SOURCE: Ausaf, Ummat, Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Urdu Point, Daily Jinnah, Awami Awaz, Daily Dharti, Jasarat, Kawish, Daily Intekhab, Daily Times, Jang, Ibrat, Khabrain, Roznama Dunya, Hizb Media, Al Qalam Weekly, Baad-e-Shimal, Bang-e-Sahar, Sindh Express, Pk Voices.

CHINA
1. China has refused further concessions under Free Trade Agreement but it has shown willingness to give concessions under Free Trade Agreement-II. Sources have revealed that Pakistan could not take advantage and benefits from first phase of the Agreement. According to informed sources, the 7th round of talks on Free Trade Agreement Phase-II were held on 6th and 7th December in Islamabad. Pakistan stressed for more concessions in FTA by China. Pakistan’s contention was that it could not enjoy all concessions granted in the Phase-I of the Agreement. Pakistan’s industry is seeking more relief in various sectors. There has been reduction in exports as compared to last year, while imports have increased. (Intekhab)
2. National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that CPEC project faces more internal threat than from India and the US. The critics think that CPEC routes are being assigned by federal government, but in fact since China is investing in CPEC, it is deciding the routes. (Urdupoint)

SAUID ARABIA
1. The former Army General, Raheel Sharif, has given conditional offer to head the Islamic Army Alliance, an outfit against militancy. He said he is prepared to lead the alliance force provided he is given powers to resolve disputes amongst the warring groups. Even before he had retired, the Saudis had offered him the job and told him that he could his response after consulting his aides. The Iran government, through its Pakistani diplomatic channel, has conveyed a written message to Raheel Sharif that if he leads the Islamic Army Alliance with powers to settle disputes, Iran will not only help in calming the Yemen crisis but also play a role in bringing Houthi rebels for talks. Saudi had offered this post to Raheel Sharif it is intact but Raheel Sharif is not prepared to take over this responsibility without the powers. (Kawish)

UNITED STATES
1. Foreign Secretary Ejaz Chaudhary will be the new envoy to Pakistan. The government approved the appointment. He will succeed Jalil Abbas Jilani whose term is coming to an end. An experienced diplomat, Chaudhary has worked for six years as Pakistan’s representative to the UN. Observers say Pakistan will have to start afresh on many issues with the new American administration and will have to resolve mutual differences. The role of Ejaz Chaudhary will be of immense importance. (Jinnah)
2. US President Barack Obama confessed in his last speech delivered recently that they didn’t get victory in Afghanistan and that Guantanamo Bay prison was a blot on the pride of the US. The Soviet Union had bite dust in Afghanistan long years ago. Now it is the turn of another superpower to confess its failure. It shows that by use of force nobody can be made a slave. President Obama’s claim that the US will make Afghan troops capable to defend their country is neither here nor there. If Afghan forces would have been strong two major powers of the world have not been defeated by Taliban. (Ummat Edit)

AFGHANISTAN
1. Pakistan has decided to appoint special representative for Afghanistan affairs. One of the names under consideration is of former ambassador to Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq. (Jang)
2. At the NATO ministerial meeting held in Brussels it was alleged that Pakistan, Iran and Russia are interfering in Afghanistan. The US Army Chief General John Nicolson claimed that Russia, Iran and Pakistan are causing instability in Afghanistan. (Ummat)
3. Asif Jelani, in his article, says Pak-Afghan ties are under huge stress once again. Afghanistan spoke against Pakistan at the Heart of Asia meeting in Amritsar last week. The Afghan President also said he is in undeclared state of war against Pakistan. He demanded that there should be one more organisation, Asian or global, to keep eye on terror activities of Pakistan. All that has been happening of late vis-à-vis Afghanistan-Pakistan ties, is nothing but an exercise to lay siege around Pakistan. Pakistan’s influence on Afghanistan is on the decline. On the other hand, it is India that keeps controlling Afghanistan, politically and militarily too, and India is also getting benefits from the US as is evident from civil nuclear deal between India and the US. (Kawish)

INDIA
1. Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz has shocked the nation when he stated that the government has not yet found enough evidence against the arrested Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav at a time India is hauling up Pakistan for each and every event in India without any evidence. Contrary to what Aziz may say, the security forces of Pakistan are completely impartial and don’t interfere in political matters. Instead they stand by the government when needed. (Ausaf Edit)
2. The Heart of Asia Conference held in the Indian city of Amritsar has failed to live upto the expectation that it would help resolve issues of the region. The participants accused Pakistan as if Pakistan alone is responsible for every kind of terrorism and bloodshed in the region. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani openly mocked Pakistan and said that there were over 30 terrorist organizations in Pakistan. The Indian PM Narendra Modi also spoke in the same vein. The response of Pakistani delegate Sartaj Aziz showed his inferiority complex. It is time to review the foreign policy of Pakistan because in front of terrorists, Pakistan has failed to expose them. (Al Qalam Weekly Edit, 9-15 December)
3. Zia Shahid in his commentary has taunted Sartaj Aziz for not accumulating enough evidence about Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav despite the passage of 10 months. He wondered why the Opposition leader Khursheed Shah did not raise the issue in the National Assembly. (Khabrain)
4. Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakariya said that the negative approach of India at the Heart of Asia Conference bared its claims that it is striving for peace in Afghanistan. At his weekly press briefing in Islamabad, he said Indian authorities ill-treated Pakistani delegation in Amritsar. Afghanistan should try to rectify its shortcomings instead of blaming Pakistan for its problems. It should concentrate on its border mechanism. Pakistan gave shelter to 35000 Afghans in the most difficult period. Now, Afghan soil is being used against Pakistan. Indian secret agency RAW manages terror acts in Pakistan from Afghanistan. Taliban, Al Qaida, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Haqqani groups operate from Afghanistan. So Afghanistan should take care of its borders and prevent any cross border terrorist movement. . No dialogue with India is possible without discussion on Kashmir issue. Iran has offered to mediate on Kashmir. Pakistan appreciates Iran’s gesture. Many countries have offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue. (Jinnah)

ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
1. Senate’s standing committee for Defence has passed a resolution against Indian aggression at LoC. It asked the Defence Ministry to give a befitting response to any aggression. The Defence Secretary told the meeting that India made 330 ceasefire violations at the LoC and Working Boundary since November 2016, and killed 14 soldiers and 45 civilians. In retaliation Pakistani forces have killed 40 Indian soldiers. (Jang)
2. JuD Central leader, Amir Hamza, in his column, writes: new army chief General Qamar Bajwa is very humble and simple man. He is also a proud Muslim and follower of Sharia. It is the mercy of Allah that such a noble and humble religious man has become the head of the army. General Bajwa’s message to India is clear and it is that if the right to self- determination is given to Kashmiris there will be ‘Qamar’, i.e. moon light, if not given India cannot live in peace. (Roznama Dunya)
3. Pakistan Navy’s ship, Alamgir has reached Russia’s Black Sea port Novorossiysk on a goodwill visit. (Urdupoint)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. The Frontier Corps have foiled a terrorist bid in Kurram agency by killing a terrorist and seizing weapons and explosives. (Urdupoint)
2. Many foreign emissaries and terrorists have succeeded in getting fake ID cards in connivance with NADRA’s corrupt staff. The government should instruct NADRA to set up a permanent mechanism to check such practices. (Jang Edit)
3. Government’s own reports state that banned groups in Sindh are active and that they continue working under new names. The Sindh police, a large part of whom are often deployed on guarding the ruling party leaders, and protecting their movements find it difficult to control law and order with the handful police left for day-to-day duty or taking on these banned groups who are well connected through widespread networks not only within country but abroad too. (Kawish Edit)
4. The Police is on the lookout for a terrorist coming from Afghanistan via Balochistan to Sindh to carry out terrorist activities, said, IG-Sindh police, AD Khwaja. He added that Madaris involved in facilitating the terrorists have been sealed. (Urdupoint)

SINDH/BALOCHISTAN/KP/PUNJAB
1. The Sindh Chief Minister has met the head of UN’s Commission for Refugees in Islamabad to discuss the issues regarding Afghan refugees who have been living in and around Karachi since 37 years. The Sindh government has spent its resources on them. The federal government was approached to see to it that they are sent back immediately but the federal government on the UN’s request has extended their stay till end of December. The Sindh CM has asked the Sindh Home Secretary to contact UNHCR in connection with all Afghan refugees and to see to it that all arrangements are made for their return with the help of the UNHCR. (Sindh Express)
2. G.N. Mughal, in his column, write: Baloch leader Sanaullah Baloch has suggested that restrictions should be placed on the sale of land in Balochistan to outsiders in order to save the land and resources of the province. Such a ban will be akin to Article 370 of the Indian constitution that bars outsiders from purchasing land and property in Kashmir. Baloch and Baloch-Pakhtoon should strive to protect Balochistan’s resources. Sanaullah has expressed concern that lakhs of acres land of Balochistan and coastal areas is being allotted to the federal departments and groups. According to Sanaullah, Sindh and Balochistan land is not federal property and hence the Constitution should be amended to protect provincial interests. Sindh and Balochistan alone have rights over their Sea ports. (Jang)
3. Head of Marri tribe and provincial Minister for Irrigation, Nawab Changez Khan Marri, said Murri tribals will not be deprived from their rights. The income accrued from minerals, including coal, petrol; gas extracted from their land will be used only for the tribe. He was addressing a tribal Jirga on Thursday (Urdupoint)

POLITICAL SCENE
1. Ahsan Iqbal may be made the Pakistan Foreign Minister says a report. (Ausaf)
2. People in Pakistan are passing through very tough and confusing times. Politically too, this is a very disturbing phase. People have tested almost all political parties but none has lived upto their promises made during polls. Though many claims have been made to bring an end to poverty and other evils in country, peoples ‘conditions have only gone from bad to worse while the lot of rulers have only been improving from time to time and this is adding to the resentment and anger amongst people. Patience has almost died out and it is clear from people’s readiness to fight with the slightest provocation. This is a very dangerous situation for any society. The rulers must bear in mind that they have to listen to these angry, disappointed and disenchanted people before these frustrated people make the rulers to listen to them. (Ibrat Edit)

POK/G-B NEWS
1. Minister of State for I & B Mariam Aurangzeb and AJK President Masood Khan said that Kashmiri people are sacrificing their lives in the cause of Kashmir. Pakistani media played an effective role in countering India’s baseless claim of surgical strikes inside Pakistan. Khan requested I & B Ministry to provide support to AJK Media in order to have a better grip on the Kashmir issue. (Daily K2, Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. Electricity Department and Chinese Engineers say Gilgit needs 55 MW of electricity whereas it is producing only 23 MW. If the Naltar Power Project is completed, electricity supply for 14-hours a day is possible. (Daily K2, Baad-e-Shimal)
3. Gilgit-Baltistan Government has formed Gilgit-Baltistan Board of Investment and CM Hafizur Rahman would be its Chairman. (Daily K2, Baad-e-Shimal)
4. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that Diamer-Bhasha Dam would be inaugurated next year. (Daily Pak)