Nasheman News : Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pulwama attack on February 14, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website was not working in several countries including the US on Saturday, the media reported.

Blaming India for the attack on the website, Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal alleged that New Delhi was behind the attack out of fear of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings against Kulbhushan Jadhav, the Express Tribune reported.

The public hearing in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case is slated to commence on Monday before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Jadhav, 48, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for espionage in April 2017 following which India moved the ICJ. A 10-member ICJ bench restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav till the case was adjudicated.

Users in US, Britain, Holland, Norway and Australia were unable to access Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on Saturday, the report said.

According to a report in the Dawn, cross-border hacking attacks have been sporadic yet common since at least 1998.

Fingers were pointed to India-based hackers when the official website of PPP was found defaced in June 2017. In December that year, the official website of Karachi police was hacked and defaced, allegedly by Indian hackers, the report said.

Earlier, in July 2016, hackers claiming to be from Pakistan defaced websites of seven Indian embassies, high commissions, and consulates in various countries with pro-Pakistan Army slogans. 

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website was accessible in India on Monday, but an attempt to open the Pakistan Army website showed the following message:

“The owner of this website (www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk) has banned the country or region your IP address is in (IN) from accessing this website.”

There were unverified reports that several other websites in Pakistan were not working following the February 14 Pulwama attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers for which Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) claimed responsibility.

Nasheman News :  The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed “extreme” disappointment over the removal of posters of Pakistan Prime Minister and World Cup-winning skipper Imran Khan in the Cricket Club of India, Mumbai, and elsewhere and IMG Reliance pulling out of the deal to produce and broadcast PSL 2019 in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attacks.

PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan said in a statement that cricket has always played a key role in building bridges between people and countries.

“Unfortunately, denying India cricket fans the right to follow HBL PSL by blocking all digital coverage as well as covering or removing portrait of former Pakistan cricket captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan and other legendary cricketers from one of the most historic cricket clubs and venues are highly regrettable actions.

“The PCB has also noted the recent turn of events and expresses its extreme disappointment as we have always believed and emphasised that sports and politics should be kept separate. History tells us that sports, particularly cricket, have always played a key role in building bridges between people and countries.” Wasim said in a statement. 

He, however, remained positive about the PCB managing a new partner by Monday while expressing disappointment that the Indian public will be denied the opportunity to watch the PSL.

“We have been informed by IMG Reliance that they will be unable to partner with us for the remaining HBL PSL 2019 and PCB has reserved all its rights. The PCB always had a contingency plan in place and we are confident we will be in a position to announce the new partner on Monday after the completion of the formalities,” he said.

Wasim said that the PCB will take up the matter with its Indian counterparts, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the global cricket governing body in the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) committee meeting in Dubai later this month.

“The PCB intends to take up these incidents with the BCCI and the ICC at the upcoming ICC committee meeting in Dubai later this month,” he said.

In protest against the killing of 49 CRPF troopers by a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber near Srinagar on Thursday, the Cricket Club of India (CCI) and the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali had on Sunday removed the portraits and pictures of Imran Khan and other Pakistani cricketers which were placed in their premises, 

Nasheman News : Pakistan on Monday summoned its High Commissioner in India, Sohail Mahmood, for “consultations” following diplomatic tensions between the two countries after the suicide bombing in Jammu and Kashmir killed 49 CRPF troopers.

“We have called back our High Commissioner in India for consultations. He left New Delhi this morning,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Faisal tweeted.

The February 14 attack in Pulwama district was claimed by the Pakistan-based outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

On Friday, New Delhi had summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner and lodged “a very strong demarche” or diplomatic protest over the bombing.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale told him that Pakistan must take immediate and verifiable action against the JeM and that it must immediately stop any groups or individuals associated with terrorism and operating from Pakistani territory.

India also withdrew the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status given to Pakistan and also slapped a 200 per cent import duty on all goods originating from Islamabad.

Nasheman News : A Pakistani JeM terrorist who plotted the suicide bombing on a CRPF convoy and an Indian Army Major were among seven people killed in fighting between militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, police said on Monday.

The Pakistani terrorist was identified as Kamran, a JeM commander who reportedly masterminded the February 14 attack on the CRPF which left 49 troopers dead in the worst loss suffered by security forces at one go since militancy erupted in the state in 1989.

The second slain militant was identified as Bilal Ahmed Naik, a Kashmiri militant, police sources said.

A Major and three soldiers besides a civilian were also killed in the fighting which erupted overnight Sunday barely 10 km from the spot where the suicide bombing took place on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). 

Another Major and two soldiers were injured in fresh firing by militants when the security forces were searching the area after killing the two JeM militants. 

They were rushed to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar.

Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said: “One of the two slain JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammed) terrorists was a top commander and belonged to Pakistan.” The civilian who died was identified as Mushtaq Ahmad. 

The gunfight started after security forces, including the Rashtriya Rifles, Special Operations Group of the state police and the CRPF, surrounded Pinglena village following a tip that JeM militants were hiding there.

“As the cordon was tightened, the holed-up militants fired, triggering the gunfight,” Col Kalia added.

In the initial burst of gunfire, four soldiers and a civilian sustained critical gunshot injuries and died in a hospital.

The soldiers were identified as Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, Hawaldar Sheo Ram and Sepoys Hari Singh and Ajay Kumar.

The bodies of the two terrorists had been retrieved from the site.

As the fighting raged, civilians poured out of their homes in nearby areas and pelted stones at the security personnel in a bid to help the militants escape.

The security forces fired tear gas to disperse the crowds.

“Citizens are requested not to venture inside the encounter zone since it is a prohibited zone and can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials,” an official said. 

“People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any.”

Nasheman News : Visiting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has expressed optimism about the economic future of Pakistan, saying his country had been waiting for a leadership like that of Prime Minister Imran Khan to partner with Islamabad in various areas.

Addressing a reception dinner on Sunday night at the Prime Minister House hours after he landed here, the Crown Prince said Pakistan was a “dear country” to all Saudis and that the two countries “have walked together in tough and good times”, Dawn news reported.

“We believe that Pakistan is going to be a very, very important country in the coming future and we want to be sure we are part of that,” he said.

“Pakistan today has a great future in store with a great leadership.”

The Saudi royal said his country would collaborate with Pakistan economically, politically and in terms of security. “We believe in our region, that is why we are investing in it.”

“This is my first trip (to the) east since I became the Crown Prince (in 2017) and the first country (that I have visited) is Pakistan,” he added.

Before the dinner, the two countries signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) for bilateral cooperation worth $20 billion.

The deals include exploration of investment opportunities in refining and petrochemical sectors; cooperation in the field of sports; financing agreement for the import of Saudi goods; power generation projects; and development of renewable energy projects.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Khan during his speech at the reception dinner said that Saudi Arabia had always been a “friend in need” to Pakistan.

He invited Riyadh to avail opportunities from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Pakistan’s close links with Beijing. 

The Prime Minister also put forward two requests in front of the Crown Prince: First, he requested the Saudi royal to allow Pakistani Haj pilgrims to undergo immigration at the three major Pakistani airports before leaving for Saudi Arabia for their convenience.

Second, Khan urged the Saudi authorities to look into the hardships of the Pakistani labourers working in the Kingdom.

Also on Sunday, Khan and the Crown Prince held a one-on-one meeting which was followed by the inaugural session of the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council, Dawn news said.

Amid heightened security and arrangements in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the Crown Prince arrived at Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi on Sunday evening. He was received by the Prime Minister, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and other senior Cabinet Ministers.

The Crown Prince was given a 21-gun salute.

Breaking protocol, Khan personally drove the Saudi royal to the Prime Minister’s House.

The visit was initially scheduled for February 16, but was delayed by a day for unknown reasons.

After Pakistan, the Crown prince will travel to India, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

[Nasheman news] Brussels,Italy will spiral into a deep social and economic crisis like Venezuela’s if it leaves the single currency, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani has warned.

“Whoever from the ruling majority imagines that leaving the euro will be the miracle cure for our ills wants to take us where Venezuela finds itself today,” Tajani wrote on social media on Friday.

“Only an irresponsible government could want Italy’s exit from the euro and it should immediately clarify where it wants to take the country,” he added.

Tajani’s remarks came after Claudio Borghi, an MP from the ruling eurosceptic League party, suggested Italy should leave the single currency rather than suffer the strictures of existing eurozone rules.

“If Germany wants to continue doing as it pleases in Europe, we are better off leaving,” said Borghese, who chairs the lower house of parliament’s budget committee.

Borghese made the comments in an interview with website Affaritaliani.it on Friday.

[Nasheman news] New Delhi US National Security Advisor Ambassador John Bolton, in a telephonic conversation with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, has extended support for India’s bid to designate Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, an MEA statement said on Saturday.

Washington extended and reiterated its support towards India’s right to self-defence against cross-border terrorism under the 1267 Committee of the UN Security Council after the toll in the deadly Jaish attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama on Thursday reached 49.

The suicide attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy carrying troopers towards Srinagar had blown up a bus when an explosive-packed SUV rammed into the paramilitary vehicle, causing the death of some 40 troopers at the spot.

Doval and Bolton have resolved to hold Pakistan to account for its obligations under UN resolutions and to remove all obstacles to designate Azhar as a global terrorist under the UN Security Council Resolution which has already designated JeM as a terror body.

It was China, who has been stonewalling the process. Beijing on Friday indicated it would continue to block India’s bid to declare Azhar as an international terrorist even after JeM claimed responsibility for the worst-ever attack in Jammu and Kashmir on security forces since militancy erupted in the state in 1989.

“The two NSAs vowed to work together to ensure that Pakistan cease to be a safe haven for JeM and terrorist groups that target India, the US and others in the region,” the External Affairs Ministry statement said. 

The conversations took place during a telephone call between Doval and Bolton on Friday evening. 

During the conversation, Bolton expressed condolences and outrage over the Pulwama attack by the Pakistan-based terror group.

The American diplomat also offered all assistance to India to bring the perpetrators and sympathisers of the attack promptly to justice. 

Doval appreciated the US support. 

President Donald Trump of the United States will sign a border security bill to avert another government shutdown, but will also declare a national emergency to obtain funds for his promised US-Mexico border wall, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement on Thursday. 

In an attempt to bypass Congress to get money that politicians have denied him for his wall, Trump on Thursday appeared headed towards triggering a swift court challenge from Democrats on constitutional grounds.

“President Trump will sign the government funding bill, and as he has stated before, he will also take other executive action – including a national emergency – to ensure we stop the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border,” Sanders said.

“The president is once again delivering on his promise to build the wall, protect the border, and secure our great country,” she added. 

‘End run around Congress’

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi responded to the announcement, saying she was prepared to respond appropriately to a national emergency declaration. 

Pelosi said there was not a crisis at the border with Mexico that required a national emergency order. 

She has not said if House Democrats would legally challenge the president. But Pelosi did say if Trump invoked an emergency declaration it should be met with “great unease and dismay” as an overreach of executive authority. READ MORE

The US gov’t may be open again, but fears remain for contractors

She added that such a declaration would mean Trump was making an “end run around Congress”. 

The top Democrat in the Senate echoed Pelosi’s harsh comments. 

Senator Chuck Schumer said if Trump declared a national emergency to build the wall, he would be committing a “lawless act”. He also warned that Congress would take steps to stop the president. 

He added that Trump would be committing “naked contempt for the rule of law and congressional authority”. 

Bill goes to House

Thursday’s White House announcement came as Congress prepared to vote on bipartisan legislation that would provide more than $300bn to fund the Department of Homeland Security and a range of other federal agencies through September 30, the end of the current fiscal year. Funding is due to expire for those agencies on Friday. 

Later on Thursday, the Republican-controlled Senate passed the bill 83-16. It then went to the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, which also passed it, 300 to 128, sending it to Trump. READ MORE

US Senate, House pass bill to avert government shutdown

The bill does not provide the $5.7bn Trump requested for his border wall – a demand that triggered the previous shutdown, which lasted for 35 days. Democrats oppose the wall, calling it ineffective, immoral and expensive. 

The bill does allocate $1.37bn in new money to help build 88.5km of new physical barriers on the border. It is the same level of funding Congress appropriated for border security measures last year, including barriers but not concrete walls. 

A border wall was a central 2016 campaign promise by Trump. He originally said Mexico would pay for the wall along the 3,200km border, an idea Mexico dismissed.

“Just so you know – we’re building the wall anyway,” Trump said at a rally in the border city of El Paso, Texas, earlier this week. 

Agencies

Nasheman News : America’s public debt has reached a record high of more than $22 trillion, according to data released by the US Treasury Department.

The amount of the debt as of February 11 was quoted in a daily statement by the department on Tuesday.

“The national debt has now eclipsed $22 trillion, as we added $1 trillion in debt over just the last 11 months,” said Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a non-partisan organisation dedicated to addressing America’s long-term fiscal challenges.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in January estimated that federal budget deficit was about $900 billion in 2019 and exceeds $1 trillion each year beginning in 2022.

Because of persistently large deficits, the public debt is projected to grow steadily, reaching 93 per cent of US gross domestic product (GDP) in 2029 and about 150 per cent of the US GDP in 2049, according to the CBO.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has warned that the rising public debt in the US could lead to the next economic recession.

Analysts said the Trump administration’s $1.5-trillion tax cut and increased government spending have fueled the rapid increase in budget deficits and public debt.

“Reaching this unfortunate milestone so rapidly is the latest sign that our fiscal situation is not only unsustainable, but accelerating,” Xinhua quoted Peterson as saying.

“As we borrow trillion after trillion, interest costs will weigh on our economy and make it harder to fund important investments for our future,” Peterson said.

“We already pay an average of $1 billion every day in interest on the debt, and will spend a staggering $7 trillion in interest costs over the next decade,” he said, adding “we must put our fiscal house in order and begin to manage our national debt”.

Nasheman News : The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the arrest of Maria Ressa, the chief of news portal Rappler, who was arrested earlier on Wednesday in Manila for an alleged “cyber libel” case.

“Freedom of the press is an essential pillar of democracy and Human Rights. The arrest in the Philippines of Maria Ressa, founder and executive editor of the news website Rappler, is an alarming development,” CPJ said in a statement to the media

It also called on the government to “immediately release” the journalist and “drop all charges” against her, Efe news reported. Rappler’s investigative report linked Keng to alleged drug and human trafficking.

CPJ’s board chair Kathleen Carroll said that “the arrest of Maria Ressa is an outrage”, adding that “she should be freed immediately and the Philippines government needs to cease its multi-pronged attack on Rappler, its talented leader, and its brave staff”.

The organisation said on Wednesday the letter was launched after its board of directors, made up of influential journalists, approved an exceptional resolution in a meeting held at their New York headquarters.

Ressa was arrested in her office at the Rappler headquarters in Manila, for a story published in May 2012 about local businessman Wilfredo Keng.

The Justice Department of the Philippines filed charges of “cyber libel” against Rappler, Ressa, as the portal’s CEO, and investigative journalist Reynaldo Santos for the story published in 2012.

Three Justice Department prosecutors ruled in Keng’s favour in January even though Keng filed his complaint five years after the report was published, even though the statute of limitations established by Philippine law for a defamation charge is only one year.

Rappler has been very critical of the administration of Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. However, this not the only case pending against Ressa.

Last November, an arrest warrant was issued against her on five charges of alleged tax evasion. Ressa had posted bail at the time and the case is still pending trial.

The Philippine President has made no secret of his hostility towards Rappler, accusing it of being financed by the CIA and banning its reporters from the presidential palace in February 2018.