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Hello

First a fall thanks to moderator, who allowed me to open another thread despite me being still a new member...

I just can't resist myself as there is so much news regarding this region that I wanted to share with Canadians/Americans/british and other nationalities who exist on this forum.

I will post as many as news/articles about Pakistan and her relations with world and in general, other happenings in South Asia will be posted here as well. This thread will contain new and old happenings.

You guys can also post news as well, of course

Do comment whatever comes into your mind.

I will run this thread in parallel with other "Travel Thread" as long as I can.

I hope you guys find this thread helpful in understanding Pakistan and South Asia...

So, lets begin with latest good news. Happy to see nice relations b/w Canada and Pakistan


Muhammad Ali Jinnah Park opened in Canada's Winnipeg



WINNIPEG, Canada: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Canada, Tariq Azim Khan, has inaugurated the first ever Muhammad Ali Jinnah Park at Winnipeg, Manitoba on Sunday.

Addressing on the occasion, the high commissioner said that credit goes to the vibrant Pakistani-Canadian community in Manitoba for succeeding in naming of first ever Public Park in North American country to be named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Hundreds of people across Canada attended the ceremony, says a press release.

He paid glowing tributes to the great sacrifices rendered by their founding fathers in order to have a separate homeland for Muslims in the Subcontinent.

The high commissioner, while appreciating the struggle of the Pakistani community, referred to the quote of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, “With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile you cannot achieve”.

He said that the community in Winnipeg is promoting and showcasing Pakistani culture and soft image through holding of cultural galas and they are acting as a bridge in promoting understanding between communities.

Dr Rashid Bahri, community leader who led the campaign for Jinnah Park said, “Muhammad Ali Jinnah is closer to the heart of people of Pakistan and this park will remind our future generations about our great leader”.

Masrur Khan, President PSA Manitoba said that today is historic day for Pakistanis in Canada and naming a park after Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s name shows how much migrant Pakistanis love the founder of Pakistan.

Terry Duguid and Iqra Khalid members of Canadian Parliament also addressed the ceremony and congratulated the Pakistani community in achieving this milestone.

City Councilor Janice Luke said on the occasion that she is very happy to work with the Pakistani community for the maintenance of the park and to make it worthwhile for the families to visit and hold cultural galas in the Park.

She announced preparing a cricket ground within the park area for holding of local cricket tournament.

[/url]https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/316284-muhammad-ali-jinnah-park-opened-in-canadas-winnipeg[/url]

Thank you Canada for having a park in name of founder of Pakistan, Mr. Jinnah.

   

Indians hate Mr. Jinnah.....especially Right wing Hindus. They wrongly accused Mr. Jinnah for partition of British India. They are right after him, his portrait. BJP is right wing Hindu nationalist party.

Some sane Indians speaking up

Jinnah portrait hanging since 1938, why issue now: Shashi Tharoor

Pointing towards the incidents of attack for alleged possession of beef, Tharoor said, “Even the possession of the illegal meat mean that you are immediately vulnerable to mob to be murdered on the street.. is that what UP and India have come to..”


Shashi Tharoor said the country is not safe in the hands of the present BJP government. (Express Archive)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday questioned the timing of the protests against a portrait of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

“That portrait has been hanging there since 1938. How many BJP governments have ruled UP since then. How many BJP governments have ruled Centre since then. Why is it that this becomes an issue today… And for what particular purpose. To my mind if the portrait had to be taken out, the best time was always 1947,” Tharoor, who was in Lucknow for an interactive session of the All India Professionals Congress (AIPC), told reporters. “Who hangs a portrait and whether it should be there is a legitimate subject for public discussion. But it is not however permitted in our country’s laws to barge into an educational institution and try to use force and violence to take out a portrait or a banner or anything else. That is hooliganism.”

Tharoor said the country is not safe in the hands of the present BJP government. “The evidence we have seen in the last four years does not suggest that this country is safe in the hands of the present government,” Tharoor said. “….How we build a nation that is productive, that is prosperous, that is safe and that is also inclusive. We cannot have a nation built on dividing our country, pushing our segments of society, discriminating and marginalising others… that cannot be the inclusive India that Mahatma Gandhi talked about.”

Later in the evening, speaking at the interaction, Tharoor said, “Young people of this country want to be free, to think for themselves,.to dress as they please, to see whom they wish to see and to love whom they wish to love, to marry or not to marry, to pray or not to pray..” Pointing towards the incidents of attack for alleged possession of beef, Tharoor said, “Even the possession of the illegal meat mean that you are immediately vulnerable to mob to be murdered on the street.. is that what UP and India have come to..”

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jinnah-portrait-hanging-since-1938-why-issue-now-shashi-tharoor-5175652/

Jinnah painting row: AMU students' union leaders on indefinite relay hunger strike

The Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union (AMUSU) leaders began their indefinite relay hunger strike late last night demanding a judicial enquiry into the violence on the campus.

Published: 13th May 2018 05:24 PM | Last Updated: 13th May 2018 05:24 PM


Earlier, a clash broke out between students of the AMU and the police over the Jinnah portrait matter. (File | PTI)

ALIGARH: The Aligarh Muslim University Students' Union (AMUSU) leaders began their indefinite relay hunger strike late last night demanding a judicial enquiry into the violence on the campus over the portrait of Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The protesters, however, announced that they would not disrupt the holding of annual and entrance examinations that began yesterday.

Today, the protesters allowed the opening of the main AMU gate, Baab-e-Syed, which had been locked for the past 11 days to facilitate the movement of those students who are appearing in the engineering entrance.

Earlier, several AMU students sat on an indefinite dharna after a clash with the police on May 2 when they were demanding action against the right-wing Hindu activists, who had entered the campus and shouted slogans against Jinnah's portrait.

They are asking for a judicial probe into the alleged police inaction and the manner in which the row erupted after Bharatiya Janata Party MP Satish Gautam had objected to the portrait in the students' union office.

Meanwhile, former AMU vice-chancellor Lt Gen.(retd) Zameer Uddin Shah alleged today that the recent attack by armed goons at the AMU campus, even while former vice president Hamid Ansari was visiting the campus, was "actually an attempt to target Ansari by forces inimical to him".

The incident which took place on May 2, was not concerning Jinnah's portrait on AMU premises, he said in a statement here.

Ansari had come to the varsity to receive the AMUSU life membership and deliver a lecture on the topic: 'Failure of India to Establish a Pluralistic Society'.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/may/13/jinnah-painting-row-amu-students-union-leaders-on-indefinite-relay-hunger-strike-1814192.html

   

I hope this settles down nicely without creating further sour in relations.

Pakistan Prevents U.S. Diplomat From Leaving the Country


Pakistan has demanded that Col. Joseph Emanuel Hall’s diplomatic immunity be waived so that he can face a criminal trial over a fatal traffic accident, but American officials have refused. Credit Foreign Ministry

By Haroon Janjua
May 12, 2018

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The authorities in Pakistan barred an American diplomat involved in a fatal traffic accident from leaving the country on Saturday and briefly detained him for questioning, according to a senior Pakistani intelligence official.

A United States military aircraft flown in to bring home Col. Joseph Emanuel Hall, a U.S. military attaché, had to leave without him, the intelligence official said.

Pakistan’s Interior Ministry said Mr. Joseph is on a “blacklist” and is not allowed to leave because of the criminal case pending against him.

Colonel Hall is accused of involvement in a road accident in which his car ran a red light and killed a motorcyclist named Ateeq Baig in the capital, Islamabad, on April 7. Pakistan officials have demanded the United States waive his diplomatic immunity so that he can face a criminal trial, but American officials have refused.

On Friday, Islamabad’s High Court, noting that Colonel Hall did not have full diplomatic immunity, left it up to the government to decide whether to add his name to a travel ban list. Also on Friday, Pakistan placed travel restrictions on United States diplomats based in the country, the latest in a series of retaliatory measures that threaten to plunge already strained relations to their worst level in years.

The restrictions in Pakistan were imposed on the same day that the United States barred diplomats working at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington from traveling outside a 25-mile radius around the city without approval

The United States has long complained that the police and security officials in Pakistan frequently harass American diplomats and their staff with traffic stops and citations that require considerable time and effort to resolve. Six weeks ago, the State Department threatened to impose a travel restriction on Pakistan’s Washington diplomatic corps if the harassment did not end by Friday.

U.S.-Pakistan relations have worsened since January, when the Trump administration announced it had suspended nearly all of the $1.3 billion in annual security aid given to Pakistan. That came days after President Trump complained on Twitter that Pakistan had “given us nothing but lies & deceit” and accused it of providing “safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan.”

The Trump administration has also sought to strengthen ties with India, Pakistan’s bitter rival.

“This is a development that could well develop into a full-blown crisis for relations if it’s not resolved soon,” said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington. “Since Joseph is understood to have diplomatic immunity, Pakistan’s refusal to let him leave the country will be seen by Washington as a wholly unjustifiable and illegal act.”

A spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Islamabad declined to comment on the events of Saturday.

The State Department on Saturday confirmed the new restrictions on its employees in Pakistan but declined further comment.

Idris Baig, the father of man killed in the accident, said in an interview that he was satisfied with the current proceedings.

“We are ready for agreement but on the condition of his arrest,” he said, referring to Colonel Hall. “My son will never come back and we will consult with our relatives and village community before negotiating the agreement. So far no government official or U.S. Embassy official has offered us the agreement.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/12/world/asia/pakistan-joseph-emanuel-hall.html

   

Indian Army Uses Weaponised Helicopters to Test America's Vietnam War Concept

To enhance its defence capabilities, the Army tested the concept under which weaponised helicopters carry out combined action against the enemy in coordination with tanks and mechanised ground forces.

PTI Updated: May 13, 2018, 1:11 PM IST



Jaipur: The Indian Army has tested in the desert terrain of Rajasthan the military concept of 'Air Cavalry' that was used by the US Army to locate and assault enemy ground forces during the Vietnam War.

To enhance its defence capabilities, the Army tested the concept under which weaponised helicopters carry out combined action against the enemy in coordination with tanks and mechanised ground forces.This being done by the Indian Army, with an eye on the future, which is focusing on strengthening its combative air assets by procuring attack helicopters.

This is a new concept for the Indian Army and it is aimed at reshaping land battle by defeating the enemy by offensive punch from the air in coordination with tanks on the ground.In the recently held offensive exercise 'Vijay Prahar' in Mahajan firing ranges near Suratgarh, the concept of 'Air Cavalry' was tried by the South Western command, defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha told PTI.

The concept was implemented after a detailed deliberation, sand-model discussions and war gaming.

In normal battle scenario, attack helicopters are called in on requirement basis by forces moving on the ground to launch an attack where the ground forces are not able to neutralise the target due to any reason, including difficult terrain.

Under the 'Air Cavalry' concept, attack helicopters are fully integrated with tanks and mechanised ground forces.

A fleet of armed helicopters simultaneously flies in air and performs a number of tasks, including troop insertion in forward areas, on the spot aerial recce, launching attacks and it proves more powerful and a good speed in the action is achieved.

This requires a very high degree of precision, coordination and continuous upgradation. It saves time and energy," another senior officer of the SW command said.

"The forces achieve more flexibility and fluidity in an operation and multitasking can be performed more quickly, swiftly and effectively and the ground commanders can act decisively, boldly and offensively, the officer said.

Under this kind of arrangement, attack helicopters can engage targets in the shortest possible time and the mission can be accomplished in a very flexible and effective manner.

This concept can be executed in different kind of terrains depending upon the feasibility.

While the US used this concept in the jungles of Vietnam during the war from 1954-75, India tested it in scorching heat in desert terrain to sharpen its teeth.

The Army is gradually inducting helicopters equipped with ultra-modern sensors and high-precision weapons and therefore a need was felt to use the Air Cavalry concept for increasing capabilities in monitoring and protecting both eastern and western borders of the country.

The Indian Army is focusing on its own combative air assets so there was a requirement that a concept should be in place for the best utilisation of attack helicopters. The helicopters will be used as force multiplier and will increase the potency of ground forces to engage the targets, defence sources said.

The Army's combative air assets will be crucial in the land battles in desert along the western front as well as in the eastern front where the terrain is mountainous, the sources said.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is developing Light Combat Helicopter for the Army to meet its requirement for an attack helicopter which can operate at high altitude. The Army will also procure multi-role AH-64 'E' Apache attack helicopter manufactured by American aviation giant Boeing.

The Defence Ministry in August last year had approved the procurement of six most advanced Apache helicopters along with weapons systems at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore which will be the Army's first fleet of attack choppers.

Apaches have played a vital role in international conflicts, including in the Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.

https://www.news18.com/news/india/indian-army-uses-weaponised-helicopters-to-test-americas-vietnam-war-concept-1746663.html

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"Diplomatic immunity" means that the immunity is not revoked unless the diplomats home country revokes it.

That's the way it works.

   

Bart, don't feed the troll.....

-J.

   

Yup....

He has been released on grounds that US will put him on trial in US rather than in Pakistan....News just came in.

US diplomat Colonel Joseph sent to home country: sources

Footage of accident



May the deceased rest in peace

   

India Pakistan Partition Documentary BBC





Since when India was a "country" ??? Sub continent was divided, not country...

British India, Dutch India.....like the names assigned for easiness of understanding.

What do you guys say?

   

From the time it was placed under British rule and they said it was a country.



BTW, old joke you might enjoy:


Q: Why doesn't the sun set on the British Empire?

A: Because God doesn't trust them with the lights off!

   

Nice one

Shukriya (Thanks)

I do respect British a lot though. Quite cultured people....

By the way, we are going to take on UK next week...Pak vs UK....coming test match

England v Pakistan: Jos Buttler & Dominic Bess named in squad for first Test


Jos Buttler has scored three of the five fastest one-day international centuries for England

England v Pakistan, first Test

Date: 24-28 May Time: 11:00 BST Venue: Lord's

Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, Radio 4 LW and the BBC Sport website. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

England have recalled batsman Jos Buttler and called up uncapped off-spinner Dom Bess for the first Test against Pakistan starting next week.

Lancashire's Buttler, 27, has not played first-class cricket this season but has made five successive fifties in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Bess, 20, replaces Somerset team-mate and left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who broke a thumb on Monday.

James Vince, who batted at three for England over the winter, misses out.

The first Test at Lord's starts on 24 May and the second at Headingley on 1 June.

The squad is Ed Smith's first since replacing James Whitaker as national selector in April.

Wicketkeeper Buttler, who has played 18 Tests for England, the most recent in December 2016, will play as a specialist batsman at seven.

He averaged 17.16 in four first-class appearances for Lancashire last season, but has scored 548 runs at an average of 54.80 in 13 IPL matches for Rajasthan Royals this year.

Bess, who has taken only one wicket for Somerset this season, has 63 at 22.49 apiece in 16 first-class matches.

Who plays?

Buttler, who played three Tests on the tour of India in 2016, is regarded as one of the world's best limited-overs batsmen.

He has scored 67, 51, 82, 95 not out, 94 not out and 39 since being promoted to open by Rajasthan.

Former England batsman Smith said it was "the perfect moment" to reintroduce Buttler to Test cricket, adding: "He will bring unique qualities to the Test team."

Opener Mark Stoneman retains his place, although he has not reached 30 in seven County Championship innings for Surrey this season.

Captain Joe Root will bat at three rather than his favoured position of four; Dawid Malan, who came in at five during the winter series defeats in Australia and New Zealand; will move up to four; wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow has been promoted to five; and all-rounder Ben Stokes will bat at six.



Buttler, Stokes and seamer Chris Woakes have not played county cricket this season because of IPL commitments, while pace bowler Mark Wood took 6-46 in his only game for Durham after returning home early from the IPL.

Bess, who claimed 6-21 on his County Championship debut in 2016, took 36 wickets at 23.41 apiece last summer.

He scored a century for MCC against Essex in March and made 92 batting at number 10 for Somerset against Hampshire last week.

"With Jack Leach missing out due to injury, the selection panel wanted to invest opportunity in a young spin bowler," said Smith.

"Dom's strong form, character and all-round abilities presented a compelling case for selection."


Dominic Bess has played for England Under-19s and England Lions

Who misses out?

Vince is the most notable omission - he made an unbeaten 201 for Hampshire on Monday, but averages 24.90 in 13 Tests, including 76 in his most recent innings against New Zealand in March.

Surrey batsman Ollie Pope, who averages 85 for Surrey this season, Lancashire opener Keaton Jennings, Worcestershire's Joe Clarke and Somerset's James Hildreth, all of whom have made two centuries this season, were overlooked.

Nick Gubbins was not selected despite scoring a hundred and 99 in two matches for Middlesex since returning from injury.

There was no place for the leading two bowlers in Division One, Nottinghamshire's Jake Ball and Yorkshire's Ben Coad.

Off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali, who has played 50 Tests but was dropped for Leach for the second Test in New Zealand, was also left out of the 12-man squad.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/44105904

   

So here we go, fasting from dawn until sunset occurs

Ramzaan Mubarak to everyone...

Ramadan in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Other Asian Countries: Moon Sighting in Pakistan on Thursday

New Delhi, May 16: Muslims in Pakistan, Bangladesh and other Asian countries will look for the crescent moon on Wednesday evening to confirm the start date of Ramadan 2018. The fasting for Ramadan or Ramzan month will begin in Pakistan, Bangladesh and other Asian countries, depending on the moon sighting. A query – Ramadan in Pakistan 2018– is being widely searched on the internet to check out the date for the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in Pakistan. We will be doing live updates on moon sighting this evening which will determine the start of the fasting month in Pakistan, Bangladesh and other Asian countries. Stay connected with us to get the confirmed date for Ramadan 2018 after moon sighting.

Ramadan 2018 Date: The new moon of the month of Ramadan will be sighted this evening corresponding to 29th of Shaban in the country. The sighting of the new moon will make it clear as to when Ramadan will begin in Pakistan, Bangladesh and other Asian countries. If the new moon is sighted then Ramadan will begin on May 17, Thursday. In case the new moon is not sighted, then Ramadan in India will begin from May 18, Friday. A new month in the Islamic lunar calendar begins with a sighting of the moon on 29th of the prevailing month.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East did not get the sight of the Ramadan crescent. Hence, the announcement that Ramadan will begin in the Kingdom and other Muslim nations in the Middle East on Thursday. Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore also declared Ramadan on Thursday. Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam and is intended to help teach Muslims self-discipline, self-restraint and generosity. It involves fasting from dawn until sunset. Check out Ramadan 2018 timetable for Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Srinagar and other metro cities here.

http://www.india.com/news/world/ramadan-2018-in-pakistan-bangladesh-and-other-asian-countries-live-updates-on-moon-sighting-for-ramzan-3057453/

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Indians are definitely seeking details into this....As they start worrying whenever any regional country approaches to Pakistan. Hurts their self claimed ego of being landlord of South Asia (the regional power every country around will look up to).

Chinese hand in this? maybe. Nepalese are lately quite approaching to China....All thanks to India's blockade of Nepal.....Nepalese have been slipped from India's hands quite long ago.

Pakistan, Nepal Army Chiefs discuss regional security



Chief of Nepalese Army General Rajendra Chhetri called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, reported Radio Pakistan.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including military to military relations, regional security situation and measures to improve bilateral ties came under discussion.

According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release the visiting dignitary acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Army’s sincere efforts and sacrifices in the war against terrorism and for stability in the region.

Earlier, on arrival at the GHQ, the Nepalese army chief laid a wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada.

A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army presented the guard of honour to the Nepalese army chief.

https://nation.com.pk/16-May-2018/pakistan-nepal-army-chiefs-discuss-regional-security

   

I can't wait......Mangoes are just around the corner. Yes, I am biased...but Pakistani mangoes are just too good to not eat.

‘King’ of fruits welcomed as mango season kicks off



HYDERABAD: Pakistanis rejoice as the mango season starts this month.

The mango business is at its peak in the local fruit market as the king of fruits makes way.

Fruit shops and warehouses are occupied in packaging of mangoes especially Sindhri amongst all the mango variety.

Traders and fruit sellers informed a local media channel that the yield for this year has been the largest and the best since the last ten years.

However, speculations suggest that mango prices will be higher this year, but are expected to decrease later on.

Fruit seller’s said that fortunately this year’s crop matured earlier than it usually does, thus people can cherish the divine taste of mangoes during Ramadan.

https://dailytimes.com.pk/240859/king-of-fruits-welcomed-as-mango-season-kicks-off/

We export mangoes to US/Europe...Didn't find any data regarding Canada though.

   

http://www.worldsrichestcountries.com/t ... rters.html

Where is Pakistan in there?

-J.

   

Asian Exporters

Asia exported $614.4 million worth of mangoes led by the following countries:

1. India: $202.6 million
2. Thailand: $166.4 million
3. Philippines: $66.9 million
4. China: $56.6 million
5. Pakistan: $42.7 million
6. Hong Kong: $23.6 million
7. Indonesia: $21.1 million
8. Taiwan: $14.2 million
9. Malaysia: $8.7 million
10. Vietnam: $5.2 million


http://www.worldsrichestcountries.com/top_mango_exporters.html

   

Kargil War - May 1999 to July 1999

Pakistan vs India

This limited scale battle/war was initiated by Pakistan. Both sides claim victory. Pakistan caught India off the guard...India did the same with Pakistan in 1984 Siachen glacier war....Pakistan replied India in same coin in Kargil sector 15 years later.

Below one is Indian footage...



---------

Point 5353, the highest peak in the region which has a clear view of the National Highway 1 D, remains occupied by Pakistan even a decade after the battle.


http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/near-tiger-hill-point-5353-still-pakoccupied/488505/0

   

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