The Chinese Factor

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 31, 2021: In a certain change of fortunes in South Asia, China played a cart blanch by opening up on the Taliban (T). Beijing officially extended the invitation to Mullah Abdul Ghani Bradar to hold talks on deactivating military tensions in Afghanistan (A). A responded by agreeing to sever its ties with  The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile and Uyghur. Thus, T would no longer interfere in the internal affairs of China. T gave similar commitments on not to destabilize the ruling regimes in CARs, Pakistan, Iran, and Russia.

Suddenly, the uncertainty in the region vanished. The pessimists were defeated.

New hope emerged when the US Secretary of State Antony Blinkin supported the T-Russian deal. Ostensibly, all major forces that are talking about the emergence of The Great Game lost their steams. The apprehension that South Asia would soon witness a devastating nuclear war died down forever, God willing.

Gilgamesh wrote:

When the believers speak, the evil forces have to die. Thank you, China for your brilliant diplomacy that is changing the world. And let the forces that advocate wars face the wrath of God.

  

UNITED STATES DONATES THREE MILLION ADDITIONAL DOSES OF THE MODERNA COVID-19 VACCINE TO PAKISTAN

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 30, 2021: Today, the United States was pleased to donate three million doses of the life-saving Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to the Government of Pakistan for distribution to the Pakistani people.  These vaccines were delivered in partnership with the COVAX facility and UNICEF.

This donation is part of the 80 million doses the United States is sharing with the world, delivering on our pledge to facilitate equitably global access to safe and effective vaccines, which are essential to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.  As President Biden has said, the United States is committed to bringing the same urgency to international vaccination efforts that we have demonstrated at home.  

“We are here today because we share a common goal – supporting access to COVID-19 vaccines for the populations that need them the most” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires Angela P. Aggeler. “The arrival of these three million doses is in addition to the 2.5 million doses, the United States donated earlier this month to the people of Pakistan.  These vaccines, which come from our own domestic vaccine supply is a clear demonstration of President Biden’s promise – and our promises kept – to stand with the people of Pakistan in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

The United States has delivered more than $50 million in COVID-19 assistance through our partnership with the Government of Pakistan.  Since the start of the pandemic, the United States has worked together with Pakistan to improve infection prevention and control, enhance patient care, expand laboratory testing, disease monitoring, and case tracking in all districts, and support frontline healthcare workers.  Earlier this month, the U.S. government provided 2.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to the Pakistani people, for a total of 5.5 million doses from the United States

own vaccine supply.  

Separately, the United States through USAID has contributed $2 billion to support COVAX, making the United States the single largest contributor to global COVID-19 vaccine access.  Pakistan has received 2.4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine since May as part of the COVAX effort. 

 

  

Reviving Arsène Lupin

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 26, 2021: My best friend Air Commodore Pervez Akhtar Khan, gave me today the best news. Netflix is sterilizing Arsène Lupin. Lupin is a fictional gentleman thief and master of disguise created in 1905 by French writer Maurice Leblanc. He was originally called Arsène Lopin until a local politician of the same name protested. The character was first introduced in a series of short stories serialized in the magazine Je sais tout. The first story, "The Arrest of Arsène Lupin", was published on 15 July 1905.

Lupin was featured in 17 novels and 39 novellas by Leblanc, with the novellas or short stories collected into book form for a total of 24 books. The number becomes 25 if the 1923 novel The Secret Tomb is counted: Lupin does not appear in it, but the main character Dorothée solves one of Arsène Lupin's four fabulous secrets.

The character has also appeared in several books by other writers as well as numerous film, television, stage play, as well as comic book adaptations. Five authorized sequels were written in the 1970s by the celebrated mystery writing team of Boileau-Narcejac.

I remember that I started to read Lupin when I was 13 years old. However, I read the Arabic rendering of the original Lupin. I love the character and the imagination of the author Maurice Leblanc. I advise all friends to see the serial or to read the novels. You will enjoy Lupin, his tricks, and his women.

 

 Taliban’s contact with India

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 26, 2021: At last the Mother of all adventures is in the open. India confirmed direct contact with the Taliban. Ostensibly, the possible danger of the Taliban on Indian-held AJ&K is the motive. Now, the Indians are telling us that the Taliban militia does pose a danger. The Taliban could extend its military expansion to Kashmir.

Nobody knows how to neutralize the Danger of the Taliban. One way is that a deal could be made with the Taliban. New Delhi is ready to give AJ&K to the Taliban and makes it advance into Pakistan to settle a score with the Establishment which ousted it from power in the aftermath of 9/11. This means the Taliban would open a front against Iran and the Northern Alliance that took part in ousting the militia from power on October 7, 2001.

Once inside Pakistan, the Taliban would eye Pak nuclear and missiles assets and much more unprintable, and concealed facts.

Gilgamesh wrote:

A.I is in action along with experts who know its techniques. Beautiful minds produce love and poetry. The evil minds produce malicious designs in line with the so-called “creative anarchy.” Take care.

The bizarre webinar

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 24, 2021: During this seemingly unending season of the spread of Covid-19, all and sundry have relied extensively on webinars to communicate with others. Those involved in the activity, seem to love this job since it saves them the trouble of performing their duties. It also jams their brain since the process does not require them to think or to be innovative.

During the last two years, I received invitations from various institutions in Pakistan and abroad. However, I opted not to participate. My daughter Widad Jassim asked me why I don’t like a webinar? I promptly answered, “Because it robs my humanity and makes me an animal.”

Widad was now more interested. She asked me to qualify my views. I convinced her by saying, “ In sociology, man is defined as a social animal. Take away social, you will be ended with an animal. I definitely insist on social contacts because it becomes human contacts.

It is a request to all who concern to cancel webinars. It’s not a demand.

 The peculiar case of Taliban

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 23, 2021: Unheard of. How can the Taliban(T) aquire95 percent of the Afghan lands in just 7 days? Nobody would ever believe its story, Yet, most military observers confirm that T had concurred crossing corridors with Iran, Pakistan, Russia, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kirghizstan, and Turkmenistan. Ostensibly, T is composed of supermen. Or, T has some supernatural power or Some unseen forces fought along with the fighters of T.

Those unseen fighters made the superpower of the region look mediocre.

However, my scientific background rejects all those theories. Since there are slight elements of truth in those theories, I find myself taking refuge in the Bohr Postulates that served as the foundation stones of Quantum physics.

Postulate 1: Pakistan helped T due to their known affinity. My mind rejected this postulate since the scale of support and logistics are beyond Pakistan.

Postulate 2: India helped with money and volunteers. I dismissed this postulate since India is a staunch enemy of T.

Postulate 3: Russia helped to neutralize T in CARs. This could be slightly feasible but I reject it since it contrasts with the style of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Postulate 4. Iran helped T. I quickly dismissed this postulate since T had committed the worst ever massacres against the Shiites in Mazar Sharif. T continues with the notion that “Shiites are Kafir.” Thus, Iran would be the last one to help T in this mission.

Postulate 5. The US helped T. This could be slightly possible. However, T is not credible. Nobody in the international community wants to make a transaction with it. Even Qatar would change its mind when discovers the atrocities of T.

Postulate 6: Trump administration made a secret deal with T. The deal was controversial. It made US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis resign. This could be the closest to reality. The deal included a deliberate mechanism for the military expansion of T in Afghanistan. T waited until the withdrawal of the US troops from Bagram base to initiate the secret deal. Once, we know the details of the secret deal, one might find an ingenious plan that was done by the supercomputers of  A.L (Artificial Intelligence.)

 Remembering Basra

She said, “Don’t you remember me,

I’m your Basra, your first love, will be”

I said,” What can I say I am now at rest,

But soon will like volcano burst,

Soon you will see me beside you sit,

To have my usual, enduring glace,

Seeing your waters sing, dance,

Nothing left in me except you,

Come lift me, let me go through,

Your beauty, your peaceful face,

Your angels flying around the space,

Come, cross the borders, embrace,

Me like before when we lived in peace,

Come give me hand, save my frail life,

Let us revive the past, let us strive,

Let us erase unwanted present day,

Let us just dream, having our say,

Spread  your hair without delay,

Let me smell you before  turning  a clay,

Take away this mood of misery, despair,

Life kills  us all fair and unfair,

Jassim Taqui

Islamabad dated23.7.2021

 

 

 Address in Urdu

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

 Islamabad July 22, The US charge de affairs a.i. to Pakistan Her Excellency Angela Aggler came with a good surprise when she extended her greeting to the nation on the advent of Eid ul Adha in the Urdu Language. 

I enjoyed the speech of Her Excellency especially being trilingual (Arabic, English, and Urdu).

However, I would like to suggest that the translators of her English speech should avoid using compound or/and long sentences. Use simple sentences with minimum grammar. Control vocabulary by being very selective to ensure simplicity. This would make the speech easier to read and pronounce, and more exciting.

The writer is Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics.

 

 Pakistan and Khalilzad

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

US Embassy Statement on the Visit to Pakistan by Ambassador Khalilzad

Islamabad, July 19, 2021:U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad visited Islamabad on July 19.  In meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Ambassador Khalilzad emphasized the urgency of a comprehensive political settlement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban, one that leads to sustainable peace and preserves Afghanistan’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.  

Continued war in Afghanistan poses a risk to the entire region and holds back its development. Peace, by contrast, will enable regional connectivity and increased trade and development. We commit to do our part to make this vision a reality. Tangible and material support for the Afghanistan peace process is vital for its ultimate success, as are positive long-term relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

 

 Declare neutrality

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 20, 2021: in a tense South Asian Subcontinent, a multi-polar system is evolving. Both superpowers and regional powers are using tremendous pressure on Pakistan. Ostensibly, Islamabad seems to be lost in translation. All and sundry want Pakistan on their side given its unique geopolitical situation. The Foreign Office should stop its extemporaneous policy.

However, Pakistan could side with none of these powers. Islamabad could invoke the principle of neutrality on the Swiss model. In 2011, Al-Bab proposed neutrality as the way out.

 

While Pakistan managed to be a permanent member of SCO following unprecedented improvement of its ties with the Russian Federation, the policymakers should seriously think of pursuing a neutral policy towards all regional and international powers.

The unique strategic location of Pakistan obliges Islamabad to pursue strict neutrality especially when the present Cold War era and conflicting interests would inevitably ignite future wars. The foreign policy decision-makers should opt for neutrality as defined in sections 5 and 13 of the Hague Convention of 1907.

This policy would ensure that belligerents would not invade Pakistan. Furthermore, neutrality would not compromise Pakistan’s right to resist, foil or deter any attempt to compromise its neutrality.

A neutral Pakistan would have a better space improving its relations with all superpowers, regional powers, and even states facing internal conflict. Thus, Pakistan would retain its unique relations with traditional allies like the United States, China, and Saudi Arabia. Neutrality should be an incentive to promote better relations with the EU, Iran, and other important states in the GCC, OIC, NAM, SARC, G-8, and African Union.

 

 The scandal of Silsila

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 19, 2021: For three consecutive days, all and sundry in Islamabad are talking loudly about what is called the Silsila Scandal (SS). It is related to the odious kidnapping and torture of “Silsila” the daughter of the Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Najibullah Alikhail for 5 hours, and sudden release from captivity.

Subsequently, SS re-appeared, thank God, safe and sound. However, the kidnappers did the damage. Alikhail was recalled by the Afghan Government creating yet another stumble block in the Pak-Afghan relations.

The good news, however, is that the police arrested SS’ kidnapper, Shoaib. He is now in police custody and confessed his involvement in the SS’s kidnapping.

Sometimes today, the Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad is scheduled to inform the nation about the findings of his investigation of the curious case of SS.

Without wasting any time, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Quereshi should extend official and an unqualified apology to his Afghan counterpart to quickly close the case.

Kidnapping and torturing women are absolutely forbidden by the culture of both countries. This is stemmed from the high degree of respect the Holy Quran gives to women by placing Paradise under the feet of mothers. Let us learn how to say “sorry.”

Let us walk on a new path that is well described by Rumi; Although the road is never-ending, take a step and keep walking, never fear to say,” I am sorry.”

 Enter  Hibatullah Akhundzada

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 18, 2021: Good news has come at last. The leader of the Taliban Hibatullah Akhundzada has given today the best news ever. He blessed the resolving of the Afghan issue through peaceful means. A slap in the face is given to the militant. Haqqani network is now doomed. Saif ul Adil could probably be packing his luggage somewhere else. Perhaps, he would opt for Mu Ko Thong islands.

Akhundzada is no ordinary person. He is also a religious scholar. He had been the head of the Taliban’s Islamic courts. Nobody should be better in the fatwas. Thus everyone should face his verdicts and toe line and adapt.

With his activation, there is a glimpse of hope that we are knocking on the doors of stability in the region.

 

 The end of everyone era in Afghanistan

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 17, 2021: Revisiting the US involvement in Afghanistan, one finds out that the successive administrations ignored some fundamentals strategic issues. The first is that Afghans and Taliban are not friends of anybody as eloquently testified by their behaviors through centuries. It is a fantasy on the part of any US administration, US, India, Iran, Russia, China, and CAR to assume that they would benefit from the loss of America.

Rather, the opposite is true. Afghanistan remains a tribal society that can be run through Loya Jirga plus its representative King as demonstrated by the rule of King Zahir Shah. In his era, an acquiescent and not parliamentary democracy functioned without real power. It was the worst exploiting political regime. But somehow it survived.

The same is partially true for Pakistan. Unfortunately, the democratic systems in the two countries miserably failed, It has failed in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka as well. You just look at the ruling elites in these South Asian countries(SAC) and you find out that the ruling elites are either dynasties or the military in the case of Pakistan.

All institutions of the states are functioning as rubber stamps while the decision-making is made somewhere else and not in the compliant parliaments and the house of senates.

To maintain brevity, I am not going to give more examples to reinforce my views. Watch, however, the deep states, you would them everywhere in the SAC.

What the Americans have done is that they gifted Afghanistan to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. No other country would benefit. All SAC are targets of Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Consider it an Algebraic equation and try to find whether this notion is right or not. You would find this final equation:

US exit Afghanistan= loss of SAC or

US exit Afghanistan= win of Al-Qaeda + ISIS.

If you consider solving the above two equations into one  single equation similar to that of the Grand Uniform Theory of Abdul Salam for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize, you would end up with this equation by combining the above two equations:

US exit of Afghanistan= Zero for all SACs.

Nobody knows.  You may win a Nobel Prize.

If you think even harder and try to use the Pauli Exclusion Principle, Bohr Theory, and Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle that leads to the famous  Einstein theory  E =mc2, we might be able to invent the Time Machine of David Duncan that would enable us to travel in time. We would go back to the past to stop the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and hence make sure that Loya Jirga and King Zahir Shah remain in power.

With AI(Artificial Intelligence) we might make it. Anyone who does the feat might get the Novel Prize in Science fiction.

One last line remains. Mr. President, Joe Biden, sir, your decision to quit Afghanistan is correct. Go ahead in your mission and never turn around.  

The author is BS in Chemistry(Basra University), MS in Physical Chemistry (QAU), and Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics(Punjab University). He is an ardent believer in Travel in Time.

This article is dedicated to Basra University where I got my basic understanding of Quantum Mechanics topping the Faculty of Chemistry.

 

Copyrights: This article or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author.

 US Embassy and Lincoln Corner at NUST

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 14, 2021: U.S. Embassy Islamabad to Establish a Lincoln Corner at National University of Sciences and Technology

ISLAMABAD, July 16, 2021 - The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Lincoln Corner on the NUST campus in Sector H-12, Islamabad.

Mr. Raymond Castillo, the U.S. Embassy’s Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, and Dr. Osman Hasan, Pro-Rector of Academics at NUST, signed an MoU to establish and run the Lincoln Corner.  Additionally, representatives from the U.S. Embassy joined Lieutenant General Engineer Javed Mahmood Bukhari (retired), NUST Rector, and Dr. Riaz Ahmad, Head of the NUST International Office, for the ceremony.

In his remarks, Mr. Castillo said, “I believe that the Lincoln Corner at NUST will be a substantial resource for young leaders seeking to build their networks, hone their cross-cultural skills, and deepen their relationship with the United States.”

In joining the Lincoln Corners community, NUST becomes part of an 18-member strong network of partnerships between the U.S. Mission to Pakistan and eminent Pakistani institutes of education and culture.  Lincoln Corners are event spaces and resource centers that connect young leaders with the United States.  Online and in-person programs are free and open to the public. 

The state-of-the-art Lincoln Corner at NUST will be located in the campus’s Central Library and will include a maker space lab, comprehensive physical and digital information resources, and an Americana-themed public events space.  

Construction of the Lincoln Corner NUST is anticipated to begin later this summer.

 

 US and KPK

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 16, 2021:

UNITED STATES AND KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA IMPROVE DIABETES TREATMENT

ISLAMABAD, July 16, 2021 - The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is partnering with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to improve diabetes treatment.  By installing a case-based information management system – called the D-Talk Electronic Medical Records system - at 20 health facilities across the province, they will revolutionize the case management of diabetic patients and improve the availability of insulin at provincial health facilities.

“USAID is committed to extending all possible support to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for sustainable public health systems in the province,” said Dr. Enilda Martin, Director of USAID/Pakistan’s Office of Health, Population and Nutrition.

“If we want Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to progress and health services to be on par with the developed world, digitization is the key,” said KP Secretary of Health, Mr. Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah.  “Digitizing and having a dedicated management information system for various functions in the department is the way towards e-governance and effective patient management in the future.”

The U.S. government support will also include an Asset Management Information System to automate the inventory at health facilities and thereby manage resources more effectively, reducing the waste of expensive equipment and assets to streamline health management in the province.

Additionally, USAID has partnered with the Government of Pakistan’s health and disaster management authorities in their COVID-19 pandemic response to strengthen district-level monitoring and rapid response teams, expand testing, provide ventilators, and train health workers across COVID-19 related service delivery systems.  This partnership encourages citizens to have confidence in the public health system and seek care in local health facilities.

 

 Al-Ghad TV spills the beans

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, July 16, 2021: In an exclusive, the London-based Al-Ghad TV(Arabic) disclosed that the Taliban proposed to Ashraf Ghani Government a three moth months truce. During the period, the proposal suggests joint efforts to establish a permanent ceasefire and a political settlement of the Afghan civil war.

By far, this is the most promising development since the start of military operations in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal from the Bagram base on July 3, 2021.

Earlier, the Taliban rejected all direct and indict talks with the Government of Ashraf Ghani, insisting on a military victor that would enable it establishing its Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on the same lines of its first stint during the period 1996-2001.

This shows that the Taliban is in a very bad situation and that its forces along with that of Saif ul Adil have suffered huge losses at the hands of Ashraf Ghani. Most probably, Kabul would reject the offer because releasing 5000 war-hardening Taliban POWs would strengthen the Taliban and would prolong the war.

Things could dramatically change if the US uses drones to kill Sirajuddin Haqqani and/or Saif ul Adil. In such a possibility, Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan would be doomed.