Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin returned to Washington to join the on-going discussion with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), his spokesperson Muzzammil Aslam announced in a tweet.
IMF latest update: Mr. Shaukat Tarin, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, has returned to Washington DC to join ongoing discussions with IMF. Media reports related to inconclusive talks are baseless. @FinMinistryPak
The director of IMF Middle East and Central Asia Department, Jihad Azour stated that the talks between IMF and the Pakistan government for the six billion dollars Extended Fund Facility (EFF) had progressed towards a “very good step”, reported Dawn.
Earlier this week, while in New York, Tarin rejected a media report which claimed that the talks [earlier this month] have failed because of differences over a macroeconomic framework and uncertainty over the country’s economy.
The advisor said, “Some people have created an impression in Pakistan that we have failed, and the talks have been unsuccessful. That is completely false.”
“We are working on final details and in a few days, you will see the talks moving towards success. Give us some time and we will fix it”, he said, while adding that he and his team are committed to fixing Pakistan’s economy.
Pakistan and the IMF held their latest talks in the US capital from October 4 to 15 for the release of a one billion dollars tranche from a six billion dollars extended loan facility, which was approved in 2019.
Recently, the rupee hit a record low of 173.20 against the US dollar.
She stated, “My visit to Pakistan is for a very specific narrow purpose and the United States does not see itself building a broad relationship with Pakistan and we have no interest in returning to days of hyphenated [India and Pakistan]. That is not where we are. That is not where we’re going to be.”
“My visit to Pakistan in the context of Afghanistan is in a bid to make sure that Pakistan has the capabilities to ensure everybody’s security, including India’s and the US”, she said as she left India.
According to The News, the government was shocked at Sherman’s undiplomatic statements that she had made in India.
Furthermore, Yusuf blatantly said that Indian human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) also pose a threat to regional peace.
Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi met the Deputy Secretary on Thursday but he didn’t tweet about the meeting. However, Sherman tweeted, “I met today with Pakistan FM to discuss Afghanistan’s future and the important and long-standing US-Pakistan relationship. We look forward to continuing to address pressing regional and global challenges.”
I met today with Pakistani Foreign Minister @SMQureshiPTI to discuss Afghanistan’s future and the important and long-standing U.S.-Pakistan relationship. We look forward to continuing to address pressing regional and global challenges. pic.twitter.com/1tmUAMC18I
— Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell (@DeputySecState) October 8, 2021
Apart from the meetings, while talking to The News’ editors, Sherman said she believed US President Joe Biden will soon talk to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. She said, “We have an idea that every country wants to have a telephone conversation with US President. I am sure that this conversation will be held with PM Khan soon.”
“I am sure that this contact will take place soon, so I don’t think it should mean anything else,” she added.
Moreover, while replying to a question about a bill presented in September by 22 Republican senators targeting Pakistan, Sherman assured, “We get hundreds of bills; thousands of people are behind them but we are well aware of Pakistan’s concerns and are closely looking at the situation.”
United States (US) Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, while speaking at an event in Mumbai, said, “We (the US) don’t see ourselves building our broad relationship with Pakistan and we have no interest in returning to the days of a hyphenated India, Pakistan. That’s not where we are, that’s not where we are going to be,” reports The Print.
“But we all need to know what’s going on in Afghanistan. We all need to be of one mind in the approach to the Taliban. We all need to make sure that we have the capabilities that we need to ensure everybody’s security, including India’s, of course. So I am going to have some very specific conversations, continuing conversations that Secretary (Antony) Blinken has had (with Pakistan),” she added.
Wendy Sherman is in Pakistan to meet officials during her October 7-8 visit.
Sherman said that her trip to Islamabad is only for a “specific and narrow purpose”.
Taking to Twitter, Sherman wrote, “I met yesterday evening with Pakistani National Security Advisor, Moeed Yusuf to discuss Afghanistan and areas of cooperation in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship.”
I met yesterday evening with Pakistani National Security Advisor @YusufMoeed to discuss Afghanistan and areas of cooperation in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship. #USPak
— Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell (@DeputySecState) October 8, 2021
“Both of our countries have suffered terribly from the scourge of terrorism and we look forward to cooperative efforts to eliminate all regional and global terrorist threats,” she said.
Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will not visit Washington during his seven-day trip to the United States (US), clarified a top party leader on Monday. According to Geo News, Bilawal arrived in New York today after he departed for the US on Sunday. The news of his visit gave rise to the allegations from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that the PPP leader was seeking a “backdoor deal” from Washington.
However, the PPP said that “puppet rulers” are afraid of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s upcoming visit to the US and as a result, were spreading unnecessary rumours.
After landing in New York, the PPP chairperson refused to speak to the media, saying he is on a “personal visit” to the US.
“When I come here next, in September, I will then speak to the press,” he said.
“Bilawal Bhutto will not go to Washington during his visit,” clarified PPP-USA President Khalid Awan.
Earlier this month, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Dr Shahbaz Gill, said that Bilawal Bhutto will be taking his curriculum vitae (CV) to Washington.
“He [Bilawal Bhutto] will say we are ready to do anything to come into power,” said Gill at a press conference in Karachi. “We will not allow such a deal and will not let Bilawal go the United States with any petitions.”
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has alleged that “puppet rulers” are afraid of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s upcoming visit to the United States (US) and as a result, were spreading unnecessary rumours.
The party’s statement comes in response to remarks from the prime minister’s adviser, Dr Shahbaz Gill, who had said that PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will be taking his curriculum vitae (CV) along with him to Washington.
“He [Bilawal Bhutto] will say we are ready to do anything to come into power,” said Gill at a press conference in Karachi.
PPP’s Shazia Marri said on Sunday that Fawad Chaudhry, Shahbaz Gill, and Farrukh Habib are also worried that their leader Imran Khan cannot go to the US without diplomatic immunity because of pending cases in US courts.
Marri said Bhutto has hope in the strength of the people of Pakistan and it has been proved how General Elections 2018 were stolen from the PPP by creating hurdles in the party’s path. She said fake accountability had been the main instrument used by dictators and their puppets to target opponents in the past.
“They have been playing the drama of accountability to hide their incompetence,” she said.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Dr Shahbaz Gill, said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will be taking his curriculum vitae (CV) along with him to Washington.
“He [Bilawal Bhutto] will say we are ready to do anything to come into power,” said Gill at a press conference in Karachi.
“We will not allow such a deal and will not let Bilawal go the United States with any petitions.”
Gill also tweeted: “Is Bilawal going to Washington like his father to take the next turn of power?”
کیا بلاول اپنے والد کی طرح اقتدار کی اگلی باری لینے واشنگٹن پہنچ رہے ہیں؟ کیا عرضی یہ ہے کہ اگر آپ ہمیں حکومت میں لائیں تو بھلے اڈے مانگیں یا ڈرون اٹیک کریں،ہم آپ سے نہیں پوچھیں گے،بس بدلے میں واشنگٹن ہمیں آشرواد دے؟
مگر بلاول کو شاید پتہ نہیں کہ وقت،دنیا اور پاکستان اب بدل چکا!
He further added, “Is this an appeal that if you bring us in power, then even if you demand financial stations or attempt a drone attack, we wouldn’t ask you about it, but in exchange, we want Washington’s blessings.”
“Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari might not know that time, the world and Pakistan have changed now,” added Gill.
Freedom House, a Washington-based human rights watchdoghas downgraded India from a free to partially free democratic state.
“Rather than serving as a champion of democratic practice and a counterweight to authoritarian influence from countries such as China, Modi and his party are tragically driving India itself toward authoritarianism,” the democracy research institute stated in its annual assessment.
Under the Modi government, India is consistently backsliding from a free democracy to an authoritarianism state.
Political, social and civil rights and liberties have deteriorated in India since Modi became Prime Minister (PM) in 2014 and they further degenerated after the 2019 election, said the report.
Freedom House is a US-funded Non-governmental organisation (NGO) and it is a champion of democracy for eight years.
They have assigned an overall score of 67 to India in their annual freedom in the world report.
There are several factors for the decline in the ranking which including legislation and policies that undermine the political rights of Muslims, increased government pressure on human rights organizations, and rising intimidation of academics and journalists in the country.
“I’m not surprised at all. Since Modi’s election, India has become a more regulated society. One way of judging it is how dissenters and journalists are being treated. In the last couple of years India has become a very dangerous place for journalists, particularly those who criticize Modi or his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” said Dr Talat Wizarat, a noted scholar of International Relations.
According to the Washington-based research institute, India has witnessed a 9-point decline since 2005. This year’s report also raises several questions about the Indian judiciary’s role. Citing the recent acquittal of BJP leaders who were credibly accused of orchestrating the demolition of the Babri Mosque in 1992, the report said judicial independence had also come under strain since Modi’s re-election.
Violent protests have erupted across the United States (US) since after the death of George Floyd who died in police custody, sparking outrage over police brutality, especially the treatment of African-Americans at the hands of authorities.
With people across the country taking to streets, shaking the States to its core as some protests turn ugly, here is everything you need to know about it.
WHO WAS GEORGE FLOYD?
On May 25, George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man suspected of passing a counterfeit $20 bill, died in Minneapolis city of Minnesota after a white cop, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while the suspect was handcuffed face down in the street.
Two other officers further restrained Floyd while a fourth prevented onlookers from intervening.
During the final three minutes, Floyd was motionless and had no pulse, but officers made no attempt to revive him and Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck even as arriving emergency medical technicians attempted to treat him.
VIRAL VIDEOS & CRIMINAL COMPLAINT:
Several bystanders took videos of the incident, which were widely circulated and broadcastalong with security-camera footage from nearby businesses; two of the officer’s body cams footage has, however, not yet been released.
[GRAPHIC WARNING]
A criminal complaint later filed against Chauvin stated that Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe while standing outside a police car, resisted getting in the car, and intentionally fell down; he went to the ground face down and, after Chauvin placed his knee on Floyd’s neck, Floyd repeatedly said “I can’t breathe”, “mama” and “please”.
POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION:
Two autopsies determined the manner of Floyd’s death to be a homicide. The Hennepin County medical examiner’s autopsy found that Floyd died from cardiac arrest during the application of “neck compression”, also noting as significant conditions “arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease; fentanyl intoxication; and recent methamphetamine use”.
An independent autopsy commissioned by Floyd’s family found that the “evidence is consistent with mechanical asphyxia as the cause” of death, with neck compression restricting blood flow to the brain, and back compression restricting breathing.
OFFICERS’ FATE & PROBE:
All four officers were fired the day after the incident. On May 29, Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter while on June 3, Minnesota attorney general amended Chauvin’s charges to include second-degree murder, and the other three officers were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is conducting a federal civil rights investigation at the request of the Minneapolis Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is also investigating.
WIDESPREAD PROTESTS:
After Floyd’s death, demonstrations and protests against use of excessive force by police officers and lack of police accountability were held globally.
Protests in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area were initially peaceful on May 26, and became violent as a police precinct and two stores were set on fire, and many stores were looted and damaged. Some demonstrators skirmished with police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets.
BREAKING: The third precinct police station is on fire. Rioters have taken over pic.twitter.com/AJg4jDr9Tz
Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated, mainly peacefully, across the US for the ninth night while one of the largest protests, joined by Floyd’s relatives, took place in his hometown of Houston, Texas.
Many defied curfews in several cities, imposed after violence and looting in some districts.
“I’m protecting my business and they’ve robbed us after being closed for 3 months”.
With the episode drawing reactions from across the world, from global leaders, including the Canadian president among others, the Pope has also issued a call for racism not to be ignored.
Addressing his “brothers and sisters in the United States” from the Vatican on Wednesday, Pope Francis condemned the death of George Floyd and lead a prayer for “all those others who have lost their lives as a result of the sin of racism.” https://t.co/t2NsjfRz1spic.twitter.com/xZ4718Zh2X
“We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism,” he said, but also condemned the violence.
Police stations and other buildings have been set ablaze, government establishments and offices of media organisations among other prominent structures across the country have been vandalised, and grocery, as well as luxury stores, looted.
While military has now been deployed after President Donald Trump’s warning to protesters, support for protesters and against the regime is widespread.
Cops, at places, have also been spotted lending support to peaceful protests.
The protest in Flint, Michigan yesterday was peaceful, with no rioting, looting, or fighting (based on social media posts). The city’s sherriff marched with the protesters after they chanted ‘Walk With Us,’ as well as giving multiple small speeches throughout the evening. pic.twitter.com/rX2fDpyZfG
As part of the protests, the White House was also almost attacked. The president spent nearly an hour in an underground bunker at the White House last week when hundreds of protesters gathered outside the mansion.
The bunker, also known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC), has been used on rare occasions to secure US presidents in times of peril.
Meanwhile, a photo of blackout at White House also started making rounds on the internet with people calling it a “powerful symbol” of Trump’s “lack of leadership”.
A small market in Washington DC is turning to technology to deliver essential supplies during the coronavirus pandemic in one Northwest neighborhood.
Broad Branch Market in Chevy Chase is using robots to deliver the groceries. The store began using the robots about two weeks ago and makes 10-15 deliveries a day within a limited area of the neighbourhood.
While talking to a news outlet the owner said that she has learned to adapt to the times being a small business owner and since lots of customers have concerns about coming to the store during the COVID-19 outbreak, she can now deliver to them.
A food delivery robot from the Broad Branch Market grocery store goes to work in the Chevy Chase neighborhood of Washington, DC.
The store began using the robots about two weeks ago and makes 10-15 deliveries a day within a limited area of the neighborhood
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has hinted at a possible prisoner swap of Dr Shakil Afridi and Dr Aafia Siddiqui with the United States (US).
Afridi, a Pakistani physician, is in authority’s custody for helping the US in running a fake hepatitis vaccine programme in Abbottabad to confirm Osama bin Laden’s presence by obtaining DNA samples.
Aafia, on the other hand, is a Pakistani neuroscientist convicted of multiple felonies and is locked up in a US prison.
When asked about jailed Afridi during an interview with Fox News on Monday, the premier said that in Pakistan, he is considered a spy and it is a very emotive issue. “The way it [Osama bin Laden operation] was conducted, it really embarrassed Pakistan at a time when we were an ally of the US in its war on terror.”
Osama bin Laden, founder and first leader of Al-Qaeda, was killed in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011, by US Navy SEALs in an operation Pakistani authorities “were unaware of”.
WATCH VIDEO:
“You are the prime minister, you can make a decision can’t you,” Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked.
“There are some decisions in a democracy that even a premier finds difficult to make, because we do have an opposition,” PM Imran said, adding that it, however, was something that could be negotiated.
“We also have someone in a US prison, a frail woman called Aafia Siddiqui and we could negotiate a swap.” “The talks have not started yet, but we know that US wants Afridi and we can negotiate,” he added.
