the faith founder Guru Nanak Dev spent his last
days there. "There are positive developments. Both sides have agreed 80
per cent and beyond regarding the Kartarpur corridor agreement," said Pakistani
Foreign Office spokesman and DG South Asia Mohammad Faisal. "This is a
corridor of peace and we have planted a sapling of peace," he said. Faisal
also tweeted a snap of him planting a sapling. The first round of talks was
held in Attari on March 14 despite the Pulwama terror at The second round of
talks, which were originally scheduled on April 2, was cancelled by India after
Pakistan nominated Khalistani separatist like Gopal Singh Chawla in a 10-member
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee (PSGPC). Pakistan on Saturday
dropped Chawla from its official panel on the corridor. The removal of Chawla
is seen as 'a damage control' exercise by the Imran Khan regime which has
agreed for Kartarpur Corridor in November 2018. Kartarpur Sahib is located in
Pakistan's Narowal district across the river Ravi. At the Sunday's talks, the
Pakistan delegation assured India that among other things that they will 'act'
on the dossier. "We have given them detailed information and we have
sought confirmation that individuals like Gopal Chawla have indeed been removed
bodies where we have objections to," said Das, the leader of the Indian
delegation. Mr Das said Pakistan delegation assured that they will take note of
the material provided and dossier and including the gazette notification on New
Delhi imposing ban on SJF on July 10.
6.
Pakistan opens airspace:
July, 16, 2019: Pakistan's airspace has been reopened to civil
aviation with immediate effect, the Civil Aviation Authority said on Tuesday,
following months of restrictions imposed in the wake of a standoff with India
earlier this year."With
immediate effect Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civil traffic on
published ATS (Air Traffic Service) routes," according to a notice to
airmen (NOTAMS) published on the authority’s
website.
7. Sikh pilgrims: July, 31, 2019: As
many as 500 Sikh pilgrims crossed over to Pakistan from India through the Wagah
border to visit Nankana Sahib to open the celebrations of the upcoming 550th
birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in November. `Pakistan feels honoured that
celebrations of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak by Indian Sikhs
are being started from Nankana Sahib. The Government of Pakistan is taking a
number of important initiatives including opening of the Kartarpur Corridor to
make the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak memorable and historic,` it
said. `But there will be no Nagar Kirtan (a religious procession) in Nankana,
as it should begin on the Indian soil and end here since Pakistan is the
birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak Dev,` he added.` Pakistan has issued a No
Objection Certificate (NOC) to Sardar Parmjeet Sarna to start Nagar Kirtan from
India and bring it here with 1,000 to 1,500 pilgrims,` a senior official,
requesting anonymity, explained.
8.
India
Pakistan Relations: June,
2019
Introduction
The apparently frozen India Pakistan relations are
evolving. Pakistan Army /government have made various statements to the effect
that they would like to normalize these relations. The Army seeks normalization
to result in stop to unconstrained Indian firing over the Line of Control..
Better than words, actions by the Army and government have very clearly
exhibited the keen desire of Pakistan to achieve normal relations with India.
India has expressed no desire for sub normalization, but there are
undercurrents that suggest otherwise. There is also this inference that I draw
for Pakistan Army actions and statements that they The Pakistan Army is engaged
in Track two diplomacy, with India, on Kashmir and normalization of relations.
1.
1. Pakistan allows Modi to fly over its airspace:
June, 11,2019:
Pakistan on June 10 decided in principle to let Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
aircraft fly over its airspace to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan where he has to attend
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on June 13-14, where his
Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan would also be present. Pakistan had fully
closed its airspace on February 26 after an Indian Air Force (IAF) strike in
Balakot. Since then, it has only opened two routes; both of them pass through
southern Pakistan, of the total 11. The official confirmed to PTI that the
Imran Khan government has approved in principle the Indian government’s request
to let Mr. Modi’s aircraft fly over the Pakistani airspace to Bishkek. “
2.
Modi replies to
Imran’s letter: June, 20.2019: there is a clear
reiteration in the letter for Pakistan to create a "conducive"
environment "free of terror". While there were mentions of ridding
the region of terrorism, no specific resumption of dialogue was mentioned in
the letters of PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar. The letter said, "India wants
good relations with all of its neighboring countries", emphasizing on the
fact that India wants "peace and stability" in order for the region
to progress.
3. 5>.India conditionally relaxes airway use: June 1, 2019: IAF, in a tweet, said temporary restrictions
on all air routes in the Indian airspace, imposed by the IAF on February 27,
2019 have been removed This, say highly placed sources, is India's gesture to
Pakistan to open up its airspace for overflying reciprocally and shorten flying
distance between parts of South Asia and the west. In one of the first moves
after assuming office, the Modi-II government has removed all temporary
restrictions in Indian air space. This essentially, say highly placed sources,
is India's gesture to Pakistan to open up its airspace for overflying
reciprocally and shorten flying distance between parts of South Asia, including
Delhi, and the west. Since February 27, flights on these sectors are taking
longer routes leading to an increase in flying time by up to three hours. Asked
if the IAF tweet means a Pakistan International Airline flight from Lahore to
Kathmandu can now overfly Indian airspace, the official said, "Technically
yes. But these
are matters of mutual agreement. We have indicated that India is okay with
these flights, but for that to happen, Pakistan also has to open its airspace
for airlines of other countries including India to overfly." Pakistan,
4.
46>.Post elections: June, 1, 2019: The
BJP was rewarded for adopting a muscular, nationalist posture in its election
campaign. But avoiding diplomacy and other engagement, especially with a
neighbor like Pakistan, is not in India’s interest. It cannot hope to achieve
its economic ambitions if it still has a festering conflict with Pakistan.
That’s why Modi, with a huge mandate from his reelection, should pursue informal backchannel talks with Pakistan, aiming to secure some guarantees from Islamabad about
border issues and other tensions, before hopefully moving on to more formal
talks. Modi treated Pakistan as an enemy to get reelected; now he must quietly
try and find a way to improve ties.
5. 7..UNSC seat: June, 28, 2019: Fifty-five countries of the Asia-Pacific group, including Pakistan, ha Uve unanimously endorsed India’s candidature
for a non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a
two-year term . Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, UAE and Vietnam were among the countries
which supported India.
6. UNSC seat: June, 28, 2019: Fifty-five
countries of the Asia-Pacific group, including Pakistan, have
unanimously endorsed India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat of the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a two-year term . Afghanistan, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives,
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, UAE
and Vietnam were among the countries which supported India.
7. Kartarpur : June,30,2019:
Indian government has written to
Pakistan, proposing the next round of talks to be held from July 11 to 14 on
the Pakistani side of the Attari-Wagah border.“The meeting would discuss the
draft agreement on the modalities for movement of pilgrims along the Kartarpur
corridor and resolve outstanding technical issues related to alignment and
infrastructure along the corridor,” an official source said. “We will continue to work for early
operationalisation of the Kartarpur Corridor and keeping it functional all year
round,” Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said on June 20. However, talks had
been put off as India had sought “clarifications” on several issues including
whether to build a bridge or a causeway over the Ravi, proposed caps on pilgrim
numbers, and the presence of Khalistani separatists in key posts of the
gurdwara committee in Pakistan. Asked if the new Indian proposal for dates
meant that the issues had now been resolved, a source said that the move “shows
India’s commitment to the corridor”.
India
Pakistan Relations: May,
2019
Introduction
The apparently frozen India Pakistan relations are
evolving. Pakistan Army /government have made various statements to the effect
that they would like to normalize these relations. The Army seeks normalization
to result in stop to unconstrained Indian firing over the Line of Control..
Better than words, actions by the Army and government have very clearly
exhibited the keen desire of Pakistan to achieve normal relations with India.
India has expressed no desire for sub normalization, but there are
undercurrents that suggest otherwise. There is also this inference that I draw
for Pakistan Army actions and statements that they The Pakistan Army is engaged
in Track two diplomacy, with India, on Kashmir and normalization of relations.
1. Masud Azher : May.,2, 2019: Designation of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief
Masood Azhar as 'global terrorist ..Is Pakistan helping BJP to come to power?
The timing of this decision is intriguing, in the mid of Indian elections, this
coupled by Pakistani PMs remarks that Modi’s victory could assist in progress
in India Pakistan affairs and in resolution of the Kashmir dispute .
2.
Cross border shelling: May, 12, 2019: Islamabad has approached New Delhi suggesting
that both stop using artillery in the contested Kashmir region. Pakistan has
also vowed to remove Special Forces from the area. The Pakistani army had made
the peace offer using existing military-to-military channels An Indian defense
official said there were over 100 instances when shelling was recorded in the
troubled state of Kashmir, but now the use of artillery “has considerably
reduced.” Moratorium aside, Pakistan’s military ordered its Special Service
Group (SSG) – an analogue of the American Green Berets – to withdraw from the
Indian border. Islamabad seems to be willing to defuse tensions around Kashmir,
Indian officials believe. “These are clear on-ground signals from Pakistan
for de-escalation,”
3.
LoC cross border firing; May, 15, 2019: The
Indian army has requested Pakistan to stop the use of artillery fire after it
suffered heavy losses in the recent military standoff between the two
nuclear-armed neighbors. It indicates that the channel of communications that
were suspended during the military standoff in February may have
4.
Prisoner’s
release: May, 15, 2019: In response to Pakistan’s goodwill
gesture of releasing Indian prisoners, New Delhi on Tuesday released 13
Pakistani inmates who completed their jail terms. The released prisoners, which
included four fishermen who illegally entered Indian waters, were handed over
to Pakistani authorities at the Wagah Border. Meanwhile, at least three of the
prisoners released were detained in India for overstaying their visas. In
April, Pakistan had released over 360
Indian fishermen in a bid to improve relations with its arch-rival.
5.
Melting ice: May. 23, 2019: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Indian counterpart Sushma
Swaraj held an informal dialogue on the sideline of Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday. "We made it clear to her that we want
all the matters resolved through dialogue. Even today we are ready for a
dialogue," he added.
6. Flight allowed to use Pak airspace: May, 27, 2019: Islamabad made a
rare exception for External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to fly directly
through Pakistani airspace to attend the SCO meet in Bishkek last week,
officials in Delhi and Islamabad confirmed to The Hindu. “The Indian government
had requested us to allow Ms. Swaraj to fly over Pakistan to avoid the longer
route, and we gave them permission,” said Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry
spokesperson. Government sources in Delhi confirmed the development. “The
overflight permission was granted by Pakistan based on route permission filed
by relevant [Indian] authorities. External Affairs Minister’s flight to Bishkek
was over Pakistani airspace both ways,” a source said.
7.
Modi congratulated : May, 27 ,2019: PM on Sunday spoke to his Indian counterpart
Narendra Modi to congratulate him and his party over the victory in the recent
parliamentary elections, reiterating his vision for peace and prosperity in
South Asia. The exchange of pleasantries between the two leaders is seen as
sign of easing of tensions between the two neighbors. Sunday’s contact between
PM Imran and his Indian counterpart was the first since the two nuclear armed
neighbors were on the brink of a war in February following the Pulwama attack.
India grant
over flight : May 29, 2019: India
granted permission for Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s
aircraft to fly over the country for his visit to Male and Colombo, a gesture
that would be reciprocated by Pakistan for External Affairs Minister
Sushma Swaraj a fortnight later, despite a ban by Pakistan on the use of its airspace for
flights approaching from its eastern side after traversing India. Both the
Indian and the Pakistani officials have confirmed that Pakistan requested for a
passage for Mr. Qureshi’s flight to Male on May 2 and for his return flight
from Colombo on May 4. Mr. Qureshi, however, cancelled the trip following the
bomb attacks in Sri Lanka.
8. India conditionally relaxes airway use: June, 2019: IAF, in a tweet, said temporary restrictions
on all air routes in the Indian airspace, imposed by the IAF on February 27,
2019 have been removed This, say highly placed sources, is India's gesture to
Pakistan to open up its airspace for overflying reciprocally and shorten flying
distance between parts of South Asia and the west. In one of the first moves
after assuming office, the Modi-II government has removed all temporary
restrictions in Indian air space. This essentially, say highly placed sources,
is India's gesture to Pakistan to open up its airspace for overflying
reciprocally and shorten flying distance between parts of South Asia, including
Delhi, and the west. Since February 27, flights on these sectors are taking
longer routes leading to an increase in flying time by up to three hours. Asked
if the IAF tweet means a Pakistan International Airline flight from Lahore to
Kathmandu can now overfly Indian airspace, the official said, "Technically
yes. But these
are matters of mutual agreement. We have indicated that India is okay with
these flights, but for that to happen, Pakistan also has to open its airspace
for airlines of other countries including India to overfly." Pakistan,
9. Post elections: June, 1, 2019: The
BJP was rewarded for adopting a muscular, nationalist posture in its election
campaign. But avoiding diplomacy and other engagement, especially with a
neighbor like Pakistan, is not in India’s interest. It cannot hope to achieve
its economic ambitions if it still has a festering conflict with Pakistan.
That’s why Modi, with a huge mandate from his reelection, should pursue informal back channel talks with Pakistan, aiming to secure some guarantees from Islamabad about
border issues and other tensions, before hopefully moving on to more formal
talks. Modi treated Pakistan as an enemy to get reelected; now he must quietly
try and find a way to improve ties.
India
Pakistan Relations: April,
2019
Introduction
The apparently frozen India Pakistan relations are
evolving. Pakistan Army /government have made various statements to the effect
that they would like to normalize these relations. The Army seeks normalization
to result in stop to unconstrained Indian firing over the Line of Control..
Better than words, actions by the Army and government have very clearly
exhibited the keen desire of Pakistan to achieve normal relations with India.
India has expressed no desire for sub normalization, but there are
undercurrents that suggest otherwise. There is also this inference that I draw
for Pakistan Army actions and statements that they The Pakistan Army is engaged
in Track two diplomacy, with India, on Kashmir and normalization of relations.
1. Talks with India:
Apr., 4, 2019:
Islamabad has urged Washington to play a greater role in resumption of dialogue
process with New Delhi, even as the Indian army increases ceasefire violations
along the Line of Control (LoC) He also urged the US to play its role for
resumption of dialogue between Pakistan and India to find solutions to all
outstanding disputes
2. India releases
Pakistani prisoners: Apr.,
2019: India released two Pakistani prisoners
from their jail on Thursday, while Pakistan also committed to release at least
300 Indian fishermen from its jails this month. India’s Border Security Force
(BSF) handed over the two Pakistani citizens— Mohammad Shafiq and Mohammad
Hanif— to Wagah border officials today. Both the men had served their sentence
and the Pakistani high commissioner played a pivotal role in securing their
release. According to details Shafiq was
a resident of Bahwalnagar while Hanif hailed from Karachi. Diplomatic sources
said that Pakistan will release Indian fishermen in two phases starting with
100 men on April 7, followed by the remaining 200 in the next few days.
Pakistan and India exchange a list of prisoners every year on January 1, as per
a mutual decision was taken on May 21;
2008.According to the list this year, various jails in India had 347 Pakistani
prisoners while Pakistan had 537 Indian prisoners in jail. It is pertinent to note that Pakistan released 102
prisoners in February this year as well.
3.
Release of Indian prisoners: Apr., 6, 2019: Pakistan will be releasing 360 Indian prisoners over the month of
April, a process which will be carried out in four phases. Providing details
regarding the release, the spokesperson said that currently there are 347
Pakistani prisoners in India and 537 Indian prisoners in Pakistan. Pakistan
shall be releasing 360 Indian prisoners, of which 355 are fishermen and 5 are
civilians. According to Dr Faisal, in the first phase on April 8, 100 prisoners
shall be released. In the second phase on April 5, another 100 shall be
released. In the third phase on April 22, yet another 100 shall be released. In
the fourth and last phase on April 29, the remaining 60 prisoners shall be
released.
4. Fishermen released: Apr., 8, 2019:
Pakistan on Sunday released 100 imprisoned Indian fishermen as part of a
goodwill gesture that would see the phase-wise release of 260 more Indian
nationals in the month of April .The fishermen were arrested over previous
years for trespassing into Pakistani waters and violating international
maritime limits. The released prisoners were taken to the Karachi Cantonment
Railway Station under tight security, where they boarded the Allama Iqbal
Express for Lahore. “The prisoners will be released in four batches, scheduled
as 100 each on April 8, April 15 and April 29 while 60 prisoners, including 55
fishermen and five civilians, will be freed on April 29,”
5. Khalistan: Apr., 15, 2019: SFJ legal
adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun claimed that authorities in Pakistan had
stopped the group's activists from putting up posters and banners of the
Khalistan referendum campaign at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hassan Abdal at the behest of the Narendra
Modi government
6.
Karturpur: Apr., 17, 2019: India has offered to
construct a 100km-long bridge from Dera Baba Nanak, an Indian town, to the
Pakistan-India border to facilitate Sikh pilgrims travelling to Gurdwara Darbar
Sahib in Kartarpur .Pakistani
and Indian experts met at the border on Tuesday for the second round of
technical talks on the Kartarpur Corridor. The Pakistani delegation comprised representatives of the
foreign ministry and senior officers of the Frontier Works Organisation.
According to diplomatic
sources, India made the offer because travellers faced difficulties during the
monsoon season. Fifty per cent of the four-kilometre stretch
of the corridor being built by Pakistan has been completed while the stretch
between Zero Line to Baba Nanak’s shrine is being built by India. India is
building a passenger terminal at Zero Line at an estimated cost of Rs1.9
billion.
7.
India
Pakistan Relations: March,
2019
Introduction
The apparently frozen India Pakistan relations are
evolving. Pakistan Army /government have made various statements to the effect
that they would like to normalize these relations. The Army seeks normalization
to result in stop to unconstrained Indian firing over the Line of Control..
Better than words, actions by the Army and government have very clearly
exhibited the keen desire of Pakistan to achieve normal relations with India.
India has expressed no desire for sub normalization, but there are
undercurrents that suggest otherwise. There is also this inference that I draw
for Pakistan Army actions and statements that they The Pakistan Army is engaged
in Track two diplomacy, with India, on Kashmir and normalization of relations.
1.
Banned
Organizations: Mar., 5, 2019: Pakistan has taken a firm decision that there would
be a stern action against all militant groups. This is in accordance with the
political consensus contained in the National Action Plan (NAP). The National
Security Committee had in its Feb 21 meeting `decided to accelerate action
against proscribed organizations’ and ordered re-imposition of ban on JuD and
FIF.
2.
Barter trade resumes;
Mar.,6,2019:
India and Pakistan resumed barter trade at a border crossing in Kashmir on
Tuesday Trade across the border, known as the
Line of Control (LoC), was part-suspended after repeated mortar and small arms
fire at Uri, a border town where the exchange of goods takes place. But on
Tuesday the route re-opened after firing in the region eased Thirty-five trucks
left for Chakothi on the Pakistani side of the border with a similar number
moving in the opposite direction. Trade across the LoC operates on a barter
system, where no money is exchanged. .“I
send cumin and chilli seeds to Pakistan and in return order prayer mats and
cloth,” he said. “If there is any difference, it is adjusted in the next
consignment. It is all trust-based trade but it is working.”Indian traders
export cumin, chilli pepper, cloth, cardamom, bananas, pomegranate, grapes and
almonds. Prayer mats, carpets, cloth, oranges, mangoes and herbs return from
the Pakistani side.
3. Signs of a Thaw: Mar., 6, 2019:
In a first sign of de-escalation in tensions, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to
India Sohail Mahmood, is returning to New Delhi while the talks on Kartarpur
Corridor would also go ahead as planned. Pakistani delegation would visit New
Delhi on March 14 as planned for talks to finalise the modalities for the
Kartarpur Corridor. Indian team would then pay a return visit to Islamabad on
March 28. Another significant move taken by Pakistan was to inform the Indian
side of its commitment of “continued weekly contact at the military operations
directorates’ level.” The Pakistan and Indian militaries have a hotline through
which the military operations directorates of the two neighbours interact with
each other on a weekly basis.Pakistan told reporters that 44 suspects were
taken into custody. Among those who were detained include Hammad Azhar, the son
of Maulana Masood Azhar and Mufti Abdur Rauf, the brother of head of banned
Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM).These two individuals were also named in the dossier
India had recently shared with Pakistan regarding the Pulwama attack.
4.
Banned
organizations: Mar., 6, 2019: Pakistan's
Interior Ministry says authorities have arrested dozens of suspects, including
the brother of the leader of the outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammad group that India has
blamed for the Feb. 14 suicide bombing in Indian Kashmir that killed 40
troops. 44 suspects were arrested,
including prominent members of the outlawed militant group. Among those
arrested was Mufti Abdul Rauf, the brother of the group's leader, Masood Azhar.
The brother was among suspects listed in a file on the February bombing that
India gave to Pakistan over the weekend. Kashmir is split between Pakistan and
India and is claimed by both in its entirety.
5.
Kartarpur Opening: Mar., 14, 2019: The meeting between Pakistan and India on the opening of the Kartarpur
Corridor was very positive and both sides have agreed to work towards opening
the corridor soon. An 18-member Foreign Office team, headed by Dr Faisal, went to
India for talks on the details of the Kartarpur Corridor. Both sides held
expert level discussions between technical experts on the alignment and other
details of corridor, he said, adding that the next meeting would be on April 2
at the Wagah Border, in Pakistan. This meeting will be preceded by a technical
expert meeting on March 19 at the “zero points”, meaning the site where the
corridor will be made, to finalise the alignment. The Indian delegation also insisted that the Kartarpur shrine be
kept open throughout the year. and that access for at least 5,000 pilgrims on
any day throughout the week be ensured
whilst Pakistan was willing to
let about 500 people by buses to visit in groups. India wanted access to
Indians of all religion whilst Pakistan has allowed access to the Sikh
community.
6.
Pakistan Day
Greetings: Mar., 23, 2019: Pakistan Prime Minister on Friday evening tweeted: “Received msg
from PM Modi: ‘I extend my greetings & best wishes to the people of Pakistan
on the National Day of Pakistan. It is time that ppl of Sub-continent work
together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive & prosperous region, in an
atmosphere free of terror and violence’.”
7.
Sharda Peeth: Mar.,
26, 2019:
The Pakistani government indicated on Monday it may be looking at opening up
Sharda Peeth, an ancient Hindu temple in Pakoccupied Kashmir, for pilgrims from
India. After Kartarpur, the Sharda Peeth corridor, if opened, would be the
second such religious corridor to connect the two neighbouring countries. Sharda Peeth is very important, particularly
for Kashmiri Pandits, many of whom have been pressing for access to it for a
few years now. The temple, situated in Sharda village in Neelam valley, lies in
ruins, but has not been desecrated. It is next to the famed Sharda University,
an ancient place of learning of Buddhism and Hinduism.
Update:
February, 2019
In
spite of the Pulwara attack and strong rhetoric from both sides there does seem
to be continued contacts between both countries. The sharing of data on run of
river schemes by India seems to indicate that the slow gradual movement towards
normalization is still 0n.
1.
Afghan Peace Process: Indian
concern: Feb., 4, 2019: India to remain engaged with all factions including the
Pashtuns. India believes any action or articulation of its position in haste
can be counter-productive," said the source, adding that the situation was
being monitored at the top level and that India remained engaged with regional
partners like Iran and also Russia. India will soon for the first time also be
discussing the developing situation with Beijing. India and China have been
looking to work together in Afghanistan since the 2018 Modi-Xi summit in Wuhan
but have not yet had discussions on recent developments
2.
Afghan Peace
process: Feb., 5, 2019: India will soon for the first time also be discussing
the developing situation with Beijing. India and China have been looking to
work together in Afghanistan since the 2018 Modi-Xi summit in Wuhan but have
not yet had discussions on recent developments. The source, however, ruled out
security talks on Afghanistan under any new format and said these will be made a
part of the now frequent bilateral exchanges. Like India, and despite its
resolute backing of Pakistan, China is worried about likely instability in
Afghanistan following US withdrawal. It remains particularly worried about the
activities in western China of East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) which is
said to have links with both al-Qaida and Taliban.
3.
Nowshera Temple: Feb.,9,2019:The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa education
department has decided to shift a girls primary school being run inside a
temple in Nowshera for the last 25 years to a nearby location, and to hand over
the holy place to the local Hindu community.
4.
IWT: Feb., 18, 2019: After fulfilling its commitment of getting
its various hydropower projects at the Chenab basin inspected by Pakistani
experts from Jan 28 to Feb 1, India has shared the design data of its three
planned run-of-the-river hydropower schemes with Pakistan under the Indus Water
Treaty (IWT). A
few days ago, the Indian authorities shared the data with its Pakistani
counterparts about Balti Kalan, Kalaroos and Tamasha hydropower projects which
are planned to be constructed at Balti Kalan Nullah and Kalaroos Nullah at the
Jhelum basin and Tamasha, a sub-tributary of the Indus river, respectively The
data the Indian authorities had shared was based on the information regarding
design such as kind of project, capacity, use of water, power house, turbines,
spillways etc,
5.
JeM: Feb., 23, 2019: The interior ministry on Friday announced that the
Punjab government has taken administrative control of a mosque-and-seminary
complex (Madressatul Sabir and Jama-e-Masjid Subhanallah) in Bahawalpur that is believed to have been
the headquarters of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).The campus has a
70-strong faculty and more than 650 students enrolled. A subsequent statement issued by the interior
ministry's spokesperson explained that although Indian media outlets are
linking the Bahawalpur complex to a JeM training centre, the facility is
"purely a madressah and Jamia Masjid (central mosque) where scores of
orphans and students from underprivileged families are receiving religious and
worldly education". According to the statement, the complex provides
worldly education until grade 6, and following their secondary and intermediate
schooling, students are provided bachelors- and masters-level education leading
to Dars-e-Nizami (madressah degree).A large number of Bahawalpur residents bear
the expenses of the madressah through alms and charity, and provide its pupils
with rice and grain at no cost."The Special Branch [of police],
Counter-Terrorism Department and other departments carry out a formal scrutiny
of this and other madressahs on a monthly basis," the ministry's handout
stated.
6.
DG ISPR: Feb., 23, 2019: Maj Gen Ghafoor said he
had given "some friends visiting from India a few months ago a message
from the army chief" that countries cannot develop alone.
"Regions develop. If we also believe that we must develop as a region, we
will not go down the path of war.""We expect that you will focus
responsibly on Pakistan's offer of peace and won't become a hurdle in the way
of regional peace and stability," he told Delhi. The army's spokesman said
that Pakistan in the 21st century was looking towards tackling issues such as
education, health, and upholding the right of its citizens and future
generations to live in peace ─ "not a war that you are trying to set the
stage for", he admonished India."Don't snatch this right away from
your future generations with your foolishness. Your attitude is not in line
with humanity."
7.
Back Door contacts:
Feb., 24, 2019:
The government has begun backdoor contacts
with India and the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ramesh Kumar
Vankwani, who is currently in India, has met Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Vankwani also met Minster of
State for External Affairs General VK Singh, the four-star general who has also
served as the Indian army chief. Feb.,
25, 2019: Talking to the media, Dr
Kumar said important meetings were held with Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and other high-officials. “You will very
soon witness a positive impact of my meetings… You will also see that decades’
long issues are being resolved in a proper manner,” he said. Dr Kumar said: “I
talked to Modi on every issue from every perspective… but I cannot reveal the
details now. I will have key meetings with the country’s leadership in the coming
days”.
8.
Pulwama Dossier: Feb., 28, 2019: Pakistan received a dossier on the Pulwama
attack, the Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday. It was handed over to
Pakistan’s acting high commissioner in New Delhi by the Indian government on
Wednesday. The dossier will be reviewed by the FO following which any and all
legal evidence will be probed. Islamabad will take action against credible
evidence provided by the arch-rival.
9.
Indian pilot: Feb., 28, 2019: Prime Minister of Pakistan announced on
Thursday that his country would be releasing a captured pilot from India after
days of military conflict, offering a way out of the crisis and seeking to
position Pakistan as the cooler head in a confrontation that has put the world on
edge.
10.
Pilot returned: Mar, 2, 2108: Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan, who was captured by Pakistan after his MiG 21 Bison aircraft was shot down by a Pakistan
Air Force (PAF) jet, was handed over in a gesture of peace to India at the
Wagah border late Friday. Abhinandan was arrested on Feb 27 after his aircraft was
shot down by the PAF upon violating Pakistani airspace. A new videotaped
statement of Wg Cdr Abhinandan was broadcast on national television shortly
before his release."My name is Wing Commander Abhinandan," he stated
for the record in the statement."I am a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force.
I was in search of the target when your [Pakistan] Air Force shot me down. I
had to eject the plane which had sustained damage. As soon as I ejected and
when my parachute opened and when I fell down, I had a pistol with
me.""There were many people. I had only one way to save myself: I
dropped my pistol and tried to run," he was heard saying in the
video."People chased me, their emotions were running high. Just then, two
Pakistani Army officials came and saved me. Pakistani army captains saved from
the people and did not let any harm come to me. They took me to their unit
where I was administered first aid and then I was taken to the hospital where I
further underwent a medical exam and received more aid," he said."The
Pakistan Army is a very professional service. I see peace in it. I have spent
time with the Pakistan Army [and] I am very impressed." "Indian media
always stretches the truth," he regretted. "The smallest of things
are presented in a very incendiary manner and people get misled
11.
Update:
January, 2019
1.
Prisoners: Jan., 2,
2109: In
a peace overture, India has asked Islamabad to take back dozens of Pakistani
nationals who have completed jail terms here. The Indian request came in the
context of the exchange of the lists of prisoners in both countries that took
place on the first day of the New Year. India has also asked Pakistan to expedite response
in the cases of 80 Pakistan prisoners who have completed their sentences and
await repatriation for want of nationality confirmation by Pakistan. Pakistan
shared lists of 54 civilian prisoners and 483 fishermen in Pakistani jails, who
it claims are Indian. . Peace activist Jatin Desai of Pakistan-India Peoples’s
Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD reiterated that both countries in fact
claim that the exact number of prisoners in each other’s custody is “a bit
higher” than the official numbers shared
2.
Jan., 4,
2109: the Washington Post recently
said that talks between the sullen neighbors could resume after the Indian
elections in May 2019. But the opportunity to improve bilateral ties, which in
turn would usher a better era of regional engagement is bound to come with or
without Modi sooner than later. Pakistan’s recent declaration that India’s
involvement was needed to resolve the Afghan question comes as a new paradigm
to ponder for all concerned, particularly those that have a bigger stake in a
peaceful resolution of the blood-drenched conflict. The Kashmir imbroglio may
not be a distant dream, and speculation is rife about reviving the Dr Manmohan
Singh-General Musharraf ‘formula’ to end the tragic stalemate in the valley.
Prime Minister Khan has made several overtures in tandem with the military to
improve ties with India, and the alacrity with which he moved on the Kartarpur
corridor to ease visa-less travel for Sikh pilgrims appears to have taken Delhi
by surprise. The corridor is critical now for both sides as Sikhism’s first
Guru is believed to have lived for the last 18 years of his life at the site
where the Kartarpur gurdwara was built. The most important gesture that came
from the Pakistan leader in his efforts to mend ties with India has been his
reference to the Mumbai nightmare of November 2008 as an act of terrorism,
which he said needs to be fully investigated in Pakistan for the country’s own
good.
3. Jan.,4,2019:Ancient Hindu Temple: The ancient Hindu
temple Punj Tiratht, located in Karimpura in Peshawar's old city has been
declared, constructed about 300 years ago as national asset, it is claimed that
the hero of Mahabharata, Pandu, belonged to this place and there were five
ponds at this place.
4. Kurile Dispute and its relevance to Kashmir: The
Second World War left behind many problems inherited from history, not least in
Asia in respect of multiple disputed territories. One of them concerns four
islands in the Kurile chain that are claimed by Japan but occupied by Russia as
successor state of the Soviet Union. Despite the passage of over 70 years, this
dispute has defied solution and prevented the conclusion of a Russo-Japanese
peace treaty to draw a final curtain over the detritus of the war. The Kuriles
are an archipelago of some 56 islands spanning about 1,800 km from Japan’s
Hokkaido to Russia’s Kamchatka. All of them are under Russian jurisdiction but
Japan claims the two large southernmost islands, Etorofu and Kunashiri, and two
others, Shikotan and Habomai, as its ‘northern territories’. These islands were
occupied by the Soviet Union in August 1945, after which the entire Japanese
population, numbering less than 20,000, was evicted. The islands are now
populated by the various ethnic groups of the former Soviet Union, but only
eight of them are actually inhabited. Mr. Abe’s wish to engage with Russia
stems from the rapid rise of China, which spends three times more on defence
than Japan, and the perceived threat from North Korea, which recently fired two
ballistic missiles over Japan as a taunt to the U.S. Russia is now seen in
Japan as the lesser enemy, and improving relations with Moscow might drive a
wedge in the growing quasi-alliance between Russia and China, a break-up
desired by the U.S.-led Western alliance. Tokyo notes that the Russian far east
is endowed with plentiful natural resources which are in need of investments,
but is hampered by a small population, whereas China has 100 million citizens
along that shared land border. Japan has no territorial or demographic
ambitions in Russia other than the Kuriles, and has the capacity to transform
the vast contiguous areas of Russia. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that
both Japan and Russia see merit in pursuing greater collaboration At Vladivostok last September, Mr. Abe declared
that Japan-Russia relations held “unlimited potential” and that the absence of
a peace treaty was “an abnormal state of affairs”. Mr. Putin agreed, noting
that the Russian and Japanese militaries had cooperated for the first time, and
urged the immediate conclusion of a peace treaty without preconditions. Japan
demurred on the grounds that the Kurile islands dispute had to be settled first
before the issue was foreclosed. Nonetheless, Mr. Abe stated that “Japan-Russia
relations are advancing at a degree never seen before.” The interactions
between Japan and Russia probably hold scant interest for the Indian public. Nevertheless, although no two
international problems are analogous, there are important lessons to be drawn
from the manner in which traditionally hostile neighbours can identify common
interests and explore unorthodox avenues along which to proceed in search of
innovative solutions to apparently insoluble disputes. This requires strong
leadership and a bold imagination. Neither India nor Pakistan lacks either
attribute. Kashmir is essentially a territorial dispute of almost equal vintage
as the Kuriles. But if both sides keep waiting for the most propitious time to
make the first move, it will never come about.
5. Indian Policy (Extract from Hindu),Jan.,7,2019:It’s rightly being
pointed out that India has to be prepared for the potential consequences of the
withdrawal of U.S. troops from While New Delhi is weighing its options it
must take into account that for all its antipathy toward the Afghan Taliban.
The resurgent Taliban is driven not so much by Islam as the quest for Pashtun
dignity and revenge. While it is not in a position to rule over the entire country,
and certainly not the urban areas, it does control large swathes of the rural
areas in the predominantly Pashtun provinces of eastern and southeastern
Afghanistan. In other words, it is in a position to make the country
ungovernable and indefinitely continue the civil war especially because of its
control of the drug trade that finances its activities. The withdrawal of
American forces will provide it greater opportunity to expand its area of
operation. It will take a great deal of creative thinking and imaginative
refashioning of New Delhi’s policy towards Afghanistan for India to recover
lost ground vis-Ã -vis the Pashtuns. Depending on the U.S., it on the verge of
cutting its losses in Afghanistan, or on other powers such as Russia and Iran
to protect Indian interests in that country will be foolhardy and
counter-productive.
6.
US Afghan Withdrawal: Jan.,,2019:The story of past many years of Indo-Pak relations is a
story of how a regional hegemon ‘pushed back’ a smaller neighbouring country by
arming its rivals and enemies on the western front, by executing military
build-ups on its eastern borders and threatening and setting red lines to
execute surgical strikes or initiate limited wars. The carrot of economic
participation that it offered to the rest of the world — whether it was the
access to its markets or investment in giant sports leagues like Indian Premier
League was all at the cost of all of them making a choice — of not looking at
Pakistan as a country that was suffering and was being victimised but as a
country that ‘harboured terrorist’ and provided them safe havens and exported
terrorism internationally. The rest of the world looked at India as a huge
vehicle that provided them with indisputable opportunities for making wealth.
If Afghanistan descends into a forecasted political upheaval during or beyond
the Afghan elections (May 2019), the repercussions for the Indian interests in
Afghanistan would be severely damaging. Alliances are ‘power-multipliers’ and
while India has benefited from its new found alliance with the Americans in the
last decade or so — Pakistan lost its opportunities in the past, but now it is
gradually repositioning itself to fight against the Indian-induced regional and
international isolation by showcasing its ‘deployable power’ of an efficient
and operationally trained force to fight the common enemy of terrorism. Russia,
China, Iran and the Central Asian States all respect and admire Pakistan’s
anti-terrorism fighting capabilities.The first and the most important step for
the Modi government should be a change of mindset. Its anti-Pakistan narrative
has miserably flopped. There are multiple actors that have their changing
interests that are competing for influence in the region and this region has
dynamics of its own, the nature of which also keeps changing. India has tried
its best to weaken Pakistan and exploit its vulnerabilities but the world is a
witness of the resilience and perseverance of the Pakistani nation that despite
its problems it has continued to fight and adapt and respond to all the Indian
challenges that it has so far thrown at it. With most of the Indian premises
about Pakistan going wrong it is still not late for the Indians to understand
that if ‘Pakistan stagnates or is troubled, India will also not remain immune’.
It is for India to decide whether to entrench against or engage with Pakistan.
For India, living with Pakistan as a friendly neighbor that engages in dialogue
to reach political ends rather than bullying with threats of surgical strikes
should be the right strategic option. Simply put, for PM Modi to continue to
seek and to push Pakistan to a corner and proudly boast that “India has been
able to isolate Pakistan internationally” is an Indian policy that in coming
days will no more be sustainable. India tried a full-scale ‘policy of
isolation’ against Pakistan — this policy of isolation and non-engagement only
increased unprecedented risks and uncertainty in the relations between the two
countries. The year 2019 may finally prove to be the deathbed of flawed
built-up Indian premises, policies and narrative against Pakistan. Through
hardships, tests and trials what Pakistan has managed to do is ‘find its way’.
In the coming days not Pakistan but it’s India that would be under the ‘world’s
spotlight’ to ‘mend its way’ in Kashmir. Even PM Modi and the whole India knows
it.
7.
Jatin
Desai: Jan.,8,2018:Indian journalist, activist and former president of the Mumbai
Press Club Jatin Desai stressed restoration of talks between India and
Pakistan, lamenting the suspension of bilateral talks between the countries
since 2016.`It is extremely unfortunate that there has been a complete silence
on both sides, resulting in the suffering of the peoples. Just keeping the
communication alive changes everything,` he said and added that its right time
in India for holding talks as it can bring about change in the atmosphere. Mr
Desai had worked hard for the release of Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari who
went back home from Pakistan last month. On Ansari`s release, Desai had
accompanied his family to the Wagah border to receive him. `The Katarpur
corridor is a great development even though the traffic is expected to be more
one-sided. Such developments should happen all over Pakistan and India beyond
Punjab for there are people all in both countries who want to visit each
other`. Desai demanded both the
countries to send journalists on exchange programs.
8.
Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Jan., 8, 2019: on Monday said the Kashmir dispute between
the nuclear armed neighbors could not
be solved only from a military standpoint, and that popular support was also
important. Solberg said, “If there is an interest from the partners, we will
try to use the mechanisms that we know. We have been working quite a lot in
different countries but we always have this one basic thinking. The partners
need to want to sit down by the table and discuss. Then of course if there is a
need for a mediator, a need for a facilitator to fix, even though these are two
very big countries that should manage to sort out things between themselves.”
9.
Jan.,
9.2019: General Rawat: said Pakistan, was rightly aiming for a
favorable situation in Afghanistan, a neighbor with which it shares an over
2,400-km border.“Pakistan has always treated Afghanistan as its backyard. They
are concerned about it and, as a military leader, I would say why not be
concerned about their backyard,” he added. “They always want a situation in
Afghanistan which is favorable to them. So, even if it implies speaking to the
devil, they will do it.”. There should be talks with Taliban so long as they
don’t come with pre-conditions and so long as they are looking at lasting peace
in Afghanistan and bring about stability in that country,” he said.“It is in
our interest, region’s interest, and in Pakistan’s interest. We all want
stability,” he added
10. Indus Water Treaty: Jan.,12,2019:In what is dubbed a ‘major breakthrough’, New Delhi has
finally accepted Islamabad’s demand for inspection of Indian hydropower
projects on Chenab basin and a Pakistani team will start a visit to these sites
from January 27. Pakistan had demanded that India allow it to inspect various
hydroelectric projects, particularly 1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Kalnai
projects on the River Chenab. Pakistan had raised serious concerns over the
designs Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai projects and argued that India could use
these reservoirs to create artificial water shortage or flooding in Pakistan.
According to Islamabad, these projects have been designed in violation of the
IWT. It appreciated the gesture by India for implementation of the IWT and expected
that the same spirit would be shown for resolution of other outstanding issues
according to the provisions of the treaty.
11. Jan., 20.2019: There may not be a
substantive dialogue n-between the two countries but both are trying to keep
diplomatic relations at an healthy level. This past
week saw Indian high commissioner to Pakistan and
Pakistani counterparts having meeting with foreign ministry officials. Both
meeting e relate to prisoner exchanges and Kartarpur opening .Indian government
has proposed to revive Joint Judicial Committee and has requested that Pakistan
allow Indian official assess to Indian prisoners.
12. Jan., 22, 2019; Kartarpur :Pakistan has
invited India for talks to finalize the agreement on Kartarpur Corridor
opening. While extending the
invitation for early talks, Islamabad on Monday also shared the draft agreement
between the two countries to operationalize the Karatarpur Corridor. The
government of Pakistan appointed Director-General (South Asia & SAARC) Dr
Muhammad Faisal as the focal person on Pakistan’s side and requested the
Government of India designate a focal person at its end.
13.
Indus
Water Treaty: Jan., 28, 2019: A Pakistani delegation
arrived in India on January 27 to visit the Chenab river basin in Jammu and
Kashmir for inspection, as mandated under the Indus Water Treaty .Pakistan’s
Indus Commissioner Syed Mohammad Mehar Ali Shah arrived in Amritsar along with
his two advisers .This tour is an obligation imposed on both the countries by
the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 between India and Pakistan. Under the treaty, both
the commissioners are mandated to inspect sites and works on both the sides of
Indus basin in a block of five years
14. Kartarpur Crossing: Jan., 31, 2019: Up to 40 per cent of construction
work on the phased Kartarpur Corridor Project has been completed and with the
launch of the corridor in nine months. Under the project, construction of roads from the Gurdwara
Baba Guru Nanak to Indo-Pak border, an immigration terminal and extension of
the temple has been completed by 40 percent
15.
