The Baloch House

The Belt and Road Initiative, China’s mega-plan for global infrastructure, will transform the lives and work of tens of thousands of researchers.By Ehsan Masood1 MAY 2019On a freezing November morning, Ashraf Islam is 3,000 kilometres from his family in balmy Bangladesh, but the weather is far from his mind as he gushes about the science opportunities he has encountered in Beijing.“We have good facilities at home, but the facilities here are nothing like what I’ve used before,” says Islam, who is working towards a PhD in China researching techniques to remove organic matter from wastewater, an acute problem in Bangladesh.Htet Aung Phyo, a PhD student from Myanmar, is using his Chinese-funded fellowship in Beijing to develop ways to use bacteria to extract copper from low-grade ore. If his project succeeds, it could help to extend the lives of copper mines in Myanmar, some of which are operated by a Chinese company. A breakthrough would also mean more jobs in his own country. “This is …

As most countries in India’s neighbourhood and Eurasia are participating in it, it will become more and more difficult for India to isolate its own connectivity plans from the BRI-linked projects.Moneycontrol Contributor@moneycontrolcom
Gulshan SachdevaThe second Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum, which ended recently in Beijing, attracted representatives from large number of countries and international organisations including 37 heads of states or governments. It was also claimed that new deals worth $64 billion were also signed.Both the final communiqué and the speechby Chinese President Xi Jinping were full of specific key words — green and clean connectivity, transparency, financial sustainability, international norms and standards, respect for laws and regulations of participating countries and commercial and fiscal sustainability of infrastructure projects. This was clearly aimed at projecting the BRI as a responsive and inclusive initiative.At the end of the summit, it was cl…

Chinese finance is attractive for good, practical reasons.BY JACOB MARDELL | MAY 1, 2019, 3:40 PMWorkers take down a Belt and Road Forum panel outside the venue of the forum in Beijing on April 27, 2019. GREG BAKER/AFP/GOOGLE IMAGESBojan is three months unemployed, and his wife earns just 120 euros a month—not nearly enough to feed a family of four. He blames Serbia’s increasingly authoritarian president, Aleksandar Vucic, for his troubles. He also blames the European Union, which he says is Vucic’s ultimate master. He describes Brussels as a vaguely imperialist entity that demands too much of Serbia while delivering little. “And China?” I ask. “China is good. China is here to help,” he says.That story is surprisingly common among Serbians, who largely view China as a reliable business partner and the country’s billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a wonderful economic opportunity. English-language coverage of Belt and Road largely targets the flaws of the initiative—princi…

Tahir NiazMay 01, 2019
ISLAMABAD   -   The lacklustre approach adopted by the federal and Balochistan governments has affected the pace of development at Gwadar Port and the Gwadar city in Balochistan province, according to the officials. The issues including pending decisions on application of taxes in the Port Free Zone, approval of Gwadar Master Plan, budget allocations pertaining to water, electricity, gas and basic infrastructure projects, lack of the railway linkage, putting Smart Port City project on no-priority list, slow funding and meager allocation for Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) business plan, power deficiency and non-connectivity with the national grid, water deficiency, completion of water projects, security issues, scarcity of clean drinking water, road linkages, poor IT infrastructure and no decision on the case for tariff rate for 300 megawatt coal-fired power plant in Gwadar have largely affected the pace of development at Gwadar, according to the documents and…

Andrew KorybkoMay 01, 2019
All Great Powers, including most recently even Russia and India, are increasingly expanding their influence in Africa as they seek to take part in the continent’s expected growth across this century, and CPEC provides the perfect opportunity for Pakistan to pivot there too so long as the country’s decision makers are aware of its many opportunities and successfully craft a comprehensive strategy for building mutually beneficial partnerships with those states.READ MORE: UN puts Jaish chief Masood Azhar on global terrorist listConceptual BasisAfrican countries don’t normally come to mind when discussing Pakistan’s future partners, but they should because CPEC is providing it with the opportunity to finally build mutually beneficial partnerships there. The flagship project of China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) global vision of New Silk Road connectivity will eventually serve to facilitate Chinese-African trade across Pakistani territory, which has in turn made Pak…

MANOJ JOSHIPakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was one of the 40 or so heads of state and government present at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in Beijing last week. In his speeches and remarks, he strongly batted for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its star project, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).Responding to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the BRF, Khan said that the BRI was “a model of collaboration, partnership, connectivity and shared prosperity” in a world of geopolitical uncertainty, rising inequality and trade barriers.Too busy to read? Listen to this instead.Islamabad and Beijing’s political ties remain sound, and this was evident from the outcome of his meetings with Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. Following Sunday’s formal meeting with Khan, President Xi Jinping reiterated the formulation that China and Pakistan were “iron friends”, and that Pakistan occupied a unique place in C…

Saleem ShahidUpdated May 01, 2019Since 2009, 911 police officials across Balochistan have been killed while combating terrorists which include two DIGs, two SSPs, one ASP, 19 DSPs, 23 inspectors, 75 sub-inspectors, 54 ASIs, 164 head constables, 552 constables and 79 class four employees of the police department. — Reuters/FileQUETTA: Since 2009, 911 police officials across Balochistan have been killed while combating terrorists which include two DIGs, two SSPs, one ASP, 19 DSPs, 23 inspectors, 75 sub-inspectors, 54 ASIs, 164 head constables, 552 constables and 79 class four employees of the police department.Read: How death stalks policemen in QuettaThese figures were given by Balochistan Inspector General of Police Mohsin Hassan Butt on Tuesday while talking to the media during his visit to under-construction police stations in the provincial capital.“Balochistan police have rendered great sacrifices to protect the lives of the people and restore peace to the province. They have neve…

Dawn.comUpdated May 01, 2019

The casualties occurred when terrorists from Afghanistan attacked Pakistan Army troops undertaking fencing efforts along the Pak-Afghan border in Alwara, North Waziristan. — Photo courtesy ISPRThree soldiers were martyred and seven others injured when a group of 60 to 70 terrorists from bases in Afghanistan attacked Pakistan Army troops undertaking fencing efforts along the Pak-Afghan border in Alwara, North Waziristan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.According to a statement issued by the ISPR, the troops effectively responded and repulsed the attack, killing and injuring scores of terrorists.The three Pakistan Army soldiers — Lance Naik Ali, Lance Naik Nazeer and Sepoy Imdadullah — were martyred in the exchange of fire and seven others were injured."While Pakistan security forces are solidifying border security through fencing and construction of forts to deny liberty of action to the terrorists, Afghan Security Forces and the authori…

*Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi
In accordance with paragraph 13 of resolution 1822 (2008) and subsequent related resolutions,  the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee makes accessible a narrative summary of reasons for the listing for individuals, groups, undertakings and entities included in the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List.QDi.422
Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi
Date on which the narrative summary became available on the Committee's website:
1 May 2019
Reason for listing:
Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi was listed on 1 May 2019 pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 2368 (2017) as being associated with Al-Qaida for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of”, “supplying, selling or transferring arms and related material to”, “recruiting for”, “otherwise supporting acts or activities of”, and “other acts or activities …

By Kamran YousafPublished: May 1, 2019
ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, Jaish-e-Muhmamad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar has been designated as a global terrorist under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1267.Azhar was blacklisted by UNSC sanctions committee after Pakistan and China dropped their objections to the latest proposal put forward by the US, UK and France to designate Masood as terrorist.Addressing a news conference here on Wednesday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal confirmed the development, saying the UNSC decision entails three steps i.e. assets freeze, arms embargo and travel restrictions.Earlier in the day, a Pakistani official had said said China withdrew its opposition after consultations with Pakistan. He further added that Pakistan agreed to the listing after its objections were addressed.Govt issues ‘guidelines’ to curb terror financingLast month, Pakistan issued elaborate and comprehensive guidelines detailing steps to implement …

The world must take actions after Pakistan army confession for enforced disappearances: Dr Murad Baloch
1'May 2019(Current Balochistan)Baloch National Movement Secretary-General, Dr Murad Baloch expressed his opinion regarding the press conference of Director General Asif Ghafoor, the spokesperson of The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) which is the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces. He said that it was the first time when the Pakistan Army admitted the enforced disappearance of people.

In an answer to the question of renowned Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir, Asif Ghafoor had said, “like you, we are also concerned about the missing persons, but everything is fair in love and war and we are not doing these for ourselves.” With this statement of ISPR's spokesperson Dr Murad Baloch said that that was not the first time, prior to that Pakistani Prime minister, Imran Khan during his election campaign also had admitted the barbarities of Pakistan Army in Balochistan.

Dr M…

Sangar NewsPro-independence Baloch leader Dr. Allah Nazar has said that the situation in Balochistan has become far worse than Nazi Germany. Pakistan has set up concentration camps in the length and breadth of Balochistan where innumerable people are enduring inhumane atrocities.The barbarity of Pakistan is touching newer heights daily. Now, they are getting their hands on our women and children to humiliate us. A horrific policy of collective punishment is being implemented on the Baloch nation for collective psychological demoralization.Dr. Baloch further said, in the past, Nazi Germany was accused of genocide and oppression of Jews in its concentration camps. At present China is also insulting humanity and human dignity by incarcerating Uighur Muslims and other minorities in its concentration camps. Pakistan has also taken the same path. Even today, the human conscience is guilty of the monstrosity of Nazi Germany. From time to time there is also outcry on the Chinese bestiality, b…

Sangar NewsNine persons, including four women and five children have been forcefully disappeared from Nasir-Abad district of Balochistan on Tuesday.Pakistani forces raided a house in Rabi area of district Nasir-Abad and abducted women and children.The abductees have been identified as,1; Dhando w/o Ratta Bugti2; Shozan w/o Shehak Bugti3; Bujari bibi w/o Shehak4; Pati d/o Karim Bugti5; Jameel s/o Karim6; Batte Khan s/o Shehak bugti (6-year-old)7; Zargul w/o Shehak8; Amina Bibi d/o Shehak (3-year- old)9; Noor Banuk d/o ShehakSher Mohammad Bugti, the spokesperson for Baloch Republican Party, saying in a statement “Pakistani military raided the house of Shayhaq Bugti and whisked away women and children.”“State and military forces will be responsible for any reactionary consequences for the abduction of women in Balochistan”, he added.Mr. Bugti has appealed to the human rights organizations to raise the issue of the enforced disappearances of Baloch women and children by Pakistan Army.Balo…