Taliban collides with Europe

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 31, 2021: When the Taliban(T) is still attempting to form a broad-based government, the spokesperson of the T Zabihullah Mujahid said the government in Afghanistan would accept any Afghan migrants whose applications for asylum were rejected in Europe and they would then face court.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan would accept any Afghan migrants whose applications for asylum were rejected in Europe and they would then face court.

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer has since conceded that that is no longer possible but said he wants "deportation centers" set up in neighboring countries that would take them in.

Ostensibly, the T is opting for confrontation with the EU. This is strange indeed give the T stated that delegations were sent to various EU countries to assure that the T is a changed outfit and it was willing to cooperate with them in the war against terror.

Undoubtedly, the T fails to understand the mechanism of democracy and the mindset of the EU which was carefully watching the conduct of the T. And the T failed in its first move towards reconciliation. Maybe the T should appoint a member of the EU as an advisor or a lobby to guide the outfit towards a functional democracy of the Islamic Emirate of Taliban in Afghanistan.

ISIS traps for Joe Biden

 ISIS traps for Joe Biden

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 30, 2021: In the most interesting development of the events of Afghanistan, the capital Kabul is witnessing a war of attrition between ISIS and the CENTCOM. This war has created chaos, anarchy, and the accompanied destabilization of Afghanistan. This is exactly what ISIS is aiming to act.

The war continues. It is expected to be more lethal after the evacuation of US and NATO troops from Kabul ben the end of August.

Turkey, Hungry, and Pakistan (members of the NATO-formed Committee of the three) would be deeply involved in Afghanistan unless they are opt-out.

For Pakistan, the ISIS-CENTCOM involvement in Pakistan is disastrous. It might divert the attention of Pakistan away from a surprise front being planned by ISIS to devastate Pakistan and its armed forces.

The US President Joe Biden has ostensibly fallen into the trap set up by ISIS.

The poor Taliban seems to be clueless about what is happening due to their simplistic thinking and planning. ISIS has ensured that they too fall into the trap along with Joe Biden. Their second Islamic Emirate could not see the light of the day.  

Who would run Kabul airport?

 Who would run Kabul airport?

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 29, 2021: The issue of who would run the Kabul airport continues to be debated. There was a hope that Turkey would do the job in line with the NATO decision that formed a tripartite committee consisting of Turkey, Hungry, and Pakistan to run the airport. According to the decision, 1500 troops would guard the airport and major roads leading to it(500 from every three countries). However, the Taliban(T) rejected the NATO committee and insisted that all troops should be withdrawn by 31^st August.

Recently, the Taliban appointed a mister of finance and a minister of intelligence but left the portfolio of civil aviation vacant. The T was hoping to find some technical hand from the erstwhile regime to run the airport. However, no one wanted to do the job.

The latest reports suggest that the  T had asked Turkey for technical help to run Kabul airport after the departure of foreign forces but insisted that Ankara’s military also withdraw fully by the end-August.

Ostensibly, this T’s condition leaves Ankara with a difficult decision over whether to accept a dangerous job.

The moral of this story is that the T is very rigid and nobody is ready to cooperate with a government of this attitude.

 Professor Abdul Rahman Tahir Surti

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 28, 2021: I met Professor Abdul Rahman Tahir Surti by chance in 1972 at the Islamic Research Institute(IRI), Islamabad. I never thought at that time I was talking to a giant in the Arabic language and the Tafseer(interpretation of holy Quran). His scope of research was gigantic. It included examining different shades of words meaning, explanation, interpretation based on studying a written text and clarifying its meaning according to the rules of scientific criticism, philology, and ideological tradition, and clarifying what is ambiguous in it or what is a cause for controversy. And Suti was in full command.

Surti showed his genius in his book, Tafseer Mujahid (Investigation of the manuscript of the interpretation of holy Quran by  Mujahid). Ironically IRI refused to publish the book since its Director  Ma’soomi wanted Surti to drop the introduction that was a masterpiece in moderation. Surti himself rejected the condition but the former Emir of Qatar  Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani published the book at his own expense.

Everyone in IRI sympathized with Surti. Dr. Khalid Detlev who was on deputation in IRI by Asia Foundation summarized the story by renaming ng Ma’soomi as “Ma’doomi” which means nothingness.

Surti is a pride of Pakistan and the entire Muslim world. It is about time to honor Surti after death and a chair should be dedicated in his name at the IRI.

 UNICEF- Who rescues Pakistan

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 27, 2021: Today three million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Government of the United States were delivered by the COVAX Facility to Pakistan. This is the first tranche of 10,358,010 US-donated doses which are being supplied through the global COVID-19 equity scheme’s dose-sharing mechanism.  

 

Over the past four months, COVAX has delivered more than 17 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Pakistan. This includes 3 million doses of Pfizer and 5.5 million doses of Moderna donated by the United States under COVAX’s dose-sharing mechanism; 6.1 million doses of Sinopharm, 2.4 million doses of AstraZeneca, and 100,160 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine procured by COVAX. More doses are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

 

All doses support the Government of Pakistan’s national vaccination campaign. The National Command and Operation Center has just announced that children above the age of 17 would be eligible for vaccination from September 1^st, as well as anyone above 12 who is immunocompromised.

 

“COVID -19 vaccines are effective and safe. The arrival of the additional COVAX vaccine comes at a crucial time when Pakistan is facing a surge in COVID-19 infections with approximately reporting 4,000 cases per day.  WHO appreciates the Government of the United States for their continued and generous support to Pakistan, said Dr. Palitha Mahipala, WHO Representative in Pakistan. “WHO is committed to ensuring equitable vaccine allocation leaving no one behind and fully supports the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to increase availability and safe administration of vaccines to cover 70 million people by end of this year. WHO urges people to maintain COVID protective measures while the national vaccination campaign continues to be rolled out and expanded.” 

 

In the past seven months, 14 million people have been fully vaccinated, and 38 million have received the first dose of vaccine against the coronavirus COVID-19 in Pakistan. The Government-led campaign relies on vaccines procured via COVAX and through bilateral agreements.

 

More than one million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country so far and more than 25,000 people have succumbed to the virus.

 

“UNICEF thanks the Government of United States for its generous donation of vaccines to Pakistan through the COVAX facility. We look forward to more vaccines becoming available in the country as other COVAX partners share their doses of vaccines and help secure full funding for the global initiative and more vaccines. Worldwide solidarity is the only way to ensure equitable vaccine access for every person on Earth, so they can have access to the same protection against COVID-19, no matter where they live,” said Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan. “UNICEF commends the Government of Pakistan for its efficient roll-out of the vaccination campaign, which will now include children above the age of 17 and children above 12 who are immunocompromised, as announced by the National Command and Operation Center. We must also ensure that women get vaccinated, including pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, for whom COVID-19 vaccines are safe. UNICEF will continue to offer technical, logistical, and communication support to the NCOC’s plan to vaccinate at least 70 million people by the end of this year.”

 

Strictly complying with COVID-19 safety measures remains crucial to curb the spread of the virus. These include regularly washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds or use a sanitizer; wear a mask; remain at least six feet away from other people; avoid crowded places, and stay home when having COVID-19 symptoms.

 

“The COVAX Facility and Gavi are proud to support this delivery of COVID vaccines and commend the Government of Pakistan for their continuing efforts to ensure that vulnerable populations in Pakistan are protected from COVID-19,” said Alexa Reynolds, Gavi Senior Country Manager for Pakistan.

 

The COVAX Facility aims to help address the acute phase of the global pandemic by the end of 2021 by providing rapid, fair, and equitable access to approved vaccines to all participating countries, regardless of income level. It enables the protection of frontline health care and social workers, as well as other high-risk and vulnerable groups.

 

COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access) is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and WHO, together with UNICEF. It is funded thanks to generous support from partner governments, foundations, and private-sector corporations. So far it has delivered more than 90 million doses of different COVID-19 vaccines to 133 countries and territories around the world.

                                

 

 Angela Aggeler should be honored

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 26, 2021: This is purely the Al-Bab initiative. The US charge d’ Affairs a.i. Angela Aggeler should be honored for her untiring efforts to promote relations with Pakistan and assist people in facing Covid-19.

Synopsis:

In May, Aggeler distributed 1.2 million Covid-19 vaccines. On July 2, 2021, 2.5 million doses of the Moderna Covide-19 vaccine were donated (COVAX and UNICEF initiative.) On July 25, 2021, the Joe Biden administration decided to provide Pakistan $300 million for the Afghan refugees’ estimated at 3 million. On August 26 2020 3.7 million doses of the life-saving Pfizer vaccine were delivered to the government of Pakistan; bringing the total number of dosses sent from the United States to Pakistan 9.2 million. The US delivered more than $63 million in Covid-19 assistance.

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, and support frontline healthcare workers.   

The United States is the single largest contributor supporting COVAX efforts toward global COVID-19 vaccine access.   

Given the above facts and many other contributions in fighting drug trafficking in KPK province and promoting agriculture, dam projects, and generating cheap electricity via hydel power. It is submitted that Angela Aggeler and her team should be given an appropriate medal in recognition of their work.

 

 UNITED STATES PROVIDES 3.7 MILLION DOSES OF PFIZER VACCINE TO PAKISTAN TO ADDRESS DEADLY COVID-19 SURGE 

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad,  August 26, 2021:  Today, the United States donated 3.7 million doses of the life-saving Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to the Government of Pakistan for distribution to the Pakistani people through the COVAX facility.  Today’s donation of 3.7 million vaccines is in addition to the 5.5 million Moderna vaccine doses that the U.S. government donated to Pakistan in July, bringing the total number of doses sent from the United States to Pakistan to over 9.2 million. 

This donation is part of the 500 million Pfizer doses the United States purchased this summer to deliver to 92 countries and economies worldwide, including Pakistan, to fulfill President Joe Biden’s commitment to provide safe and effective vaccines around the world and supercharge the global fight against the pandemic. 

“There is an urgency, now more than ever, to put an end to this devastating pandemic, and Pakistan and the United States are continuing to work together to achieve that goal,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires Angela P. Aggeler.  “The United States is proud to partner with the Pakistani people to defeat COVID-19.  Together, we will continue to build a world that is safer and more secure against the threat of infectious disease.” 

The United States has also delivered more than $63 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 and support frontline healthcare workers.   

The United States is the single largest contributor supporting COVAX efforts toward global COVID-19 vaccine access.   

 

 Taliban And SCO

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 26, 2021: While Pakistan is endeavoring hard to reset ties with the US, a new trend emerges rather than sticking to SCO. In this regard, PM Imran Khan held a telephonic conversation with the Russian President Vladimir Putin wherein both leaders agreed to strengthen SCO.

Accordingly, Prime Minister Imran Khan would attend the annual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)’s Heads of States to be held on September 16-17, 2021, in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

One fails to understand how can Pakistan strengthen its ties with the SCO when Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan are unhappy over PM’s courting the Taliban.

While the EU, especially France and Germany opposed recognition of the Taliban, Imran Khan is lobbying the international community to recognize the unrepentant Taliban. Ostensibly, Imran Khan forgot the massacres committed by the Taliban in Mazar Sharif in 1996 in which over 25000 were killed in cold blood. How can the civilized world agree to deal with an outfit whose hands are stained with the blood of thousands of innocent people?

How can Imran Khan deal with the issue of the Taliban when the UN Security Council passes a mandatory decision to impose massive sanctions on it as a punishment and taming?

What would Imran Khan do if the SCO imposed sanctions on the Taliban? 

 Appeal to Algeria to reverse decision

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 25, 2021: In an unprecedented move, Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco, citing what it claimed were hostile acts, plunging decades of difficult relations between the North African neighbors to their lowest point since the 1970s.

Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco, citing what it claimed were hostile acts, plunging decades of difficult relations between the North African neighbors to their lowest ebb since the 1970s.

Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Ramtane Lamamra, announcing the move Tuesday in a televised press conference, laid out a litany of grievances going back decades, which include alleged Moroccan support for separatists in Algeria and a dispute over the Western Sahara region. He also cited more recent causes for strain, including allegations of espionage and Morocco’s new ties with Israel. 

The move risks escalating tensions in a region already mired in disarray. Algeria’s neighbor, Tunisia, is in the midst of an internal political power fight while Libya is struggling for stability as part of a U.N.-backed push to end nearly a decade of fighting in the OPEC member. 

The rift between two key allies of the West may also have implications for a broader fight against terrorism in the region. And it could complicate a pact allowing Algeria to transport gas to Europe via Morocco in exchange for intake that mostly feeds Moroccan gas-fired power plants. The agreement is scheduled to expire in October. 

Given the gravity of the situation, one would appeal to Algeria to reverse its decision and to opt to resolve disputes and allegations through bilateral peaceful means. If that is not possible, the Arab League or African Union should be mobilized to contain the differences and find an acceptable framework to resolving them.

 

 

 CIA chief met Abdul Ghani Baradar

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 24, 2021: According to Yahoo news US President Joe Biden sent CIA Director William Burns to meet Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul on Monday in the highest-level official encounter since the militant group took over the Afghan capital, a U.S. official and a source familiar with government activity told Reuters on Tuesday.

Both sources spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Biden administration has been evacuating the U.S. citizens and other allies amid chaos at Kabul airport ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline to pull out of Afghanistan.

The Washington Post, citing U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, first reported the meeting.

The White House and a CIA representative declined to comment. A Taliban spokesman said he was not aware if Baradar met the CIA chief.

Biden last week said U.S. troops may stay in Afghanistan past his Aug. 31 deadline in order to evacuate Americans.

However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Tuesday the group had not agreed to extend the deadline for evacuation and they wanted all foreign evacuations to be completed by Aug. 31.

 

G7 knocks on the door of the Taliban

 G7 knocks on the door of the Taliban

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 24, 2021: Having opted for the globalization of Jihad through the Haqqani network, the G7 is taken the threat seriously.

Today, the G7 foreign ministers are meeting in Berlin to discuss the new threat. Among other topics that would be deliberated upon is the incident at Kabul airport. Indications suggest that G7 would not extend the evacuation window to all their citizens and Afghans more time to fly out of Kabul airport.

Thus, US President Joe Biden will face pressure to extend an August 31 deadline to evacuate over 20,000 seekings

to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan when he meets G7 leaders at a virtual meeting on Tuesday.

One expects some crucial decisions by G7 leaders on combating global Jihad that the Taliban is planning. It is expected that massive sanctions would be imposed on the Taliban. G7 has the option of using drones to neutralize the terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan.

 Group of 5+ Group of 7 in action

Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, August 23, 2021: Following long inaction, the major Western intelligence agencies are now in action. The topic is to find ways and means to control mullah terrorism around the world.

The Group of 5 (G5) encompasses five nations that have joined together for an active role in the rapidly evolving international order. The G5 seeks to find a common solution to global challenges.

G5 includes Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa.

In tandem, the Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Its members are the world’s largest IMF advanced economies and the wealthiest liberal democracies. G7is officially organized around shared values of pluralism and representative government. As of 2018, the G7 nations account for close to 60 percent of global net wealth($317 trillion), 32 to 46 percent of global gross domestic product, and 770 million people or 10 percent of the world’s population.

Most members are great powers in global affairs and can maintain mutually close economic, military and diplomatic relations.

Most probably, G5 and G7 have combined following fears that the Taliban might introduce a global Jihad which was first introduced by Jalaluddin Haqqani in 1979 as a tool to confront the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Theoretically, the Taliban can through Global Jihadism conduct incidents of terrorism in G5 and G7 countries greater in size and magnitude than those of 9/11. 

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

عودة للقديسة الثانية صباح

فيض الرحمة - الحلقة الخامسة و الاخيرة 

التاريخ: 23 آب/اغسطس 2021م

بقلم: جاسم تقي

        فكرت كثيرا لماذا طرأ على ذهني فجأة لقب "القديسة". فجأة عرفت الجواب. ايام الصبا كنت مولعا باللغة الانجليزية فدرست في المعهد البريطاني في البصرة اللغة الانجليزية بأسوب مبسط اعتمد على مسرحيات شكسبير المعرفة و روايات شارل ديكنز بلغة مبسطة محدودة الكلماتretold fiction . صادف انني التقيت احد المبشرين المسيحيين في البصرة فتحدثت اليه بلغة انجليزية تفوق نسبيا لغة مدرس اللغة الانجليزية في الاعدادية المركزية في العشار. اهداني المبشر كتاب الانجيل المكتوب بلغة مبسطة لغير الناطقين باللغة الانجليزية. عند قراءتي للإنجيل تعرفت على القديسة مريم التي ذكرت في القرآن الكريم ايضا.

        كانت في نفسي رغبة ملحة في تعلم اللغة الفرنسية لكنني لم اتمكن حتى من البدء بتعلمها بسبب انشغالي باللغتين العربية و الانجليزية و لأن نظام التعليم في العراق لم يعتمد لغة ثالثة (تغير الوضع الآن). لكنني بدأت قبل حوالي شهر بتعلم اللغة الفرنسية اون لاين و دون مدرس فدهشت لعظمة اللغة الفرنسية والكلمات و المصطلحات الانجليزية الجمة فيها حيث تكتب بصورة و تلفظ بصورة اخرى. ادهشني موسيقية اللغة الفرنسية لاسيما و انا اعشق الموسيقى.

        نعود للقديسة صباح و لها قصة اخرى. عندما كنت في الصف الاول ابتدائي نجحت الاول على المدرسة و حصلت في كل المواد 10/10 بفضل طيبة قلب و لطف المعلم عبد المنعم( لن انس اسمه مطلقا بسبب حنانه و لطفه و الكاريزما الخاصة التي كان يتحلى بها). لحسن حظي كان عبد المنعم يدرسني كافة المواد فحرصت ان اكرمه بالمذاكرة.

   اما بنت زوجة ابي (سعاد) فقد رسبت لأنها كانت غبية. عندما علمت زوجة ابي بذلك اخرجتني من المدرسة و طلبت مني ان اعمال حمّال في سوق البصرة الكبير و هددتني بالسرداب اذا كشفت ذلك الامر لأبي او اختي سهام او اي فرد من افراد الاسرة.

        كنت عبيطا فظننت ان ذلك القرار جاء في صالحي. لكنني بعد فترة شعرت بالفراغ و تجرأت و كشفت الامر للقديسة صباح. غضبت صباح مني لكنها تحدثت مع امها زهراء التي ارجعتني للمدرسة كي لا تكرهها بنتها.

      ادركت ان التعليم شيء مفيد لذلك حاولت زوجة ابي حرماني منه فقررت ان اتفوق في التعليم لدرجة انني كنت الاول في كافة المراحل الدراسية وحتى حصولي على الدكتوراه (رب ضارة نافعة). خدمتني زهراء دون ان تدري او ربما الارادة السماوية شاءت ذلك و أوعزت الى  القديسة صباح لتحث امها على ارجاعي للمدرسة.

        افكر الآن جديا: لماذا اخبرت القديسة صباح بإخراجي من المدرسة و لم اخبر القديسة سهام؟ لا اعرف الجواب. لكني اعتقد ان تقاربي بالعمر مع القديسة صباح و ارتياحي اليها و ثقتي بها كانت هي العوامل المرجحة. نحن لا نعرف كنه الاشياء لوجود قوة سماوية عارفة تسيّر الامور اذا آمنا بها.

        قررت ان تكون هذه الحلقة هي الاخيرة لأن العبرة ليس بالكلام و انما بالمضمون و لأن "خير الكلام ما قل و دل". خرجت من الازمات بعون من شخصية المفروض ان لا اميل اليها وهي شخصية القديسة صباح التي غيرت ايجابيا كل تفكيري فجعلتني متفائلا دائما رغم الصعوبات الجمة التي واجهتها طيلة حياتي بما في ذلك 50 سنة من المنفى في باكستان اكملت فيها تعليمي حاصلا على ماجستير و دكتوراه بدرجة امتياز.

   نسيت كل شيء. تحول الغضب الى اعتاق فصفحت عن زوجة ابي زهراء اكراما لبنتها القديسة صباح و ادعو لله ان يغفر ذنوبها ايضا فالميت لا يستحق الا الرحمة. فإن اراد المرء ان يغفر الله ذنوبه لا بد عليه ان يدعو الله ان يغفر ذنوب اعدائه.

انتهت المذكرات.