#DanielPearl murder is linked to several debates inside #Pakistan: from safety of journalists to the murky story of the former War on Terror & the intelligence #USPakistan tug of war under #Obama admin, to #FATF antiterror steps. And how this will impact relations under #Biden WH
#US embassy in #Pakistan releases a statement quoting @SecBlinken on #DanielPearl case, recognizes past #Pakistani actions on terrorist Omar Sheikh, notes Attorney General's positive statement to recall release order & offers to prosecute him in #America:
As a #Pakistani journalist, we stand by @yudapearl & #DanielPearl's family in their quest for justice. #Islamabad's commitment to recall the decision to release his killer is commendable, must be ensured. Good work by Pakistani journalists & @arabnewspk:
#DanielPearl case and the release order of his killer & terrorist Omar Sheikh take over #Biden admin's first interaction with #Pakistan, during the call between @SecBlinken and @SMQureshiPTI. Here's a contrast with the call with his #Indian counterpart:
#China wants its National People's Congress #NPC members to help #Pakistan provide "effective oversight" of #CPEC projects by creating a joint parliamentary committee. This will be in addition to the oversight by the @CPECAuthority. /1
This is the 1st time #China engages #Pakistan parliament in a joint oversight idea for #CPEC. Proposal was floated by #NPC Chairman Li. The official handle of Pak Parliament confirmed this. The Chinese emb tweet of the event where idea was discussed /2
During the virtual meeting, and aside from a new role for #NPC in #CPEC oversight, Chairman Li Zhanshu of National People's Congress also received assurances from his #Pakistan counterpart re security provided to #China personnel. /3
Peace with #Israel is a strategic decision for #UAE; reversal unlikely, but dependence on Israel will be limited. Israel has its own delicate calculations. The UAE still needs to build up indigenous military capacity to confront #Iran.
The F-35/#UAE review is imp bcz it reopens old wounds. Gulf/Arab states were wary that #Obama WH used Arab Spring to ally with Islamist groups to topple Arab govts. The #JCPOA reinforced the idea that #US would ally with #Iran+Islamists to redraw borders/2
#Biden administration allows #Houthis to conduct international financial transactions for one month (until Feb. 26). A temporary relief from terror designation, and likely a goodwill gesture toward #Iran./1
Without a political or military settlement, #Houthi takeover of #Yemen will continue to be seen in the region as a first step toward destabilizing #Gulf states, & a threat to energy+economic security, linked to the larger debate on future peace vision vs. extremism in Mideast /2
For all the operational mistakes of the #Yemen govt in exile & its #Gulf backers, #Iran's role in prolonging the war by supporting a proxy is the key. It's not dissimilar to how Tehran prolonged the #Afghanistan civil war in 1990s. /3
Well articulated by @YusufMoeed but #Pakistan's foreign policy falls short of this vision; more rhetoric, no action. Govt failed to exploit the Trump/USA opening in 2019, stayed away from peace+economic vision in Mideast; too eager to tilt at windmills (Islamophobia/TV/France).
Many members of Pakistani policy+natsec communities (some w/ gov/official links) regularly frame #CPEC in the media in terms of #Pakistan creating a bloc to challenge #US/West/#Israel. Such radicalism doesn't help. 'Prism confusion' is internal @YusufMoeed
Policy mindset forces others to see #Pakistan through #Afghanistan/#India prisms only. We won't take part in shaping anything else. Timid/cautious policies even toward own interests. We demonize our closest trading partners #US/#UAE/#EU. @YusufMoeed
For the first time, #Pakistan calls the Houthis "terrorist," which is in concert with American & Saudi designation of the proxy militia. This clarity on the group that controls #Yemen capital #Sanaa was long overdue. /1
In 2015, on my TV show & in a detailed article for Hilal Magazine, I argued that Yemen was not a sectarian conflict, & that a proxy militia's takeover of a capital was no different from Swat TTP's attempt to seize Pakistan's capital Islamabad a decade ago. /2
The Houthi takeover of Yemen as a first step toward creating chaos in the Gulf also threatened Pakistan's national interest, and energy & economic security, not to mention weakening strong allies. This clarity was essential for policy making. But was lost amid misinformed. /3