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. The Navies of Pakistan and China have conducted their fourth joint exercise from 19^th to 21^st November. Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan Navy Chief, Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah said Pakistan is a peace loving country but will give befitting response to any aggressor. (Urdupoint)

2. Executive Deputy Mayor of Yueyang, China visited Gwadar with a 20 member delegation. Chairman of the Gwadar Port, Dostain Khan Jamaldini briefed them about the on-going works. . The Chinese delegation expressed interest in investing in sectors like business, trade and agriculture. Marking the occasion, an agreement was signed between Yueyang and Gwadar cities. (Daily Intekhab)

TURKEY

1. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that his country would be joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). If this happens, it will strengthen Turkey’s ties with Russia and China and in the new bloc that thus emerges, Pakistan too will have a leading role. (Daily Pak Edit)

2. Arif Bahar is happy that Erdogan will give a push to the Kashmir issue at the UN. But adds that PML-N has converted Erdogan tour into a Sharif family affair. This was the saddest part of the visit by Turkey President to Pakistan, he wrote in his column. (Jasarat)

AFGHANISTAN

1. Afghan Taliban have gained control of the Gorka district in Kandahar province as government troops retreated from the area. The Taliban have also killed 16 government troops across Afghanistan while injuring many. Taliban destroyed two tanks and seized one tank. (Ummat)

2. China, Pakistan and Russia are meeting next month to discuss ways to check terror outfits like Daesh from spreading their wings in this region. On the sidelines of UN General Assembly session in September, the US, India and Afghanistan also met and discussed the regional security threat but did not invite Pakistan to their conclave. Naturally Pakistan expressed its concern. India is conspiring to isolate Pakistan in the world since it is afraid of the CPEC. Gwadar is emerging as the Gateway of Central Asian countries, and once that happens it will force India to have its transit trade from Gwadar; all this will give Pakistan an upper hand. A new bloc of China, Pakistan and Russia is important to counter the conspiracies of the US, Iran and India. (Daily K2 Edit)

INDIA

1. Pakistan should convene an International Conference to brief the world about India’s atrocities in Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan also must highlight Indian atrocities at the upcoming Pakistan, China and Russia conference. This will make India aware that Pakistan is not isolated in the region. Agent of RAW who has been detained should be paraded in front of the international media. (Khabrain Edit)

2. On Mondayonce again, beginning at 8 am, Indian forces resorted to heavy bombing on Line of Control, resulting in the death of four persons, including a woman. Indian forces bombed Kotli and Karela civilian settlements of Mathrani and Nazadbasi. Pakistani forces retaliated and killed six Indian soldiers and caused heavy damage to the Indian posts. (Daily Intekhab)

3. Important federal government sources said Pakistan has decided on strict diplomatic and military retaliation against the Modi government. One of the steps under consideration as the ultimate weapon is snapping all ties with India. After informing the international community of the situation, India’s intentions will be defeated through fast track war strategy using latest war technologies at all the three fronts. Prime Minister has instructed the Foreign Ministry to contact the EU and other countries to ask India to stop its LoC provocations. If India does not show restraint, Pakistan will strongly retaliate. (Urdupoint)

4. Pakistan is determined to give a tough response to the Modi government diplomatically. . (Ausaf)

5. Munir Ahmad Baloch says, Modi acted like Nadir Shah when he demonetised 500 and 100 rupee Indian notes. It has caused chaos across India. The new Rs 2000 notes were printed with lot of grammatical blunders. Hindi experts have told Modi to consult them while going in for a reprint of these notes in order to correct the mistakes. (Roznama Dunya)

6. An Indian report shows that there is bias against Muslims in India. The report shows that 82,000 Muslims are in custody and that 27% of them are languishing in jails without trial. (Ummat-Jasarat)

7. AJK Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Abdul Rashid Turrabi has criticised the ban Zakir Naik and said that this step has exposed India’s democracy. (Jasarat-Roznama Dunya)
8. Pakistan has asked UNMOGIP to investigate civilians’ death due to Indian firing and shelling and inform the world about India’s barbarism. Yesterday an official of UNMOGIP visited the GHQ and was briefed about unprovoked firing by India and its ceasefire violations. In the unprovoked Indian shelling, a dozen Pakistani civilians have been martyred. In the retaliatory firing, fifty Indian soldiers were killed. If India is to start a war, it will face its worst humiliation. (Ummat Edit)

ARMY/POLICE/NUCLEAR

1. A report on Nuclear Warheads says Pakistan is the only country after the US and Russia that has developed atomic warheads at par with the international standards. Pakistan’s nuclear warheads are extremely dangerous as far as quality is concerned. As per the MRG Ratings, Russia has 8500, US 7700, France 300, China 250, Britain 225, Pakistan 120, and India 110 while North Korea has 8 warheads. (Pk Voices)

2. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated ‘Ideas-2016 Defence Exhibition’ at the Expo Centre today. The exhibition will continue for four days. Special stalls have been put up to exhibit importance of China-Pakistan Economy Highway project. (Daily Intekhab)

PAK ARMY – NEW CHIEF

1. The government may announce the name of the new Army Chief today evening. PM has completed his consultations. The outgoing chief has begun his farewell visits. (Sindh Express)

2. The senior most Generals in the line of consideration for the Chief’s post include Lt. Generals Zuber Mahmood, Ashfaq Nadeem, Javed Iqbal and Qamar Javed. PM Nawaz Sharif will appoint the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Army Chief from amongst them. He has already consulted the Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif in this regard. (Sindh Express)

3. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has finalized the new army chief but the name will be announced a few days later. As per the seniority, Lieutenant General Zubair Hayat should get the top job. Next in seniority is Lieutenant General Ashfaq Nadeem followed by Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal Ramday and Lieutenant General Qamar Bajwa. Other names under consideration include Wahid Hussain, Chairman Heavy Industrial complex, Taxila and Najibullah, Director General Joint Staff. Core commander Lieutenant General Maqsood Ahmed, who is presently military advisor at the UN also is seen as a prospective candidates but he may not be eligible for promotion since he is already on extension. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will go down in history as the first Prime Minister to name five Army Chiefs. (Daily Intekhab, Khabrain, Kawish, Ausaf)

3. Retired bureaucrats and defence experts are of the view that PM Sharif will take decision on the new Army Chief with great care. Based on his past experience in picking army chief, he will opt for a general who is trustworthy in all respects. (Kawish)

4. PTI chief Imran Khan stated that the new Army Chief will hopefully be appointed on merit. He praised the outgoing Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and said his services to the country are memorable. (Awami Awaz)

5. JI Chief Siraj-ul-Haq said that COAS General Raheel Sharif’s farewell meetings have ended the uncertainty which is a good omen for the country. (Jasarat)

6. Aijaz Mungi in his article, ‘Will anything else change with the change of the Army Chief,’ writes that by sticking to his earlier decision of not taking extension, the outgoing Army Chief is trying to prove that the Pakistan Army is a strong institution. Any change in the Army Chief will not mean change in the Establishment’s policies. In light of this, neither PM Nawaz Sharif nor the leaders sitting abroad like Zardari, who are waiting to return to Pakistan, should have any hopes of better days ahead for them. It looks like that the new Army Chief will follow the footsteps of the outgoing one. Regional and foreign media have been unsuccessful in ferreting out the name of the new Army Chief. (Sindh Express)

7. Zia Shahid has commended Army Chief General Raheel Sharif for Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Karachi operation. He has asked the government has not acted against MQM Chief and former President Asif Ali Zardari who, he said, have defamed the forces. (Khabrain)

TERRORISM & EXTREMISM

1. A blast took place near an army vehicle at Chaman adjacent to Afghan-Pak border; one civilian was killed and two security personnel were injured. (Ummat-Jasarat)

ECONOMY/POWER/WATER

1. The Ministry of Petroleum is rocked by a fresh scandal involving misappropriation of some Rs.40 billion. (Urdupoint)

2. A recent report by the State Bank of Pakistan shows that the Nawaz Sharif government has raised a debt of Rs. 8000 billion. With this the total debt burden of Pakistan has increased to Rs.22, 000 billion. Of this, Rs 14000bn plus is internal debt. Debts are raised for projects that are benefit only a chosen few. The rulers should make concerted efforts to get economy debt free. (Sindh Express Edit)

SINDH/BALOCHISTAN/KP/PUNJAB

1. Khyber Pakhtunkhwah Chief Minister, Pervez Khattak has asked the federal government should not make the CPEC project more controversial. He added that those who think that Pakistan is their private estate will now be made accountable. They are working out on all strategies including going to the court. On PTI not attending the joint session addressed by Turkey President, he said a major reason for the decision was the fact that the joint session was more of a Sharif family affair. Foreign dignitaries’ visits are often confined only up to Islamabad and Lahore. The federal government does not consult small provinces on such visits. (Sindh Express)

POLITICAL SCENE 

1. PPP senior and former President Asif Ali Zardari has rallied in support of Dr. Asim who was has been held by the NAB and Rangers for over a year. He said Asim is innocent, and a soft target. He was wrongfully put behind bars. Zardari also denied having any property in London and said Surrey Palace is no longer Bhutto’s’ estate. Speaking to Hamid Mir in a TV interview, he also said timing plays a crucial role in politics. When he went out of the country, conditions were such that he had to be on the backseat. Hence, Bilawal was brought to the forefront. Bilawal has learnt a lot now. He said that he has gone to jail in the past and is not afraid of going to jail now. Those who are scared of going to jail, they better not take to politics. On Gwadar port, he said as President he projected the port’s potential to the Chinese. During Musharraf’s rule, Gwadar port was handed over to China for certain vested interests and Balochs’ properties in Gwadar were usurped. A grant of 500 million dollars was taken from China to lay the foundation for CPEC on Atta Lake and then Gwadar port was handed over to China. (Sindh Express)

2. PM’s foreign policy advisor, Sartaj Aziz said ‘we are on board with those proposing for the merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwah. We have started working on local bodies in FATA.’ Addressing the National Assembly, Aziz said that there is need to appoint 20,000 Levies officials in FATA. (Awami Awaz)

3. Liaqat Baloch, Secretary General, Jamaat-e Islami, said that Pakistan should have independent, Islamic, welfare system. CPEC should not be treated as a family affair. (Daily Pak, Awami Awaz)

4. Those trying to destabilize democracy should learn from the outgoing COAS General Raheel Sharif how to protect democracy; they must now cooperate in strengthening the democratic process in the country. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)

POK/G-B NEWS

1. AJK President Sardar Masood Khan said Kashmiris will not compromise on any other option. . (Roznama Dunya)

2. AJK Premier Raja Farooq has said the Shounter Bypass tunnel should be included in the CPEC project. His demand deserves to be considered since the tunnel would be beneficial for both AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)