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  • China temporarily reopens border crossing with Pakistan to facilitate traders 


China temporarily reopens border crossing with Pakistan to facilitate traders 

In this photograph taken on September 29, 2015, Chinese nationals arrive at the Pak-China Khunjerab Pass, the world's highest paved border crossing at 4,600 metres above sea level. (AFP/File)
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Updated 02 January 2024
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China temporarily reopens border crossing with Pakistan to facilitate traders 

  • Khunjerab Pass, the highest paved international border, is closed each year from November till March due to the harsh weather 
  • The border crossing has been temporarily opened from Jan. 2 till Jan. 16 for stranded containers on either side of the border to cross 
Updated 02 January 2024
Nisar Ali

KHAPLU: The Chinese government has temporarily reopened the Khunjerab Pass, a major northern land route between China and Pakistan, from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16, Pakistani officials said on Tuesday, with the move aimed at facilitating traders. 

Khunjerab Pass is the highest paved international border at more than 4,600 meters (15,000 feet) above the sea level, linking Pakistan and China. The border pass remains closed from November till March every year due to the freezing cold. 

The border crossing, which connects Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) semi-autonomous region with China’s Xinjiang, was reopened in April 2023 after being closed for almost three years due to the coronavirus outbreak. 

During a visit to China in October last year, Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said the two countries had agreed to turn Khunjerab Pass into an “all-weather” border. However, it has remained closed due to the harsh weather since Dec.1 last year. 

“China has agreed to open the border in this duration [Jan. 2-16],” GB Collector Customs Mohammad Arshad Khan told Arab News over the phone. “And our staff, along with the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) officials, are present at the border.” 

Khan said during this period, a few TIR [Transports Internationaux Routiers] consignments and China’s stranded containers on the Pakistan side will cross the border. The TIR is an international customs transit system for goods carried by road. It streamlines procedures at borders, reducing the administrative burden for customs authorities. 

A letter issued by the Chinese embassy in Pakistan, dated Dec. 29, said the border pass would be temporarily opened from Jan. 2-16. “During the period, only transportation vehicles, drivers, and cargoes will be allowed to pass,” read a copy of the letter seen by Arab News. 

“Around 25 empty containers along with Chinese drivers will cross the Khunjerab border into China,” another customs official from GB told Arab News, on the condition of anonymity. These Chinese drivers were stuck with the containers in Pakistan since Dec. 1 when the border was closed, he added. 

“In addition, it is expected that around 22 transit consignments under TIR will move from Pakistan to China and the Central Asian Republics (CARs),” the official disclosed. “Three export consignments will enter China from Pakistan, and around eight project consignments meant for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam will also enter Pakistan from China.” 

Mehboob Rabbani, a member of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) who hails from GB, told Arab News the border’s temporary opening would be beneficial for traders. He said many containers were stuck on both sides of the border since Dec. 1 as Pakistan announced last year that the pass would remain open throughout the year. 

“The stranded things of Pakistani traders will arrive during these 15 days,” Rabbani said. “Secondly, local laborers and transporters will benefit from the resumption of business activities.” 

China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan. The two countries collaborate on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, with more than $65 billion pledged for road, rail, and other infrastructure developments in the South Asian nation. 

Topics: Khunjerab Pass

Islamabad rejects ‘unhealthy’ remarks by Indian politicians about Pakistan’s nuclear capability, Kashmir

Updated 7 sec ago
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Islamabad rejects ‘unhealthy’ remarks by Indian politicians about Pakistan’s nuclear capability, Kashmir

  • Pakistan has been key topic of Indian election speeches by PM Narendra Modi, top leaders of his ruling BJP party
  • Foreign Office urges Indian politicians to stop dragging Pakistan into their domestic politics for ‘electoral gains’
Updated 7 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office on Tuesday rejected “baseless” and “unhealthy” remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other members of his cabinet regarding Pakistan’s nuclear program, Kashmir dispute and other regional issues, which came during campaigning for ongoing elections in India.

Pakistan has been a key topic of speeches by Indian leaders during campaign rallies, with Modi and top leaders from his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making strong statements about their South Asian neighbor.

At an election rally in Bihar this week, Modi indirectly referred to National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah’s remarks about Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and said he would make Pakistan “wear bangles.”

Noting the “alarming” surge in anti-Pakistan rhetoric, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said it rejected the “irresponsible statements” by Indian leaders about the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, counter-terrorism efforts, bilateral relations and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities.

“Regrettably, these statements reflect an unhealthy and entrenched obsession with Pakistan and reveal a deliberate intent to exploit hyper-nationalism for electoral gains. These also signify a desperate attempt to deflect attention from mounting domestic and international criticism,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a Pakistani foreign office spokesperson, said in a statement.

“The bravado and jingoism exhibited by Indian leaders expose a reckless and extremist mindset. This mindset calls into question India’s capacity to be a responsible steward of its strategic capability. On the other hand, the purpose of Pakistan’s strategic capability is to safeguard its sovereignty and defend its territorial integrity.”

Baloch noted that Pakistan had clearly demonstrated its resolve to defend itself in the past and would not “hesitate to do so in the future should the Indian side choose to embark on a misadventure.”

About Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that Azad Kashmir was part of India, she said Jammu and Kashmir was an internationally-recognized disputed territory and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions clearly mandated a plebiscite in the territory for its final determination.

“No amount of inflated Indian statements can change this reality,” Baloch said. “India should, therefore, focus on implementing these resolutions instead of indulging in fantasies of grandeur.”

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947, with both countries ruling part of the territory but claiming it in full.

The western portion of the larger Kashmir region is administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity, while India rules the southern portion as a union territory.

Baloch urged Indian politicians to stop dragging Pakistan into their domestic politics for “electoral gains” and to handle sensitive strategic matters with “utmost caution.”

“We call upon the international community to take note of Indian leadership’s belligerent rhetoric, which poses a grave threat to regional peace and stability,” she said.

“The vision of peace, progress, and prosperity in South Asia can only be realized through the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir, and a shift from confrontation to cooperation.”

Topics: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Pakistan Foreign Minister

Pakistan PM to soon visit Azad Kashmir to review situation after violent protests

Updated 14 May 2024
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Pakistan PM to soon visit Azad Kashmir to review situation after violent protests

  • At least four people were killed in protests over subsidized wheat flour and electricity that began on May 11
  • The protests were called off on Tuesday after Pakistan approved $83 million subsidies for the disputed region
Updated 14 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced visiting Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in a few days to personally review the situation after days-long violent protests over subsidies, Pakistani state media reported on Tuesday.

At least three protesters and a police officer were killed and several others wounded in days of clashes between demonstrators demanding subsidies on wheat flour and electricity and law enforcement.

The protests were called off on Tuesday, a day after Pakistan announced $83 million subsidies and prompted the regional government to notify a reduction in prices of wheat flour and electricity.

On Tuesday, Sharif presided over a meeting of his cabinet to discuss the situation in Azad Kashmir, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced to visit Azad Jammu and Kashmir in a few days to personally review the ground situation and promote the tendency of resolving issues at the dialogue table,” the report read.

“He said Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan as declared by the founder of Pakistan, and maintaining law and order there is the top priority.”

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947, with both countries ruling part of the territory but claiming it in full.

The western portion of the larger Kashmir region is administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entity, while India rules the southern portion as a union territory.

While the Indian portion has faced an ongoing insurgency for decades and multiple armed attempts by the state to quell it, the Pakistani side has remained relatively calm over the decades, though it is also highly militarized.

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had organized the protests that began on May 11. “On the appeal of the Awami Action Committee, it has been decided to end the ongoing lockdown and wheel-jam strike across Azad Kashmir,” Amjad Ali Khan, a member of the JAAC core committee, told Arab News on Tuesday.

Presiding over the cabinet meeting, Sharif commended the AJK government for demonstrating restraint to foil “nefarious designs of the elements, who intend to sabotage the situation under the pretext of protests,” according to the Radio Pakistan report.

He thanked Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and AJK PM Anwar-ul-Haq for their cooperation in resolving the issue “amicably.”

Topics: Azad Kashmir protests

PM forms committee of allies to deliberate amendments to Pakistan’s social media law 

Updated 14 May 2024
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PM forms committee of allies to deliberate amendments to Pakistan’s social media law 

  • Law minister says federal cabinet will take final decision after coalition partners give feedback on draft law
  • Critics say the amendments could be used to stifle dissent and free speech instead of protecting digital rights 
Updated 14 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee comprising representatives of allied parties to review amendments to Pakistan’s electronic crimes law, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday, highlighting that the federal government wanted to form political consensus before making changes to the law. 

The government says amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 are aimed at protecting the digital rights of millions of Pakistani users, encouraging responsible Internet use and regulating online content to prevent hate speech and disinformation. Critics say the amendments, like PECA itself, could be used to stifle dissent and free speech. In the past, PECA has been used against critics of Pakistan’s all powerful army as well as governments and cases under the blasphemy law among others have also been filed using the legislation.

Earlier this month, the government notified a new National Cybercrimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to probe electronic crimes, which digital rights activists described as yet another attempt to stifle online criticism of the state. The NCCIA was approved by the caretaker government-led federal cabinet last year to take over cybercrime investigations from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

Addressing the media on Tuesday, the law minister said the draft legislation has been sent to the federal cabinet for approval after being drafted by the IT ministry according to Article 19, which deals mainly with freedom of speech.

“Despite this, the PM was of the view that a political consensus was necessary for legislation, the cabinet also agreed to the premier’s view,” Tarar said. 

“Now he has formed a committee in this regard which will include allied parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), Istehham-i-Pakistan Party (IPP).”

The law minister said allied party representatives would examine the draft legislation and report feedback to the federal cabinet which would then take a final decision.

PECA

PECA was passed in 2016 during the government of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party, which is once more in power and leading a fragile coalition at the center. 

The law was originally enacted to combat various forms of cybercrime, including cyber terrorism, unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment.

But the law has variously been used to crackdown on journalists, bloggers and other critics of the state. 

The popular social media platform X has been blocked in the country since February when Pakistan held general elections marred by widespread allegations of manipulation and rigging. 

Topics: social media X

New coach Gary Kirsten to join Pakistan cricket team in England

Updated 14 May 2024
AP
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New coach Gary Kirsten to join Pakistan cricket team in England

  • The 56-year-old South African has served as the batting coach of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League
  • The PCB has also appointed Simon Helmot as the fielding coach and David Reid as mental performance coach
Updated 14 May 2024
AP

ISLAMABAD: Gary Kirsten will start his two-year assignment as the coach of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team when he joins the squad in England on Sunday.
Pakistan will play four Twenty20s against England to prepare for the T20 World Cup next month in the Caribbean and the United States.
Pakistan has delayed naming its final 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup until the first T20 against England next Tuesday at Leeds.
Kirsten served as the mentor and batting coach of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League. They were knocked out of playoff contention on Monday.
“I’ve missed the experience of coaching at the international level and nurturing talented players to reach their full potential,” Kirsten said in a statement issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday. “I’m committed to working closely with the (Pakistan) team to elevate their game and bring joy to fans around the world.”
Kirsten has coached India and South Africa.
Last month, the 56-year-old South African was confirmed as the white-ball coach along with Jason Gillespie as the red-ball coach.
Pakistan has done well in the last two T20 World Cups. It made the semifinals in 2021 and the final against England in 2022.
The PCB has also appointed Simon Helmot as the fielding coach and David Reid as mental performance coach of the national team for the T20 World Cup. Reid will join the team next Monday while Helmot will team up with the Pakistan side on May 31 after the T20 series against England.

Topics: Gary Kirsten Pakistan cricket team

Missile fired by drone kills four of a family in Pakistan near Afghan border, police say

Updated 14 May 2024
AP
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Missile fired by drone kills four of a family in Pakistan near Afghan border, police say

  • Local police chief said strike occurred in South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province 
  • It was not immediately clear who fired the missile and officers were investigating, the official added
Updated 14 May 2024
AP

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A missile fired by a drone struck a house in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in northwestern Pakistan along the Afghan border before dawn Tuesday, killing at least four villagers, including children, police said.

The strike happened in South Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police chief Hidayat Ullah said. He said it was not immediately clear who fired the missile and officers were investigating. The Pakistan army evicted Pakistani Taliban insurgents from the region years ago, but they have been regrouping there.

Those killed in the missile strike were civilians with no known links to the insurgents. Villagers put their bodies on a road near a military camp and protested the killings and demanded information about who was responsible.

Most of the previous drone strikes in the area were carried out by the United States or the Pakistan army.

There was no immediate comment from the government or the military about the strike. The Pakistani Taliban, officially known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, is separate from but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. It has been emboldened by the Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Topics: Pakistan Afghanistan clashes

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