ISLAMABAD: United States Vice President Kamala Harris has urged people to “understand the power of their vote” while speaking at a ceremony organized by Pakistani-Americans, reported Geo News on Saturday, as the US gears up for a close presidential contest in November.
The race to the office of the head of the state features incumbent President Joe Biden facing off against Donald Trump amid a highly polarized political climate.
The Biden administration’s popularity has waned, particularly due to its stance on Israel’s war on Gaza, leading to significant disenchantment within his own party base, with some supporters distancing themselves from his policies.
Adding to the administration’s challenges, Biden’s recent performance in a presidential debate against Trump was widely criticized, marking another setback in his campaign efforts.
“We are going to win. It’s not going to be easy but we are going to win,” Harris told the gathering of around 50 people co-hosted by Dr. Asif Mahmood and business tycoon Tanweer Ahmad in Bradbury, California.
“In this election, we will determine what kind of country we want and we will make a statement about who we are as a country,” she continued. “I hope everyone must understand the power of their vote and that their vote being an extension of their voice in weighing in what kind of country we want to live in.”
Harris highlighted Trump’s anti-immigrant policies at the occasion and steps taken by Biden to “uplift the middle class.”
She said Trump only cared about himself and sought personal gains.
“The fundamental thing is freedom and liberty,” she added. “We are talking about freedom from hate and bigotry in a world where these extremists are intentionally trying to divide our country by spewing hate.”
Pakistani-Americans have made significant contributions to their adopted country, excelling in various fields such as technology, medicine, academia and business, thereby enriching the American cultural and economic fabric.
Politically active across the spectrum, they are involved in various advocacy and community initiatives, supporting diverse causes and candidates that span the breadth of American political discourse, reflecting their varied perspectives and commitment to civic engagement.
Vice President Harris encourages voter awareness at Pakistani-American event as US election nears
https://arab.news/pt9hn
Vice President Harris encourages voter awareness at Pakistani-American event as US election nears
- Kamala Harris recognizes the contest will not be easy, though she expresses optimism that Biden will ultimately win
- She says the presidential election in November will determine what kind of a country the United States wants to be
Pakistan accuses India of manipulating Chenab flows, seeks clarification under Indus Waters Treaty
- Foreign office spokesperson says sudden variations in river flows threaten agriculture, food security and livelihoods downstream
- He also condemns a niqab-removal incident in India, calling it part of a broader pattern of religious intolerance and Islamophobia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday it had observed abrupt variations in the flow of the River Chenab during the ongoing month, accusing India of manipulating river flows at a critical point in the agricultural cycle and saying it had written to New Delhi seeking clarification.
Local media reported quoted Pakistani officials as saying India released about 58,000 cusecs of water at Head Marala on Dec. 7–8 before sharply reducing flows to roughly 870–1,000 cusecs through Dec. 17, far below the 10-year historical average of 4,000–10,000 cusecs for this period.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi told a weekly media briefing in Islamabad India had failed to share prior information or operational data on the Chenab flows, a practice he said New Delhi had previously followed under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. New Delhi said earlier this year it had put the treaty “in abeyance” following a gun attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that it blamed on Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denied, calling instead for an impartial and transparent international investigation.
Pakistan also described India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty as a violation of international law and an “act of war.”
“Pakistan would like to reiterate that the Indus Waters Treaty is a binding international agreement, which has been an instrument of peace and security and stability in the region,” Andrabi said. “Its breach or violation, on one hand, threatens the inviolability of international treaties in compliance with international law, and on the other hand, it poses serious threats to regional peace, principles of good neighborliness, and norms governing interstate relations.”
Andrabi said Pakistan viewed the sudden variations in the Chenab’s flow with “extreme concern and seriousness,” saying the country’s Indus Waters Commissioner had written to his Indian counterpart seeking clarification in line with procedures outlined in the treaty.
“Any manipulation of river flow by India, especially at a critical time of our agricultural cycle, directly threatens the lives and livelihoods, as well as food and economic security of our citizens,” he continued. “We call upon India to respond to the queries raised by Pakistan.”
He said Pakistan had fulfilled its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty and urged the international community to take note of India’s “continued disregard” of a bilateral treaty and to counsel New Delhi to act responsibly under international law.
Andrabi maintained Pakistan remained committed to peaceful resolution of disputes with India but would not compromise on its water rights.
In the same briefing, he also condemned an incident in which the chief minister of the Indian state of Bihar was seen in a video forcibly removing the niqab of a Muslim woman during a public interaction, followed by remarks by a minister in Uttar Pradesh who mocked the episode, saying it reflected a broader pattern of religious intolerance and Islamophobia and warranted strong condemnation.
