The rise of Political Sufism poses a threat to liberal politics in both India and Pakistan
Sufism has been noted for its pacifism and otherworldliness. Two political parties on either side of the border undermine that image. 2 hours ago Supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan stage a protest after their leader was detained following his calls for the expulsion of the French ambassador, in Lahore on April 20. | AFP
In the popular imagination, Islam’s Sufi strand is viewed as being apolitical. Characterised by its virtuousness and asceticism, Sufism has been hailed for its pacifism and otherworldliness. But this impression has been punctured by two nascent political movements in the subcontinent, the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and the Indian Secular Front in West Bengal.
India-China Conflict: India Was Too Busy Befriending China While PLA Was Preparing For War: Expert
May 14, 2021
India’s Modi government “failed to foresee” China’s aggression in the Himalayas, leading to the prolonged border standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh, top Indian geostrategist claims.
The two Asian neighbors have been at loggerheads ever since China took over Tibet in the 1950s. China did not recognize the ‘McMahon Line’ dividing India and Tibet, as delineated by the 1914 Simla Accord.
After capturing Tibet, China started building a road through Aksai Chin which was claimed by India as eastern Ladakh. But like before, China was not legally bound by the Johnson-Ardagh Line of 1897 which put Aksai Chin inside Indian territory.
May 13, 2021
As the US troops have started withdrawing from Afghanistan while Pentagon is exploring military bases in Central Asia and other nations bordering Afghanistan, Pakistan has clarified that it will not permit any foreign military bases on its soil.
“We will not allow boots on the ground or military bases on our territory,” Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told media in Islamabad on Tuesday, as quoted by Pajhwok Afghan News agency.
Qureshi said that Pakistan firmly stood with Afghanistan in its efforts for peace, prosperity, and national reconciliation. “We will remain partners in peace with Afghanistan and will continue to play our role as a facilitator,” he added.
May 7, 2021
The sale of 30 Rafale fighter jets by France to Egypt in a deal reportedly worth €3.9 billion has raised eyebrows in India. Earlier, France and India had signed a pact for 36 Rafale jets in 2016, which was signed at twice the rate of €7.8 billion.
The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi is said to have signed the deal on April 26 as part of defense contracts worth almost four billion euros, investigative website Disclose claimed.
While around €3.75 billion was for the purchase of 30 Rafale jets from Dassault, the rest was used to sign deals with MBDA and Safran Electronics and Defense for the sale of missile equipment.
US Cyber Command Gives-Up On Terror Organizations Like Islamic State & Shifts Focus To China
May 7, 2021
The US Cyber Command will be diverting its counterterror resources used against the Islamic State to the Indo-Pacific region, probably to thwart Chinese cyber threats.
According to the military portal C4ISRNET, the Joint Task Force (JTF) of the Cyber Command was specifically created in 2016 to fight the Islamic State online. However, in view of the rising cyber threats, which US agencies have linked to China, the JTF would now focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
In a written statement submitted to the US Congress in March, General Paul M. Nakasone, Commander of United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), said: