Page 28 - Pakistan Link - August 13, 2021

P28 – PAKISTAN LINK – AUGUST 13, 2021 PAKISTAN
ECONOMY FROM P1 ernment and the Taliban focus on a LIST FROM P1 on its travel red list, adding that the concerned about Syed’s connections
Promoting Digitization. “military solution” to end hostilities. list — a move that was criticized by British government had never asked to a group the Missouri Republican
The moot was attended by the He said that the lack of progress some British lawmakers. for the country’s Covid-19 data. said had made “antisemitic state-
representatives of business commu- in peace talks has led “both sides to In the letter dated August 12, ments” — an apparent reference to
nity and office-bearers of the Federa- focus on a military solution”. the lawmakers, led by Labor MP and BLOCKADE FROM P1 Emgage — and would continue to
tion of Pakistan Chambers of Com- Extended Troika: The Extended Chair of the All Party Parliamentary American group. withhold a quorum from the com-
merce and Industry (FPCCI). Troika, a Moscow-initiated group, Group on Pakistan Yasmin Qureshi, Religious advocacy groups, in- mittee “until we can get some an-
The country has successfully conducts regular consultations to state that they made a series of moves cluding several Jewish organizations, swers.”
completed the transitional period, but find a negotiated solution to the Af- to understand their government’s are crying foul. Particularly alarm- Hawley and other Republicans
we would not go for a boom and burst ghan conflict. decision to retain Pakistan on the ing to some Syed supporters is a June have demanded another hearing be
strategy as happened in the past; nei- The Troika talks preceded a red list, including writing to various email circulated among Republican held on Syed’s affiliation with the
ther very high economic growth nor meeting on Tuesday of Afghanistan’s departments who have “provided committee staff by an aide to Sen Jim Muslim advocacy group, which ran a
very low rate of growth is acceptable, immediate neighbors. Russia, the no real answers to our very serious Risch (R-Idaho), a copy of which was multistate engagement effort to turn
Mr Baqir asserted. United Nations and US were also in- questions”. obtained by POLITICO. The email out Muslim voters in the 2020 elec-
He said a lot of talk about sudden vited to this meeting. The lawmakers also tabled par- notes Syed’s Pakistani roots and his tion. President Joe Biden spoke to a
appearance of current account deficit The Extended Troika is also liamentary questions, many of which membership on the board of Emga- virtual event hosted by an Emgage
in June is going on, but the real situ- holding separate consultations with were not answered by the govern- geUSA, a Muslim American nonprof- political affiliate during his campaign
ation is that June usually sees higher Doha-based Taliban and Kabul gov- ment and it was not obliged to an- it that “has taken very partisan posi- last year.
payments. Also, the imports have ernment representatives to push swer any more since the parliament tions” against actions by the Israeli “Until we can get some answers
been rising since the economy is on slow-moving intra-Afghan peace was no longer in session, the letter government. on that at least, then I’m not gonna
the high growth path. talks. notes. Risch spokesperson Marty Coz- vote for — I’m not gonna provide a
He said there should be concerns A spokesman for the Taliban’s “When other countries in the za confirmed the authenticity of the quorum,” Hawley said, adding that
about three directions if the current political office told Al Jazeera TV Asia region were moved to the Am- email and said the aide who wrote it “I’m shocked that they haven’t with-
account deficit (CAD) is rising. First, that the group was committed to the ber List, announced on 5 August was vetting Syed’s background when drawn his nomination. I really am.”
the exchange rate should respond to negotiation path in Doha and does 2021, many of us wrote to the gov- she “became aware he was an active In written responses to ques-
the CAD and if it does not it means not want it to collapse. ernment and tried to understand board member for an advocacy group tions from senators about his views
the exchange rate has been artificially However, a member of the Af- the rationale behind the decision to that has taken inflammatory posi- on Israel and Emgage, Syed said he
managed which is a negative symp- ghan government delegation in Doha move some countries but not Paki- tions regarding Israel. As is common does not support the boycott, di-
tom for the economy. demanded a mediator in the negotia- stan. in the vetting process, she moved vestment, and sanctions movement,
He said the CAD size also mat- tions “to determine the seriousness “From initial discussions with forward on sharing Mr Syed’s infor- also known as BDS, that’s backed by
ters. The country expects the CAD to of the parties”. British Government officials, it was mation with Small Business Commit- some progressive Palestinian rights
be in the range of 2 to 3pc of GDP in But the Taliban spokesman suggested that Pakistan had not pro- tee staff who were also reviewing his activists to push back on the Israeli
the current fiscal year, which is not claimed that “it was the government vided any data for June or July, that nomination.” government. He added that he’s
much higher as compared to 6pc in that rejected the principle of a me- their vaccination rates were not as Religious organizers are de- “supported engagement with Israeli
2018 when it widened to $19bn. diator, not the Taliban”. ... Dawn high as required, and that there was nouncing the email — which cites businesses” throughout his career
Lastly, he said, if the foreign ex- not enough genome sequencing un- Emgage’s support for criticisms of the and would resign from the board of
change reserves decrease with the in- DOSES FROM P1 derway to warrant a change in sta- Israeli government by Muslim Ameri- Emgage if confirmed — stating that
creasing CAD, it is a cause of concern. tional within two days. tus,” it says. can Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and his work with the organization has
In case of Pakistan, the foreign ex- It said that the services of Paki- However, after discussions with Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) — and oth- been limited to voter mobilization
change reserves have been increasing. stani labs accredited by the UAE au- officials from the Pakistan High er attacks on Syed as xenophobic and and engagement work, not policy ad-
thorities would be available at the Jin- Commission in London as well as Islamophobic. The row has brought vocacy.
US FROM P1 nah International Airport four hours other Pakistani officials, “it was clear hardball partisan tactics to a lower- The White House, meanwhile,
forces withdraw. before the departure of passengers that up to date data for June and July profile panel normally centered on stood by its nominee. “Syed, who has
On Wednesday, the Taliban going abroad, adding that the fee of had been provided to the JCVI (Joint economic concerns and the wheels lived the American dream as an im-
seized three more provincial capitals the test would have to be paid by the Committee on Vaccination and Im- of federal bureaucracy — not brawls migrant and as the CEO of a small
in Afghanistan, putting nine of the travelers. munization), the FCDO (Foreign, over foreign policy viewpoints. start-up, is well-equipped to help
nation’s 34 in the insurgents’ hands. The airport administration said Commonwealth & Development Of- “It’s clear that what’s being used small businesses continue to create
US Special envoy for Afghani- that counters are being set up at the fice), and the UK government more against Mr Syed is insinuation that jobs, and his confirmation shouldn’t
stan Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad domestic lounge due to the non- generally,” the letter says. is trying to exploit anti-immigrant be held up by little more than par-
is representing Washington in the availability of space at the interna- “There has also been a great and anti-Muslim animus. And we tisan politics,” said White House
talks in Doha. tional lounge. It further said that the deal of confusion around the public shouldn’t allow that to stand,” said spokesperson Chris Meagher.
Pakistan has sent its special en- counters would continue to work 24 health messaging” regarding Paki- Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, Wash- Syed, a businessman who is
voy Muhammad Sadiq and its am- hours a day. stan’s retention on the red list, it adds. ington director of Bend the Arc currently the CEO of a health care
bassador to Kabul, Mansoor Khan. “The CAA is finalizing all pos- Referring to Special Assistant Jewish Action, a progressive Jewish AI and analytics company, has also
Kremlin’s envoy to Afghanistan Za- sible measures to prevent the spread to the Prime Minister on Health group. served on the White House Initiative
mir Kabulov and the newly appoint- of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the Au- (SAPM) Dr Faisal Sultan’s recent let- Farah Brelvi, interim co-execu- on Asian Americans and Pacific Is-
ed Chinese envoy for Afghanistan thority stated in a statement. ter to the UK government, it notes tive director of the nonprofit Muslim landers, among other civic leadership
Yue Xiao Yong are representing their that the official “provided a full ex- Advocates, said the circulated GOP roles. At his late-April confirmation
countries. GHAZNAVI FROM P1 planation of Pakistan’s handling of email “reeks of the kind of anti-Mus- hearing, Syed promised lawmakers
All these countries have major siles was witnessed by Commander the pandemic”. lim bigotry that should have no place he would lead the agency “with ur-
stakes in bringing peace to Afghani- Army Strategic Forces Command Lt Quoting excerpts from Dr Sul- in our politics or society.” gency and purpose” and would draw
stan and are seeking a regional con- Gen Muhammad Ali; senior officers tan’s letter, the lawmakers say “it is Emgage issued a statement for on his past entrepreneurial and civic
sensus on the Afghan conflict despite from Strategic Plans Division, Army quite clear that the vaccination rates this story decrying “partisan attacks” experiences as the agency helped pull
their differences. Strategic Forces Command and scien- in Pakistan are good, with a specific on Syed and suggesting they were small businesses out of the pandemic.
In the press briefing, Price said tists and engineers of strategic orga- focus on WHO-approved vaccines, motivated by his faith: “We do not be- Adding to the blockade by com-
that Khalilzad had been sent to Doha nizations. and that genomic sequencing is un- lieve in a religious test for leadership.” mittee Republicans are their com-
to “advance a collective international Gen Ali appreciated the excellent derway, albeit in a more limited ca- While the back-and-forth con- plaints about the Small Business Ad-
response to what can only be termed standard of training, handling of the pacity than in the UK.” tinues, Republicans have all but ministration’s granting of Paycheck
as a rapidly deteriorating security weapon system and execution of the The letter points out that Paki- brought activity to a halt at the Small Protection Program loans to Planned
situation”. launch mission in the field by troops. stan has “overall responded well to Business panel. They boycotted the Parenthood affiliates, a reversal of its
However, the US media on Tues- The president, prime minister, the pandemic when compared to committee’s last attempt to advance policy under former President Don-
day reported that Khalilzad was there chairman joint chiefs of staff commit- international partners”, adding that Syed’s nomination in mid-July and ald Trump’s administration.
to warn the Taliban against pursuing tee and the services chiefs also con- it had also implemented PCR and have prevented Democrats from es- Sen Rand Paul (R-Ky.), his par-
a military victory on ground. gratulated all ranks of ASFC, scien- lateral flow testing for travelers and tablishing a quorum for other panel ty’s top member on the Small Busi-
He will “deliver a blunt message: tists and engineers on the successful established a quarantine system. work. ness panel, said in an interview that
A Taliban government that comes to conduct of the launch. “Pakistan is mitigating travel Small Business Committee he would also withhold a quorum
power through force in Afghanistan In February this year, the ASFC risks and is well aware of the risk of Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said in from the committee while they tried
will not be recognized,” media re- had conducted a ‘training launch’ of new variants and an increase in cas- a brief interview that he wanted to to get more information from the
ported. Ghaznavi as part of its annual field es,” the letter notes. press forward on Syed’s nomination agency on the loans.
In a Voice of America interview training exercise. “We ... ask that the government and said Republicans’ attacks on the “We’re still fighting over it right
earlier this week, the Afghan-born “The missile is equipped with a reassess its position and move Paki- nominee were “ridiculous.” now and trying to get more infor-
US envoy warned that if the Taliban proper terminal guidance system. In stan onto the amber list as soon as “We’ll have another meeting,” mation,” Paul said. The Republican
took over the country by force, “they recent years troops from the ASFC possible,” the letter says. Cardin said. “But I’m going to give members of the committee said at
will become a pariah state”. have conducted several training Sharing the letter, MP Yasmin [Republicans] a chance to be able to the end of July they would not allow
He reminded the insurgents that launches to check the handling and Qureshi said moving Pakistan to the cooperate with us. I’ve asked Mr Syed a vote on Syed until the SBA took ac-
“there must be a political solution, operating of the complex weapon sys- amber list would “help unite families for a little bit of time. I’d like to see tion on the loans.
a political agreement for a lasting tem,” the ISPR statement had said at in times of grief and support stu- him confirmed.” While Syed’s confirmation stays
peace, and we will stay with it. We the time. dents”. Cardin said the Biden adminis- stuck, Cardin showed palpable frus-
are committed to staying with it until The Ghaznavi missile has been Mazari thanks British MPs for tration had reached out to senators tration.
that goal is achieved.” tested in both day and night modes, penning letter: Reacting to the letter, in an effort to break the logjam over “I have not heard any legitimate
In another interview with Ra- which indicates the high reliance of federal Minister for Human Rights Syed, but Republicans show no signs opposition to Mr Syed himself,” Car-
dio Free Europe, Khalilzad — the the Army Strategic Force on this mis- Shireen Mazari thanked the MPs for of relenting on their blockade or per- din said, describing GOP resistance
architect of the 2020 US-Taliban sile since it brings several Indian can- raising the issue. mitting other committee business. as a “moving target,” between objec-
agreement that paved the way for tonments and military bases in areas Mazari had criticised the Unit- Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who tions to the nominee’s advocacy work
the foreign pullout — warned of a along the border within its range even ed Kingdom earlier this week for its had led Republicans in opposing with Emgage and the concerns about
“protracted war” if the Afghan gov- if launched from central Punjab. “feeble excuse” for retaining Pakistan Syed, said in a brief interview he was Planned Parenthood. – POLITICO
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