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.

AFGHANISTAN
1. Afghan Taliban has directed 1000 gruella fighters to fan out to Kandahar, Ghazni, Gour, Helmand, Fariyab, Sara-e-pool, Farah, Maidan and Wardug in preparation for major attacks on the US Army. Two hundred of them are fidayeen attackers who have received training in Taliban’s centres at Khalid Bin Walid and Abu Dujana. These militants have been trained to run anti-aircraft guns and fix landmines; they were trained also for spying. They were imparted knowledge of English, Arabic, Urdu, and Pashto besides bio-metric system of computers. Khalid Bin Walid training centre is run under the leadership of Maulavi Yaqoob whereas Abu Dujana center in eastern Afghanistan is functioning under leadership of Siraj-ul-Din Haqqani. For the first time Afghan Taliban have released not only photos of these militants but also video of their training. Reports say that in all 1800 youth were trained and that of them 1000 have been chosen for the new missions. No militant is a foreigner and they have been instructed to avoid public places, hospitals, schools and markets. A source told ‘Ummat’ that Taliban have 12 modern training centres in as many as eight provinces. The sources added that Russia and Iran were not only in touch with Taliban but were also supporting them. (Ummat)
INDIA
1. Indian forces has fired on a civilian bus and an ambulance killing 11 people including three soldiers; 22 people were injured. It is because of the continued Indian aggression on LoC that the PM’s Foreign Advisor Sartaj Aziz has rolled back his plan to attend the Heart of Asia Conference in Amritsar, India. Pakistan should send a clear message to India through diplomatic channels that peace is a wish of Pakistan but it is ready for war. (Khabrain Edit, Ausaf Edit)
2. India might be under the impression that it can hide historic facts with the use of force but that cannot happen. The conditions are so bad (in India) that even Indian public is now fed up with Modi’s fascist policies as is evident from the fact that Modi’s effigies are being burnt across India now. Most Indians think that Modi’s policies have gone wrong and instead of trying to resolve problems of people Modi government is only adding to a sense of fundamentalism and war mongering in the region. The demonetisation of high value currency has just exposed hollowness of good governance in India. Long serpentine queues seeking new notes and peoples’ protests have become a daily affair. So far over 70 people have died while standing in long queues for exchange of notes. The war on border is nothing but an exercise to hide Indian government’s failure including on this demonetisation issue and this undeclared war will take a toll on India itself. It will be better if Pakistan reaches out to the world community as fast as possible and presents Pakistan’s case in as better way as possible. The world knows too well as to what can be the consequences of two nuclear states going to war and that is the reason that UK Secretary of Foreign Affairs, has emphasised during the visit to Pakistan the need for talks between India and Pakistan. Pakistan has never said no to talks and hence the ball is in global community’s court to make India come for talks. (Sindh Express Edit)
3. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has commented that the Indian aggression at the LoC would any time change into a full scale war. He termed the situation in India as very volatile. He accused Prime Minister of indulging in LoC aggression to shift attention away from his big political setback. If India doesn’t give up this approach, it would suffer more than Pakistan and if a war is instigated Modi will not be able to control the situation. (Daily Pak Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
4. Indian aggression on LoC is becoming unbearable and any moment it could turn into a major conflict. Modi is provoking Pakistan; the continued firing on LoC is to win elections in UP by projecting himself as Mr Courageous. (Jasarat Edit, Ummat Edit)
5. The arrested Indian fishermen have allegedly confessed that India uses fishermen to spy on Pakistan and that the fishermen provide information about movement of Pakistan security institutions in Sir Creek and other areas to Indian Navy and Coast Guard. (Ummat)
6. The opposition has demanded in the National Assembly that India should be given a befitting reply. The opposition also claimed that Pakistan forces are ten times stronger than the Indian forces. Pakistan should attend the Heart of Asia if the meeting is held outside India. (Ibrat)
7. Aijaz Mungi writes that the way firing across border is getting louder, the way rockets are falling over buses carrying people in Neelum valley and even ambulances are not spared, it looks like a big trouble is in the making. Earlier the media was reduced to be meek spectators to all this and international media wrote about it very late. India and Pakistan need to listen to the voice for peace. (Sindh Express)
8. Madad Ali Sindhi in his article titled ‘how long to tolerate Indian state-sponsored high- handedness?’ has expressed shock that Indian forces’ have targeted ambulance and a bus in Neelum valley resulting in the death of 10 passengers and injuries to 9 others. The Indian action resulted in the death of 2-3 army jawans too on Pakistan side. The UN office in Rawalpindi has been posted with this development. Protests have been lodged with the Indian diplomat who was summoned to the Foreign Office. This is the time for the US to play its role in resolving Kashmir issue and to lessen tensions between two nuclear states of South Asia. (Awami Awaz)
ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
1. Akhtar Hafiz in his article, ‘Change of the military guard’, writes that the test case for the new COAS will be the CPEC. The claim of the present government that Pakistan is making economic growth is very closely related to the CPEC project. (Sindh Express)
2. Sohail Sangi in his article on the new army chief, says the first phase of political uncertainties is coming to end with change of the military chief. Policies regarding India, Afghanistan, China and the US will continue to remain over and above the powers of elected government. Turkey’s appearance in this region’s political landscape is new political development and it looks like Turkey might have more political role in the times to come. Apparently, there is no threat any longer to Nawaz government though the Panama case is still around. (Kawish)
3. Rear Admiral Waseem Akram has been promoted to the rank of vice admiral. (Khabrain)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Religious parties will organize protests to condemn Indian aggression in Kashmir and at the LoC. JuD will organize a big program in Chobarji Chowk, Lahore. It will hold demonstrations in Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar. JuD chief, Hafiz Saeed has appealed to ulema and religious parties’ leaders to make Indian aggression the topic of their Friday sermons and make the nation aware of Indian conspiracies. (Urdupoint, Ummat, Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. JuD Islamabad leader Shafiq-ur-Rahman has strongly criticised Indian firing on a bus in Neelum Valley and on ambulance and said India needs to be given befitting response. Rahman added that India has unleashed an unannounced war on the LoC and that Pakistan should raise the issue of Indian aggression strongly. (Roznama Dunya)
ECONOMY/POWER/WATER
1. As per State Bank of Pakistan, trade with India has declined by 15% in the month of October due to tension at the LoC. The total business volume was USD 12.55 crores as compare to USD 14.77 crore last October. (Daily Pak)
2. Federal minister for Defence Production, Rana Tanvir Husain, said that Pakistan’s export of defence products has crossed over $100 million. (Urdupoint)
3. Chinese and Iranian companies have expressed interest in taking Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) on lease. (Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt)
SINDH/BALOCHISTAN/KP/PUNJAB
1. Sindh Assembly has passed law that seeks to protect minorities’ interest. The new law will help to check forced conversions. Once this bill becomes an Act, forced conversion will become an offence punishable with a jail term. (Awami Awaz Edit)
2. Punjab assembly has passed resolution condemning Indian aggression at LoC and demanding that the issue be raised at international level and India be forced to follow international laws. (Urdupoint)
POLITICAL SCENE
1. Indications are that PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto will stand for the National Assembly early next year. A formal announcement will be made on the occasion of Benazir’s anniversary on December 27th.. Most probably Bilawal will contest from Seat number 204, a constituency at Shahdadkot from where Benazir used to contest. Meanwhile, PPP Punjab chief Makhdoom Ahmad has also asked Bilawal to contest from his son’s constituency. Zardari wants to return to Pakistan next month but some seniors are advising him against the move. (Sindh Express)
2. JI chief, Siraj-ul-Haq warned Modi that 20 crore Pakistanis are supporting their brave army in protecting their homeland. He criticized that Pakistan Prime Minister is Modi’s friend. (Urdupoint)
POK/G-B NEWS
1. Following the continuing unprovoked firing from Indian side the government has decided to shift people from border areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Secretary of AJK said that an in principle decision has been taken and people of 13 districts coming under shelling would be shifted to some safe shelters. All the government buildings will be used as shelters. The Chief Secretary has asked the Deputy Commissioners to implement the decision. (Kawish)
2. AJK PM Raja Farooq Haider Khan is negotiating with the federal government for a special assistance of Rs. 6 bn to build bunkers near LoC and to help the people hit by Indian firing. Compensation to the families of the martyrs will be increased from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The 650 kilometer long LoC covers 13 electoral constituencies and five lakh people. (Roznama Dunya)
3. Federal Minister for AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs said that Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly should pass a resolution demanding general elections in Pakistan and Gilgit-Baltistan at the same time. (Daily K2, Baad-e-Shimal)
4. Chairman of Parliamentary Committee for CPEC, Senator Mushahid Hussein, has assured the people of Gilgit-Baltistan of a big and special economic package. Development is necessary but not at the cost of environment; hence Government should ensure that every project under CPEC should be compliant with environment norms. Senator Mushahid Hussein should also ensure that actual works were carried out on the recommendations made for Gilgit-Baltistan and people should see the benefits of special package. (Daily K2 Edit, Baad-e-Shimal Edit)