India’s consul general in New York last month suggested that India should imitate Israel’s policy of building settlements in the occupied West Bank. DESPARDES — This is not the case of fake videos of White Island (in New Zealand) eruption gone viral. It’s for real; just as a Palestinian flag at an Indian anti-Modi protestContinue reading “Modi’s Brutal Vision: Protests Go Global, ‘As The World Turns’ in Silence”
Monthly Archives: December 2019
India’s ‘Carrier Culture’ and Pakistan Navy’s Build Up — ‘in a Historic First’
“The new inductions in Pak Navy (PN) are so rapid in scale and time, that it may be difficult for PN to man these platform with current force levels. “All in all, I see PN in comfortable position to confront IN in next decade, again a historic first in the history of PN”. IRSHAD SALIMContinue reading “India’s ‘Carrier Culture’ and Pakistan Navy’s Build Up — ‘in a Historic First’”
Turkey Steps Up Religious Tourism With Focus On Interfaith Harmony
Target: 75m tourists by 2023; $65bn tourism revenue by 2022 DESPARDES: Home to countless faith groups over the course of thousands of years, Turkey aims to unleash its religious tourism potential in order to diversify its range of tourist attractions. “We are aiming to welcome 75 million tourists by the end of 2022 with anContinue reading “Turkey Steps Up Religious Tourism With Focus On Interfaith Harmony”
Turkey Issues New Visa Regulations for Saudi Visitors
AL-BILAD: The Turkish authorities have changed regulations for issuing entry visas to Saudi visitors. Saudi nationals are required to apply online for entry visas on the electronic portal of the Turkish embassy. The Turkish authorities have issued a circular in Arabic announcing that the new measure would take effect on the New Year — WednesdayContinue reading “Turkey Issues New Visa Regulations for Saudi Visitors”
OIC: Oh I See
Years back I came up with one: MKBKBK (Mil Ke Baith Ke Baat Karte Hain — meaning let’s meet and discuss). OSCAR TANGO (Irshad Salim) — OIC was used worldwide as an abbreviation for the Organization of Islamic Countries formed to represent the Muslim Ummah (community) as a block. But it wasn’t clear to meContinue reading “OIC: Oh I See”
OH!pinion: New World ‘Disorder’
IRSHAD SALIM — The United Nations General Assembly on Friday approved a Russian-sponsored and China-backed resolution that aims to create a new convention on cybercrime — and there’s a huge community throwing its hands up on it — none are throwing in their towel. The resolution — approved by a vote of 79-60 with 33Continue reading “OH!pinion: New World ‘Disorder’”
Pakistan Bells Out 2019 With First Batch of Dual Seat JF-17, Live Missile Firings in North Arabian Sea
PAC and China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation also signed an agreement for co-production of Chinese commercial aircraft. DESPARDES — Pakistan’s nascent military-industrial complex rolled out the first batch of 8 dual seat JF-17 aircraft — in record time of five months — at its Aircraft Manufacturing Factory in Kamra on Friday. Unrelated toContinue reading “Pakistan Bells Out 2019 With First Batch of Dual Seat JF-17, Live Missile Firings in North Arabian Sea”
Bilawal Addresses PPP Liaquat Bagh Rally: ‘2020 Year of Free and Fair Elections’
DESPARDES — Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday warned Imran Khan’s government that 2020 would be the year of free and fair elections. The 32-year-old lawmaker called out for support in ousting Khan’s government, calling it a menace for the masses. “This government of selected and political orphans as the people’sContinue reading “Bilawal Addresses PPP Liaquat Bagh Rally: ‘2020 Year of Free and Fair Elections’”
These TWO VIDEOS Add Up to a Developing ‘Situation’ in India
Speaking to DesPardes, a Pakistan-India affairs analyst said, “the outcome will define the character of Union of India”. DESPARDES — As the lockdown of Kashmir enters 144th day, India appears to be slipping into a new world of disorder as countrywide protests to the recently announced Citizenship Law and the National Register of Citizens engulfContinue reading “These TWO VIDEOS Add Up to a Developing ‘Situation’ in India”