No relief for the Afghan government by Senator A. Rehman Malik

 

It has been an unfortunate time for the Afghan people who are suffering for the last thirty years with no relief mainly because of foreign intrusions and internal polarisation. They thought the withdrawal of American troops will bring peace, stability, prosperity, and harmony to them and their war-ridden country but peace is still a dream for them. One can see the same fear in Afghan society which they were once feeling from American soldiers and today they are terrified from their fellow nationals, the Afghan Taliban.

The sudden takeover of Afghanistan by the Afghan Taliban once again has made the USA furious which now is being transformed into further difficulties for the Afghan nation. The overall situation did remain conducive for the Afghan Taliban during the debate in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). I wanted to list below the reaction of some of the top international leadership to understand the common theme and the future international course of action against the Afghan government. The emerging reaction is almost the same trend that has been set by the USA against the Taliban. It reminds me of the reaction of the international community post 9/11. No country then dared to demand to have first the investigation and then react but the world joined the race against the Muslim world. This changed the face of the world. The world is having a non-serious approach towards the Afghan Taliban and is allowing them to continue their way and their way is a dangerous path where there is no value of human blood and rights. I hope the world will take it seriously and will march with the Taliban towards peace and not towards another bloody conflict, driving the Taliban to become part of the hybrid wars turning Afghanistan into a hub of terrorists and expanding their activities worldwide. The Taliban will be used for proxy wars if they are not led to the right path of humanity and in other words, the world needs to rehabilitate them.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, US President Biden once again took credit for having “ended 20 years of conflict in Afghanistan” and “opening a new era of relentless diplomacy.” His statement has been taken well worldwide. However, President Biden didn’t address whether the UN should recognise the Taliban formally as the government of Afghanistan. President Joe Biden tried to strike a positive tone on Afghanistan saying, “As we close this period of relentless war”, whereas the Secretary State Mr. Antony J. Blinken stated that they are planning more sanctions on the Afghan government which means the Afghan government has fewer chances of international support. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in his speech to the General Assembly regarding Taliban recognition said that Russia, China, Pakistan, and the USA are working together to ensure Taliban keep their promises and prevent extremism from spreading. The Russian Foreign Minister addressed the UN General Assembly, calling for a new consensus to uphold the “purposes and principles” of the UN’s founding document, the UN Charter, and a rejection of the Western-backed “Rules-Based Order” concept. He also criticised the Biden administration including for its hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan. Lavrovba slammed the United States and its western allies for “persistent attempts to diminish the UN’s role in resolving the key problems of today.

The President of China did not comment on Afghan recognition except by stating that war is no solution to issues. The Emir of Qatar stressed the significance of the continued support of the international community to the Afghan people. “Boycotting them would only lead to polarisation and reactions, whereas dialogue could be fruitful.” Tajik President Emomali Rahmon called on the Taliban to form an inclusive government in neighbouring Afghanistan with the participation of all political and ethnic groups in order to allay tensions in the war-ridden country. He stated, “Recent developments in Afghanistan, linked to the political and humanitarian crisis and governance, pose a serious threat to regional security and stability.”

PM Imran Khan, in his address to the United Nations General Assembly, called on the global community to strengthen and stabilise the Taliban government in Afghanistan and called upon to recognise the Taliban government. He argued “A destabilised, chaotic Afghanistan will again become a safe haven for international terrorists.”

Indian PM Modi delivered a speech against the Taliban saying, “it is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan’s territory is not used to spread terrorism and for terrorist activities,” He again spoke negatively indirectly against Pakistan and did not support the recognition. He forgot his own terrorist financing in Balochistan and brutalities in Kashmir and that he is still notorious for being an extremist.

Analysing the speeches delivered by the most powerful heads of states, it is worth noting that none of them has vowed so far to recognise the Taliban government as yet. Also many including Russia, Germany, China, and USA have hinted on a precondition that the Taliban will have to abide by their promises of an inclusive government unlike that of the Islamic rule when they last governed the country from 1996 to 2001.

The Afghan Taliban were expecting that perhaps some countries would come forward to recognise their government but none of the international community hinted at their recognition.

I don’t think there are any intentions at the international level to give any relief to the Taliban. In the meantime, the American Secretary of State has stated that they are thinking of putting more sanctions on the Afghan Taliban and it looks like they will not release the reserves of the Afghan Taliban. Meanwhile, the world considers it a positive step that the US allowed aid for Afghanistan despite sanctions against the Taliban as it is granting two licenses allowing various entities to provide humanitarian assistance to the country.

Indeed, it is a positive move to pave the way for aid to flow into the economically-paralysed nation. The US Treasury Department on September 24, 2021, said it has issued two general licenses, one allowing the US government, NGOs, and certain international organisations including the United Nations to engage in transactions with the Taliban or Haqqani Network—both under sanctions—because they are necessary to provide humanitarian assistance. The second license authorises certain transactions related to the export and re-export of food, medicine, and other items. The “Treasury is committed to facilitating the flow of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and other activities that support their basic human needs,” Andrea Gacki, director of the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in the statement. But, it will not resolve the main issue of the Afghan people. In the meantime, the international community must observe what is happening inside Afghanistan as there is complete unrest and there is a severe shortage of utilities. The Afghan Taliban neither have the financial ability nor do they have any reserves. The available resources are depleting day by day and unrest is increasing among the common man. They are mostly relying on Qatar but this is not the job of a single country. The interim government has not followed on what was agreed in the Doha Agreement. Afghan leadership has recently made it public that the females can go to school up to class 6th only which the world is not going to accept and this should not be accepted as women victimisation in Afghanistan will destroy the upcoming generations there.

In my personal opinion, the Afghan Taliban will remain unchanged and they have the potential to further annoy the world and there is a likelihood of a deadlock between the Afghan Taliban and world powers and their followers.

It is merciless that the UN, under the suppressed conscienceless world, is watching brutalities in Kashmir, Syria, Iraq and Nigeria. It is a way of the world and is full of injustice which forces the victims to pick up guns for their rights. It is wrong for both sides as the bullet and guns are neither the solution for the Afghan Taliban nor Anti-Afghan government countries and forces. The world should march towards peace and not towards a non-ending war.

The Article was published in The Nation on September 28, 2021, link to the original article: https://nation.com.pk/28-Sep-2021/no-relief-for-the-afghan-government

Afghan Taliban in hostile international chat room by Senator A. Rehman Malik

 

The international chat room is full of noises about the sudden takeover of Kabul by the Taliban but nobody mentioned the way the President of Pakistan was humiliated for seeking permission to carry out airstrikes using Pakistan’s airspace. Power prevailed and the weakest succumbed to the high voltage of American and NATO pressure. We witnessed the same kind of pressure earlier in the Middle Eastern region where the USA’s policy on the Arab Spring to gain control of the Middle East were frustrated, just like their loss in Afghanistan now. If you see the hegemonic policies of the USA vis-a-vis the Middle East and South Asia, both support notions of aggression.

The International chat room displays various comments and these nonstop arguments are coming against the USA and Taliban.

Currently, the Taliban are being cursed for the non-inclusion of females in their cabinet whereas surprisingly there is hardly any female in international chat rooms themselves.

The International community will continue to curse the Taliban while it continues to advance its agenda without hindrance. Is it unfair now to keep the Taliban isolated? They need to be brought into the mainstream and be made a part of the international community. Let us see how the international community takes up the matter of Taliban in the UNSC to resolve it.

The announcement of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan was made first during the time of President Obama. However, at the same time, the warmongering policy of the USA to overpower the Middle East was already in full swing as part of the great idea of President George W. Bush to take over Middle East and Iran. Obama stated that the US forces, authorities and CIA had achieved their longstanding target and objective in capturing and killing Osama Bin Laden. He also said that the planned to withdraw thirty-three thousand surge troops by the summer of 2012, including ten thousand by the end of 2011 while an estimated seventy thousand remaining U.S. troops were scheduled to stay until 2014. Obama confirmed that the U.S. was holding preliminary peace talks with the Taliban leadership and also the UN Security Council. He extended the time of complete withdrawal to the end of 2016. Later in May 2016, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, both candidates trying to succeed President Hamid Karzai, promised to sign a security agreement with the USA as a prerequisite of any post-2014 U.S. troop presence, hence the drawdown was slowed down leaving behind 8400 troops.

In October 2018, the newly appointed U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, travelled to Doha to explore the potential for peace talks in a meeting with the Taliban. On 25th October 2018, Pakistan finally released former Taliban deputy leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, upon US’ request. The U.S. and Taliban began overt bilateral negotiations in Doha, agreeing to discuss military withdrawal, counterterrorism, and a ceasefire while the talks continued over the next eight months.

I had told Mr Zalmay Khalilzad in my capacity that the USA will fail in pursuing its agenda as the Taliban will never come to a compromise with Dr Ghani. He did not agree with me until August 15, 2021.

To reach the conclusion, Pakistan mediated again and finally, in February 2020 the US and the Taliban signed an agreement in Doha in which all foreign forces were supposed to quit Afghanistan by May 2021. The signing of the agreement is credited to General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Army chief and General Faiz Hameed, DG ISI. Taliban negotiation teams and the Afghan government gathered in Doha face to face for the first time after the Afghan government completed the release of 5000 Taliban prisoners. Acting U.S. Defence Secretary Christopher C. Miller announced plans to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan to 2,500 by mid-January 2021.

Putting an end to the 20 years long US-Afghan war, President Biden announced that the United States will withdraw by September 11, 2021, regardless of the progress made in the intra-Afghan peace talks. As a hasty and dramatic development, Biden mysteriously ordered a quick evacuation of troops in August 2021.

The FBI report on the 9/11 incident sheds light on the meeting of a Saudi government employee, Omar Al Bayoumi with the hijackers in a restaurant which was portrayed as a chance meeting by the Commission. The FBI has now painted the meeting as a pre-planned and well-orchestrated event as the witness to the meeting saw Bayoumi waiting by the window of the restaurant for the hijackers rather than running into them by chance and they had a long conversation together. The report also suggests that Thumairy and Bayoumi were also linked to known international terrorists on a phone tree. Bayoumi was in ‘almost daily contact’ with a man having ties to the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Centre attack. Thumairy’s phone was linked to people having connections with the Millennium Plot Bomber.

It is ironic to say that Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks himself was a Saudi national. The question that arises here is why Afghanistan and Pakistan are constantly blamed for something that they were never even involved in? Why Pakistan, despite its evident and remarkable role in US War on terror and the Afghan peace process, is accused for harbouring terrorism?

Technically, Al Qaeda was formed in the 1980s when young Muslims from around the world joined the Afghan mujahedeen as volunteers in a jihad against the Soviet Union. The question is who called, gathered, and trained them in Afghanistan? It was the USA. The USA gave birth to the Mujahideen by portraying itself as a messiah for Muslims and used them against its arch-rival for its geopolitical objectives. It was around the same time when a wealthy Saudi, Osama Bin Ladin, was one of those Mujahedeen brought by the USA to be trained. The USA deliberately left these Mujahideen behind to create a state of civil war in Afghanistan so that it could have a reason to interfere in Afghanistan in future. The point to ponder here is that all of these attacks happening afterwards were carried out inside Muslim territories and by the Muslims themselves, until the 9/11 attack happened. Why did the CIA not interfere when it was aware of possibility of something happening?

The US has deployed its forces in almost every Muslim country in the name of security and protection but who is the enemy that would harm them? The Muslims themselves or the ones who fear the strength of the Muslim community fighting their enemy together?

Now, the only reason behind the USA blaming Afghanistan and Pakistan is that the unity between both does not leave any stone unturned to create unrest in the region. So, the superpower once again left behind the bone of contention after sudden evacuation for the whole region to deal with.

Intellectuals and world investigators must explore if this incident had something to connect the US’ larger plan of taking over the Middle East and Iran? If this point was to be considered in the international chat room then why should the FBI rope in Saudi intelligence in it? Why and what next? After all who is behind Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and how dare the sympathisers of TTP openly threaten attacks on Pakistan. Let us see how Pakistan counters this lethal TTP in future.

The article was published in The Nation on September 21, 2021, link to the original article.. https://nation.com.pk/20-Sep-2021/afghan-taliban-in-hostile-international-chat-room

Radicalisation vs international extremism by Senator A. Rehman Malik

The recent takeover of Afghanistan by Afghan Taliban will certainly affect Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other extremists in Pakistan. The TTP is fully operational across Pak-Afghan border and along with Daesh, they are carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Pakistan has been going through unfortunate phases in its history because of many factors. I had been warning about the growing extremism in Pakistan as it has roots in Jihad during the war between the then Soviet Union and Afghanistan. Here is an extract of my speech as then minister of interior and it is valid even today and fits both on Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Pakistan had brought down the frequency of suicide bombings and extremism in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region which started "when we decided to take part in Jihad" during the war between the erstwhile Soviet Union and Afghanistan. Thousands of Jihadist landed in Pakistan to fight the Soviet Union and were left with nothing to do after the war. It saw the evolution of Taliban and extremism spreading. There were 300 madaris in the region when the war ended. The number reached to 23,000 when the PPP government came to power in Pakistan.

All madaris were not involved in terrorism, but there was an effort to brainwash those studying in them. Religion and poverty were exploited. Children were recruited for Rs 15,000-20,000 and were indoctrinated to act as suicide bombers. Thanks to our forces, who have been able to handle them well and the frequency of suicide bombers reduced in Pakistan. I had also stated that organisations like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had splinter groups. Pakistan faced one of the worst times of its history with the rise of extremism, particularly in the Muslim majority countries, and was being spread by those with some "vested motives". We need a de-radicalisation programme. I am a very strong advocate of interfaith harmony as if there is a confrontation on basis of religion, there will be clash of civilisations. The phase one of radicalisation started when we allowed proxy wars from our county and the race of madaris was launched by various religious schools of thought among which some were supported by Libya and some by Saudi Arabia and the other by Iran.

The extremism emerged from some of the madaris. Both Taliban's strong factions are educated from a madrassa in Akora Khattak where the students are taught a certain syllabus.

I as interior minister had made all the factions agreed on one syllabus and it was placed before the highest body of the National Action Plan. But, this agreement is not yet implemented despite having full agreements and consensus by all the political parties and schools of thought. This shows our non-serious national attitudes towards reducing radicalization.

The agreement was signed by me as the interior minister, Mufti Munib-ur-Rahman, General Secretary Ittehad Tanzeemal Madaris, Qari Muhammad Hanif Jalandhri, General Secretary Widaq-ul-Madaris-al-Arabia, Pakistan, Dr Yasin Zafat, Deputy General Secretary Wifaq-ul-Madris Al-Salfia, Pakistan, Maulana Abdul Malik, President Rabita-tul-Madaris-ul-Islamia, Pakistan and Maulana Niyaz Hussain Naqvi. Sanior Vice President Wafaq-ul-Madris Al-Shia, Pakistan.

I wish if this was converted into legislation and we would have some regulatory control to make our education system help us enhance the inter-factions religious harmony in our country.

National interests are now a second priority and we are a country in the Muslim world where religion and administration go parallel and the result is very much clear now. Afghanistan takeover by the Taliban will encourage some religious factions to have a closed ideology with the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani Taliban (TTP). The infection of radicalisation from Daesh and Taliban is bound to travel, spread and infect a part of the young generation especially from madaris. The worst effects will be on ex-FATA and Balochistan where India and the western powers have already created pockets to destabilise Pakistan. Radicalisation is going on and it could prove highly detrimental for the country.

There will be an attempt to enhance the demand for Sharia laws. The government must keep a counter-strategy to deal with the situation.

Are we going to have an international and local-level interfaith harmony to end hate within the religions? Author note: The views expressed are solely mine and do not necessarily represent the views of my party.

The article was published in The News on September 14, 2021, link to the original article is... https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/892178-radicalisation-vs-international-extremism

and Daily Jang Urdu.. https://e.jang.com.pk/09-14-2021/pindi/pic.asp?picname=03_01.png

The interim government by Senator A. Rehman Malik

 

The Afghan Taliban’s interim government was imminent to come into existence and hence it is in place. The major share of power has gone in the hands of the Qandahari Taliban, which will actually dominate the government. It is ironic to note that the new cabinet consists of at least 14 UN-designated terrorists. Sirajuddin Haqqani, who has been given the Ministry of Interior, is one of the FBI’s most wanted men, due to his involvement in suicide attacks and ties with Al Qaeda. The US State Department has offered a bounty of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest. The key post of “Prime Minister” of the interim government has been awarded to Mullah Hassan Akhund, former Deputy Prime minister of Mullah Umer. This new cabinet in fact consists of almost the entire cabinet of Mullah Umer and it seems as if he is back in power; Mullah Hasan is on the top of UNSC’s terrorism blacklist including his deputy, Abdul Ghani Baradar. The UNSC has not yet added their names in the list of wanted persons.

Four of the five leaders known as the “Taliban Five” from the 33-member interim Cabinet were once held at Guantanamo Bay. They include Mullah Mohammad Fazil (deputy defence minister), Khairullah Khairkhwa (information and culture minister), Mullah Noorullah Noori (Borders and Tribal Affairs minister) and Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq (Director of Intelligence). The fifth member of the group, Mohammad Nabi Omari, has been appointed as the governor of the eastern province, Khost.

The acting Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, acting Foreign Minister Mullah Ameer Khan Muttaqi and his deputy Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai are all listed under the UNSC sanctions list. The list of cabinet members shows that out of 33, fourteen are under bounty starting from 5 million to 50 million and these notifications are intact in the UN section dealing with terrorism.

The Taliban had also promised an “inclusive” government including complex ethnic makeup in order to garner support from Tehran, but there is no Hazara member in the Cabinet. All of the Cabinet ministers consist of Taliban leaders who have fought against the US-led coalition forces since 2001. This means these cabinet ministers are not safe from the eyes of the US/UNSC and they may not come out in the open to play their role in government until these international restrictions and sanctions are lifted. Despite making a commitment with the international community, they have also not included a female member in their cabinet. The Taliban announced just yesterday that no Afghan was allowed to leave the country anymore. They have further announced that all previous ministers/secretaries/officials should declare their assets along with the sources which means trials are underway. It has been reported that Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Abdullah Abdullah and Former President Hamid Karzai were promised certain positions in the government but according to sources close to them, they are now like hostages in Kabul as confirmed by them to some of their close aides in Kabul. The UN must do something for their security and the safety of their lives. I used to say in every meeting to President Hamid Karzai that there are no good or bad Taliban, but only the Taliban.

On the other hand, in Pakistan, we are worried about the presence of TTP’s self-exiled militants from Balochistan including Molvi Faqir Mohammed and Ikramullah, the second bomber in Kunar, Afghanistan who had escaped from the murder scene of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. The Taliban are neither controlled by Pakistan nor by anybody in the world now, as they are on the loose. One good news is that Abdullah Orakzai, known as Farooq Aslam, the head of the Daesh Pakistan was killed by the Taliban yesterday and we hope that the Taliban will handover Ikram Ullah, the surviving second suicide bomber of SMBB to Pakistan. Reportedly, Ahmed Shah Masood, an ex-graduate of King’s College London had left the country but rumour has it that he is coming back. Although the Panjsheries have surrendered the main road, they are resisting Afghan Taliban forces in Panjshir Valley. Ahmad Masood, son of the leader of the Northern Alliance, Ahmad Shah Masood known as the “Lion of Panjshir ‘’, finds himself landed in a situation similar to that of his father as he will now be confronted with Taliban’s 2.0 version. On August 18 2021, after the dramatic invasion of Afghanistan by the Taliban, an article was published in The Washington Post by Ahmad Masood where he claimed to have forces including the Afghan Mujahideen, soldiers of the Afghan regular army as well as former members of the Afghan Special Forces to mount an effective resistance against the Taliban, but he also called on the “friends” from the west especially the United States to supply arms and ammunition to his militia and I do not think that the US will opt for any such reunification or venture of this kind in Afghanistan. I think it will be very difficult for this young Panjsheri to sustain the defence if he is not supported by the west or any other country. Amarullah Saleh, despite all the tall claims of resistance and fight against Taliban to the last breath, has fled away to Tajikistan. A week ago, when the Taliban claimed victory in Panjshir, the strong foothold of the “National Resistance Front” headed by Ahmad Masood, the head of their Foreign Relations Ali Maisam Nazary refuted the claims in a Facebook post saying that the Taliban’s claim of occupying Panjshir was false and the struggle against the Taliban continued. He also said that both the leaders of NRF, Ahmad Masood and Amarullah Saleh were very much in Afghanistan; they had not fled anywhere.

It is very much likely that India will support this resistance led by Ahmad Masood against the Taliban since the fall of the twenty years of a democratic and inclusive system in which India invested more than $3 billion, has given a tragic blow to India. It would be a very difficult move but the NRF is now the only viable option to regain its lost strategic interests in Afghanistan against Pakistan.

Pakistan is in a highly vulnerable position as we are surrounded by terrorists given the fact that Pak TTP, Al-Qaeda and Daesh are present on our border and are not far from Chitral Border. India will definitely use them for a hybrid war in Pakistan. In the past two decades, the US has spent a tremendous amount of money to conduct “wars on terror” in 85 countries, killing people and causing numerous refugee crises. This 20-year war has harmed Americans particularly and the world in general. Will the US turn a blind eye towards the Afghan Taliban government or once again put Pakistan under pressure to do more in Afghanistan? It may start the old story of “do more” syndrome once again. This time we must not commit this mistake and should make our future policy as a joint venture with China, Iran, Russia, Turkey and Pakistan should make efforts for the recognition of the Afghan government as a bloc and India may also be invited to end the unnecessary propaganda against Pakistan. Pakistan must take well-thought out steps to avoid isolation in the matter of recognition of Afghanistan as we are already infected with international diplomatic isolation. We must also try to bring the US on board too as they have already started the supply of humanitarian goods in Afghanistan. The American money in Afghan banks has been allowed to be used by Afghan ministries. The international community should immediately call upon a UN session on Afghanistan and consider deploying a “peacekeeping force” to avoid chances of dead bodies like in Eastern Syria. I have written this article from abroad where I am on a brief visit to various international intellectual forums and watching some anti-Pakistan media duly sponsored by India. I have placed the true picture of the present situation in Afghanistan. Here I would like to present two proposals for every stakeholder in the Afghan government. The first is that the Taliban government should become moderate and give women their rights of education, media and job opportunities considering the fact that if females could fight on the battlefield of Uhud then why not they work in the buildings of Afghanistan. Secondly, they should announce a general amnesty for everyone like our Prophet did, after the victory of Makkah. Pakistan may create a bloc of five powerful countries for proposed recognition, subject to certain conditions. The emotional claims from some of the authorities in Pakistan must come to end as these will be harmful in the long run. Let the world appreciate that China pledged 31 million dollars’ of humanitarian aid (food and medicine) to Afghanistan. Pakistan has also delivered medicines via PIA. let us hope other countries will also come forward to do the needful for the people of Afghanistan.

The article was published in The Nation on September 10, 2021, link to the article is https://nation.com.pk/10-Sep-2021/the-interim-government

Stop the fall of the rupee by Senator A. Rehman Malik

Money, whether it is in any currency, is probably the most desired commodity which regardless of class, age or ethnicity is loved by every person. In our society, money is the basic need to regulate our lives as it is the symbol of our economy. It has also bifurcated classes within our society. It sets our way of life and passes through the hands of each one of us. We love it at all levels but as a nation, we could not protect its value. It is something that determines the strength of our economy as it has tremendous effects on our society. It also has the ability to corrupt people when it is in the hands of mafias.

There is a popular phrase of ‘installing the wheels to the file’ as a businessman adds wheels of rupees to his files to move fast and in his favour. A poor man earns and uses it to feed his family every day, a middle-class man works day and night to provide a good lifestyle to his family and also tries to save some for later use while the corrupt mafia which includes businessmen and politicians violate the process of rupees by containing it in a few hands. The rupee had strength but its value is decreasing by the day and it is depleting with every passing day.

When I joined the civil service in 1974, one dollar was equivalent to Rs3 only while now it has touched the skies as it is equal to Rs167 and see how inflation has hit us in the last four decades. It is a sad affair that our governments could not protect this most precious commodity. I had started to feel and assess in 2014 that we are not properly handling our most treasured item and the government, the foreign exchange mafia, and some bank syndicates and individuals mint their money by depleting rupees with different artificial and corrupt techniques. I had also given successive statements on the ever-rising value of the dollar and depletion of the rupee, as in 2018 one dollar was Rs121, in 2019 it was Rs150, in 2020 it reached Rs166 and is now Rs168.5 against one US dollar.

In my articles, I had predicted the sharp decline of the Pakistani rupee with reasons as to why the rupee depleted in the past as I was noticing the continued fall of the growth rate, falling export figures, increase in the import figures, high in flexing figures including the pressure of the IMF, the World Bank, and other donors to devalue rupee as a condition to have further borrowing to be allowed to Pakistan.

This period from 2018 onwards has drastically devalued the rupee against the dollar to the level of 168 which was highly unimaginable. There are certainly alien factors damaging the sustainability of the rupee but there are certainly other factors within our country where very strong syndicates and mafias play with the interest of the nation by using a well-organised criminal underhand methodology to reduce the value of the rupee by using certain technical techniques which were explained in my article ‘Plight of Pakistani Rupee’ published in the same newspaper on December 17, 2018, in which I had mentioned about the consecutive three-time steep decline in the value of the rupee ever since the new government took over. The slide of the Rupee overnight shook the people and they were shocked to hear that even the Prime Minister, the President, and the Finance Minister were claiming that they were not aware of this decline.

The rupee will further deplete above 170 against 1 US dollar; the nation needs to know about this unchecked downward slide which can create multiple complications not only for the overall economy of the country but it will affect our institutions and the common man badly. Traders may like to see the currency strength in South Asia, even the Bangladesh Taka is better than us.

Pakistan needs to work out a way forward for the retirement of its foreign debt. It must enhance the growth rate by using all available resources, and pump funds in the agriculture sector to enhance the yield. It must also try to have an agreement with China to purchase half of the debt with a 20-year relief in the interest rate and payments. A full review should be undertaken into state investments, the issuance of various bonds, available properties, and loss of the exchequer due to unwise actions and bad investments. Imports should cut drastically and boost exports as the country cannot stay only on the foreign remittance by overseas Pakistanis. We must bring in legislation for the protection of foreign investment and special incentives and protection to the overseas Pakistanis.

I am sorry for placing this bad picture of the rupee and the economy but I think some drastic steps are required to halt the depletion of the rupee.

Most importantly, the fragile economy of Pakistan will get some more burden due to the newly formed setup in Afghanistan. There is a likelihood of a drain in our resources to Afghanistan and the rupee is likely to go under more pressure. In my article ‘A strong emerging bloc’ dated August 1, 2021, I had suggested the economic bloc of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. It is a good omen that the new leadership of Afghanistan has shown an interest to be part of CPEC. Our priority should be to enhance our economy which is the future of our country. I hope Mr. Shaukat Tarin will try to work on some out-of-the-box solutions to put the country back to track.

The Article was published in The Nation on September 05, 2021, link to the original article is https://nation.com.pk/05-Sep-2021/stop-the-fall-of-the-rupee

SENATOR REHMAN MALIK’S BOOK “TOP 100 INVESTIGATION” LAUNCHED

The book "Top 100 Investigations” written by Former Interior Minister, Chairman Institute of Research and Reforms (IRR) has been launched today on Monday by Sirajul Haq, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. Due to the situation because of Coronavirus when social distancing and isolation are being observed to control this deadly pandemic, the book was launched in a simple but highly impressive ceremony. The ceremony was also attended by renowned journalists. The ceremony was commenced with recitation from Holy Quran and the national anthem. Senator A. Rehman Malik in his opening remarks welcomed the distinguished guests and briefed the audiences about the book.

Senator A. Rehman Malik said that his journey as a civil servant, investigator, and then politician and remained full variety of experiences. He said during his experience he found that it is hard fact that Knowledge is a power that leads to success. “I have always considered myself a student of history and struggled for social justice” he added.

He said that he had been writing papers, representing Pakistan in the international forum, devising policies for the government, and have drafted many legislation both as a bureaucrat and later as a politician therefore writing has always remained a passion right from the student life. He said that he was dedicated to write on security, social injustice, extremism, terrorism, countering the enemies countries' policies against Pakistan, and in the greater national interest.

Throwing light on his earlier publications, Rehman Malik said that his first book “Modi’s War Doctrine” basically exposed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his terrorist organization RSS for their anti-Pak agenda and he was happy that he well-exposed their brutalities well in the world.

The author said that helping and supporting Kashmiris is his passion and he has been writing on the issue of Kashmir and raising his voice for them at every forum. “My book ‘Bleeding Kashmir’ identifies the unprecedented brutalities of Indian Forces and PM Modi against oppressed people of Kashmir’, he said.

Former Interior Minister further said that Daesh has now emerged as a lethal monster and it is replacing Al-Qaeda and he had been advocating about its presence in the region and Pakistan. My book “ISIS-Daesh; Rising Monster Worldwide” discovers the creation and rising of Daesh and its use against humanity. He said today, Daesh regional branches are functioning active and there were training centers in Afghanistan where activists of ETIM and Daesh were trained and used against Pakistan and China.

The author said that besides, he also touched a different subject Coronavirus and wrote a book “Coronavirus; A manmade virus or Biowarfare” which was the first-ever book on Coronavirus that was made part of the record of United Nations for the guidance of the panel headed by former Prime Minister of New Zealand and forty investigators who are assigned to investigate COVID-19 with all aspects including its zero part.

Senator Rehman Malik said that during his long service in FIA and senior officer of the Ministry of Interior and subsequently as a longest-serving Interior Minister in a very crucial time, he had witnessed and dealt with many national and international incidents which have never been brought in the public domain, therefore, he decided to write a book titled “Top 100 Investigations”.

He said that aiming to write this book was to apprise the public particularly students on important investigations and national issues and hidden aspects of those incidents. He said that he hopes that this book can serve as a reference book for those who have an interest in the politics of the country, the economic situation, and international politics vis-à-vis Pakistan. He said that he is pleased to announce that the entire sale proceeds of his all books are dedicated to ‘Shuhada-e-Pakistan’.

The Chief Guest Jamaat-e-Islami Siraj-ul-Haq highly applauded Senator A. Rehman Malik for his book and said it is difficult to speak the truth and writing a book is not an easy job. He said that he read Rehman Malik's book which is in fact an FIR against our system.  He questioned who killed Pakistan's first Primes Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and how Benazir Bhutto and Hakeem Saeed were assassinated, these questions do arise in the mind of every Pakistani. He said that many questions about our past are well addressed and answered in the book. He said that one should learn from Hazrat Imam Hussain who sacrificed his life with all his companions and family but didn’t accept Yazid and his falsehood. He said, “In reality, the murder of Hussain is the death of Yazid, Islam is resurrected after every Karbala”. He said that we need to stand by rights and follow the path of Hazrat Imam Hussain a.s.

The ceremony was also addressed by renowned author Professor Dr. Ayub Sabir and said that he is inspired by Senator Rehman Malik work of writing book. He said that Rehman Malik has touched very important issues in his book. He said that he wrote a book in twenty years on Allama Iqbal defending his ideology and rebutting criticism against his personality. He said that Senator Rehman Malik is a self-made person and an ideal for our youth. He said that we have to fight against status quo in our politics and the people from all classes should be given equal opportunities to participate. Renowned jurnlaists Tahir Khali, and Shafqat Ali also addressed the ceremony and appreciated the author for the book and said that it will benefit the students of history, politics and international affairs.