Day: July 5, 2024

In a historic move, Pakistan has opened the Kartarpur corridor, a visa-free passage that allows Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism. This ground-breaking initiative demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to religious harmony and its dedication to facilitating the pilgrimage of Sikh devotees.

The construction of the Kartarpur corridor has significantly eased the journey for Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the shrine. The visa-free access and the operational convenience of visiting the shrine seven days a week from dawn to dusk reflect Pakistan’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for pilgrims. The rapid completion of the project within a year showcases Pakistan’s efficient infrastructure development, including the construction of roads, bridges, reception centres, and a complex around the shrine.

Pakistan’s decision to charge a nominal service fee of $20 to each visitor is reasonable and ensures the sustainability of the facilities provided at the shrine. This fee is significantly lower compared to the expenses incurred by pilgrims travelling to other religious sites worldwide. This agreement was solidified in the Bilateral Agreement dated October 24, 2019, between the governments of Pakistan and India.

Despite the Indian government’s significant crackdown on Kashmiris and unilateral changes to the status of Kashmir, in violation of UN resolutions and bilateral agreements, Pakistan has continued to extend cooperation to the Sikh community. The Kartarpur corridor stands as a symbol of Pakistan’s willingness to engage in positive interactions with India.

The attempts by the Indian government to downplay Pakistan’s sincere efforts and portray them as strategically motivated are baseless and misleading. The Indian government, led by the BJP, remains fixated on trivial matters like the $20 service charge and the presence of the US consulate in Amritsar. This deliberate diversion overlooks the genuine economic hardships, farmer demands, and job scarcity plaguing Punjab. The BJP’s neglect of these pressing issues reflects a disconnect with the people, particularly the youth of Punjab, who reject the BJP.

Pakistan’s construction of the Kartarpur corridor is a testament to its commitment to religious harmony and its desire to build bridges between communities. By facilitating the pilgrimage of Sikh devotees, Pakistan has demonstrated its respect for religious diversity and its willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.

The Kartarpur corridor has the potential to serve as a model for other countries in the region, showcasing how religious sites can be shared and accessed by people of different faiths. It is a shining example of how religious tolerance and understanding can lead to greater cooperation and peace between nations.

However, it is crucial to note that the success of the Kartarpur corridor project depends on the continued cooperation and support of both India and Pakistan. Any attempts to politicize the issue or use it as a bargaining chip in larger geopolitical disputes will only serve to undermine the progress made so far.

In conclusion, Pakistan’s Kartarpur Corridor initiative is a remarkable achievement that deserves recognition and praise. It is a testament to the country’s commitment to religious harmony and its willingness to engage in positive interactions with its neighbours. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is essential that countries work together to promote understanding and respect for different faiths and cultures. The Kartarpur corridor is a shining example of how this can be achieved, and it is our hope that it will inspire others to follow in Pakistan’s footsteps.

This initiative not only promotes religious harmony but also opens doors for potential diplomatic engagements between India and Pakistan. In a region fraught with historical tensions and political discord, the Kartarpur corridor stands out as a beacon of hope and cooperation. By providing a peaceful means for Sikhs to perform their religious duties, Pakistan is fostering a sense of goodwill and paving the way for future collaborations that can transcend beyond religious boundaries into broader socio-political spheres.

The Kartarpur corridor exemplifies how strategic infrastructure projects can play a pivotal role in bridging gaps between communities and nations. Its successful implementation and operationalization could encourage other countries with shared religious or cultural sites to consider similar initiatives. The ultimate goal should be to foster an environment where cultural and religious exchange can thrive, promoting mutual respect and understanding among diverse populations.

By continuing to support such initiatives, countries can move towards a more harmonious and peaceful world where differences are celebrated rather than condemned. The Kartarpur corridor is a step in the right direction, setting a precedent for how collaborative efforts can yield significant benefits in the realm of international relations and beyond.

Pakistan was shocked by the news of mob lynching incident in Swat which was driven by blasphemy. A local tourist was burnt alive by an angry mob after forcefully abducting him from a police station where he was under arrest. This incident reflects clear fault lines and failure of Pakistan’s administrative, governance and legal systems in ensuring the basic human rights like safety of life and honor, which are enshrined in the constitution of the land.  

This was not the first time when someone was accused and lynched over the allegations of blasphemy in Pakistan. Lately, there has been an alarming uptick in this trend where people use blasphemy to settle personal vendetta. It is not clear so far if the Swat incident was also one such episode but if we look back, only during the last year of 2023, there were multiple such incidents reported where people were lynched to death after being charged for blasphemy.

• In February 2023, a Muslim man named Muhammad Waris was lynched by an angry mob in Nankana Sahib after being arrested by police on blasphemy charges.
• In April 2023, a Chinese engineer was accused of blasphemy by Pakistani workers and nearly lynched, but was rescued by police and flown to safety.
• In May 2023, a local Muslim religious leader named Maulana Nigar Alam was killed by an angry mob at a political rally in Mardan district after being accused of blasphemy.

So, such incidents are nothing new in Pakistan but there are two concerning aspects which can have far reaching consequences for the state and society. Most obviously, incidents like Swat exposed the decay at societal level. People with lack of education and understanding of Islamic laws usually indulge into these heinous crimes. Lack of education give room to fundamentalist tendencies in masses which are further amplified by poorly educated local Imams. Consequently, at grassroot level no one considers a crime like mob lynching against the teaching of Islam who clearly orders Muslims to remain just and even in the pursuance of justice don’t cross certain limits like setting dead bodies to fire. This is leading the country towards second far reaching consequence i.e. perpetuated sense of insecurity that minorities in Pakistan. There has been a clear increase in violent incidents against minorities notwithstanding all the constitutional protection for them.

There exists no training for law enforcement agencies to counter mob. This was once again highlighted in Swat incident where police initially rescued the victim and took him into custody at the Madyan Police Station. However, they failed to protect him by consulting superiors or move him to a safer location and consequently exposing him to the angry mob that later stormed the station. This took place as police official in Madyan Police Station didn’t have any clearly defined operational strategy to ensure the security of accused. But like stated earlier, this failure is not isolated incident.

If we examine earlier incidents, we can trace a pattern of systemic inability of LEAs to uphold the rule of law by swiftly intervening and prosecuting the perpetrators involved in mob lynching incidents. For example, in Swat’s incident, police have failed to identify the persons who spread the allegations through mosques’ loudspeakers and entice people for violence and mob justice instead of relying on due process.

The lack of effective governance in preempting and addressing such violence speaks volumes about the state’s priorities in safeguarding all its citizens equally. This lack of state initiative for taking bold steps to combat religious hatred and extremism encourages the perpetrator and instill fear in everyone else, and consequently leads to bigger social dilemmas where such actors put the entire society in an environment of intolerance and fear. Space for free expression and debate reduces in such societies automatically and Pakistani society has become hostage to such elements due to state’s inaction for too long now.

The prevailing crisis is not only a challenge for minorities but over the years a sense of insecurity has grown among a silent majority of Muslims as well when it comes to expressing one’s desire to engage into a debate about religion or belief systems. This causes backwardness in the society by eliminating free speech and critical analysis of various social customs. Without free speech, no society can prosper and Pakistan is no exception in this regard.

The mob vigilantism has created considerable diplomatic challenges for the state as well. Pakistan is viewed negatively internationally whenever such incident and state’s inability to punish the perpetrators is reported in global media. Such incidents provide impetus to hostile entities to initiate a campaign to isolate Pakistan in the capitals where human rights take priority in diplomatic credentials of a foreign state.

The most unfortunate aspect of this entire national ordeal is that such incidents are often used as political opportunities to settle scores by political actors. More than once it has been seen that not only victims of violence are accused without any conclusive judicial process but perpetrators were hailed as national heroes or soldiers of Islam. The Mumtaz Qadri episode is a stark reminder of this fact. 

There is no easy and quick fix to this growing challenge but not addressing it will only make it worse and is going to have longstanding consequences for the country. Dispensation of swift and impartial justice for victims of mob violence can be a starting point. In this regard, Swat incident offers ideal opportunity to the state. At parallel, Pakistan needs to train its police force and other LEAs to intervene effectively to prevent escalation in such an environment. This trends also explains why Pakistan needs an education emergency in the country.

As the world watches, Pakistan faces a defining moment in its journey towards justice, tolerance, and respect for human dignity. The question remains: will it rise to the challenge?

On July 4, the diplomatic service in occupied Sokhumi issued a statement condemning Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan’s support for Georgia’s territorial integrity during his visit to Tbilisi on July 3. The statement also rails against Armenia’s positive vote on the UN resolution on the right of Georgian IDPs and refugees to return to their homes in the occupied regions and calls on Georgia to sign a non-use-of-force treaty.

The statement urges Armenia “not to use standard phrases about the mythical territorial integrity of Georgia, which contradict the objective reality.” It also notes that Armenia’s UN vote is “alarming” since representatives of the Armenian diaspora in Abkhazia are “prominent patriots” and have fought to “defend Abkhazia’s “independence.” “We remain hopeful that in the near future, the leadership of Armenia will draw the right conclusions from the current situation and adjust its position on this issue.”

It notes that Georgia’s insistence on territorial integrity became “tiresome and declarative in nature” and that Georgian authorities “must come to terms with the existing political realities resulting from Georgia’s military defeat in 1992-1993” and urges Tbilisi “to sign a treaty on the non-use of force with the [de facto] Republic of Abkhazia.”

Also Read:

• 03/04/2024 – De-Facto Leader of Occupied Abkhazia Talks Relations with Tbilisi, Moscow with Russian Media
• 21/02/2024 – Bzhania: Georgian Leaders Have Shown Pragmatic Approach to Everything

On July 5, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the indefinite postponement of the Noble Partner exercise in Georgia scheduled for July 25-August 6 this year. According to the statement, the decision was made after the U.S. initiated a comprehensive review of U.S.-Georgia bilateral relations.

“On May 30, the US government began a full review of all bilateral cooperation with Georgia.  The decision to postpone this iteration of NOBLE PARTNER is due to the Georgian government’s false accusations against the United States and other Western entities, to pressure Georgia to open a second front against Russia to alleviate pressure on Ukraine, and of participating in two coup attempts against the ruling party. As such, the United States Government has determined that this is an inappropriate time to hold a large-scale military exercise in Georgia,” – notes the statement.

The statement emphasized that the U.S. plans to continue working with the Georgian Defense Forces to strengthen Georgia’s ability to protect its sovereignty and maintain its territorial integrity, noting: “We have not made this decision lightly, and we place great consideration on the extensive value that our Allies and Partners add to exercises such as NOBLE PARTNER. The United States looks forward to future opportunities to cooperate with Allies and Partners, including AGILE SPIRIT in 2025.”

Also Read:

• 02/07/2024 – U.S. will “Continue to Engage” with Georgian Officials on “Priority Issues” Despite Sanctions – Spokesperson
• 27/06/2024 – U.S. Congress Subcommittee Hearing: Agents’ Law, Sino-Georgian Relations
• 21/06/2024 – Former GD Advisor Mitchell Briefs the U.S. Helsinki Commission
• 19/06/2024 – U.S. Ambassador Urges the Government to Reverse Course Promptly to Rebuild Relations
• 06/06/2024 – BREAKING: US State Department Implements First Tranche of Sanctions against Georgian Individuals
• 29/05/2024 – U.S. Condemns Override of Presidential Veto, Final Adoption of Foreign Agents Law