CHINA
1. A high-level, 100-member delegation of Communist Party of China and investors was expected to visit Gwadar today. Members of Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China are also likely to be part of the delegation – as representatives of the Chinese government. (Daily Intekhab)
2. Pakistan and China have signed important MoUs for cooperation in the health and educational sectors under the CPEC project. (Roznama Dunya)
UNITED STATES
1. Roznama Dunya and Ausaf have editorially criticised US President Obama for urging India and Pakistan to shrink their nuclear programs. Both dailies reject India’s assertion that it started its nuclear program as security against Chinese aggression. While China in the last 60 years never bothered India, Delhi is the reason behind the bifurcation of Pakistan. The edits also take the West to task for what they call its biased attitude, and claim that it was this bias had forced the Palestinians and Kashmiris to take up militancy. (Roznama Dunya Edit, Ausaf Edit)
INDIA
1. Government should let the people of Pakistan know why it is so reluctant in taking up the issue of arrested RAW agent Kulbhushan with India openly. The authorities’ decision to not react strongly on such a serious matter remains a puzzle. Interior Minister should clarify his statement as to what he meant by taking the issue to its logical end, as it would be very unfortunate for the people of Pakistan if that said logical end is on the lines of Kashmir Singh who had been handed over to India. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
2. Former envoy to the UN, Masood Khan, has said that the Indian media was doing baseless propaganda about Pakistan’s ties with Iran. Khan stated that Iran is a brother nation of Pakistan. Reports about Iran’s interference in Pakistan are not true. He demanded that the Indian media should stop such negative propaganda. (Jasarat, Roznama Dunya)
3. Writing in Jasarat on Indian investments in Afghanistan and Iran, Khalid H Lodhi, states that by investing in the Chabahar port, India wanted to have access to Afghanistan. These objectives of Indian investment are not hidden from anybody. Under the cover of investment, India has established strong and organized networks of RAW in Afghanistan and Iran. The confessional statements of RAW agent, Kulbhushan, have confirmed this. Lodhi writes that RAW’s activities had increased since Modi had come to power in India and that simultaneously the alliance with MOSSAD had also increased. (Jasarat)
IRAN
1. Pakistan Ulema Council said that asking Iran to end RAW’s network was not unconstitutional and Iran should cooperate with Pakistan in this matter. (Daily K2)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Senior analyst, Haroon-ur Rashid, says that there is no possibility for the success of ‘Nizam-e-Mustafa Tehreek’. According to him, Nawaz Sharif would at the most stop his speeches in support of liberalism and would get cautious in relations with India. He further adds that religious parties are facing a threat of political survival at the moment. (Roznama Dunya)
2. Hamid Mir criticises the launching of movements in the name of religion, like the Nizam-e-Mustafa movement; these campaigns are an effort to destabilise the country. He adds that while leaders like Z. A. Bhutto, Benazir, and Nawaz Sharif took steps to strengthen Pakistan, military dictators only initiated movements like the 1977 Nizam-e-Mustafa. Mir also strongly criticises Musharraf, who had escaped any punishment. (Jang)
3. A radio program, allegedly run by Daesh, is spreading negative propaganda against Pakistan in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan and many people were shifting their sect from Sunni to Salafiya. Daesh is believed to have a strong presence in Nangarhar province and according to an estimate there ar around 3000 Daesh members there. (Ummat)
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Naseer Memon, commenting on the latest D Chowk protests, says religious parties and groups have been assertive right from the beginning. They became stronger during Zia’s time. Over time the “jihadi industry” has become an important part of Pakistan’s foreign policy, especially from the time of the Afghan war. However in the aftermath of 9/11 forced Pakistan to change with times, but it had been hard to change because these religious groups had become an inseparable part of the society. The conflict between the religious groups and the government continued even after the 2008 elections when the PPP came to power; during this time, these groups thrived in Punjab after striking a tacit understanding with the government and the establishment, according to which they would not go against them. Things changed after Gen. Raheel Sharif took over as the Army Chief and in the aftermath of the 2014 attack on the Army School in Peshawar. Since then, the importance and the clout of these groups has been on the decline; in light of events like Mumtaz Qadri’s hanging and the passage of women’s rights bill, it had become imperative for these groups to make their presence felt again, which culminated in Islamabad protest show. Operations in Sindh, Balochistan, and KPK might not harm PML (N) politically, but any direct action against the PML (N)-backed right wing in Punjab would be bad for them; additionally, these groups might also lay low until the Army Chief’s retirement. If the security establishment continues with its current policies and action, it is likely that the religious groups would resort to other courses to convey their strength; as for the PML (N), it would be difficult for them to strike a balance. (Kawish – April 2)
2. JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has asked PM Sharif to visit Bangladesh to stop the tirade against the pro-Pakistani JI leaders. He also questioned the patriotism of Interior Minister Chaudhary Nissar in this regard. JI Chief Siraj-ul-Haq also said that the government should stop the hanging of former JI leaders in Bangladesh through the 1971 agreement. He remarked that the anti-Pakistan elements were not afraid of the nuclear might of Pakistan but of the madaris and the Islamic system in Pakistan. (Nawa-i-Waqt, Jasarat)
ECONOMY-WATER- ENERGY
1. Expresses concern over the tough IMF conditions for fresh loans, Nawa-i-Waqt editorial said the government should broad base the tax net and collect taxes properly. Tax the rich but spare the poor, said the daily. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
2. Jang in an editorial comment has supported the decision taken at a meeting of the KP- Apex Committee to modernise the systems at Torkham border in order to block the entry of terrorists from Afghanistan. (Jang Edit)
3. Munir Ahmed Baloch makes an interesting aside on the government while on the subject of water. A seminar on water was organised by WAPDA. The Federal Minister for Water and Electricity, Khwaja Asif, was to be the chief guest but he skipped the seminar in order to accompany the PM on his election campaign in AJK. During the seminar the government and WAPDA were questioned what was stopping the Pakistani government to build big and small dams like India has done. Munir adds there is extreme water shortage in Cholistan and even in the posh areas of Karachi. (Roznama Dunya)
SINDH
1. Kawish has editorially commented on the adverse remarks of the Supreme Court Chief Justice over the state of affairs in the Sindh. It said: it’s not just the SC CJ who is worried about the conditions in Sindh but even the people of Sindh are equally worried and concerned. If the Sindh leaders are still not concerned and worried about Sindh, then that in itself is a matter of major concern for the people of Sindh. The Sindh CM’s statement that “those who cannot see the development should better get their eyes checked” is hiding the realities of Sindh. (Kawish Edit –April 2)
2. The failures of the Sindh government can be set right with reforms. Political movements should be aimed at ensuring that the common man gets his basic rights. Political alliances should be for re-formed so that the system can get back to better governance. Governor’s Rule is no solution to the bad governance. (Kawish Edit)
BALOCHISTAN
1. Vigilance of transports and trains from Rahim Yar Khan to Balochistan has been increased after the arrest of RAW agent. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. Chief of Baloch Republican Party (BRP), Brahmadagh Bugti, in an interview with BBC, said that Baloch leaders had no contacts with RAW, and neither had anyone offered any funding to them. He further said that he had no intention of immediately returning to Pakistan. He also demanded immediate elections in Balochistan, under UN supervision, saying the present government was selected by Punjab. He also said that as per his information, the RAW agent was arrested from Iran or Afghanistan and not from Balochistan. He added that the situation in Balochistan today was like it was in East Pakistan once. “If it continued like this then it could lead to the break-up of Pakistan”. (Jang)
3. Voicing concern over the setting up of coal-fired power projects in Gadani, Balochistan, editorial in Daily Intekhab points out that the beautiful coast has already been damaged with the establishment of ship-breaking and disposal units. Till-date the government has not cared to see if dangerous chemicals and other hazardous wastes are being dumped on the coast and in the sea. It appeals to the government to desist from such enterprises. “If the government cannot provide positive development it should at least spare the life of the Balochi people from diseases caused by pollution. (Daily Intekhab Edit)
POK/ G-B NEWS

1. Baad-e-Shimal in its editorial said: With the announcement of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council elections the issue of constitutional rights of the region has taken a back seat as everyone is concentrating on lections. People of Gilgit-Baltistan want to become a part of Pakistan more than anything else. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)
2. Daily K2 editorial is concerned over the devastation caused by rains in Gilgit-Baltistan. Ensure fast relief, the daily told the administration. (Daily K2 Edit)
3. Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Speaker Fida Nashad has said that government departments were unable to perform as per target despite proper budgets. He claimed that performance of Development, Electricity, Tourism, and FWO departments was zero. (Baad-e-Shimal)