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

UNITED STATES
1. It is heartening that the United States has spoken in support of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and described it as a good example of peaceful partnership India and Pakistan. Pakistan has respected the treaty. India must do the same. (Daily Pak Edit)
INDIA
1. Despite India’s all out efforts, Washington has rejected the petition to declare Pakistan as a terrorist state. The petition stated that Pakistan is a state that supports terrorism. It ignored the reality of Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war against terror, the loss of 60000 lives, and financial loses worth US $ 100 billion. Foreign Affairs Advisor to the PM, Sartaj Aziz has hit the nail on its head when he remarked that India is diverting the attention of the international community from Kashmir by escalating the tension on the border. Pakistan should understand India’s game and focus on Kashmir only. (Khabrain Edit)
2. India indulged in unprovoked firing in Iftikhar Abad and Neza Pir sectors soon after NSAs of both countries spoke on telephone to defuse the tensions. This is indeed unfortunate and deserve to be condemned in severest terms. Pakistan’s Army Chief’s visit to the core area where the reported surgical strike had taken place is a tough message to India. Islamabad should take up with UNSC India’s border violations. The National Action Plan (NAP) should be implemented for bringing peace in Pakistan. It is good that the Prime Minister and the Army chief met and discussed the security scenario. The government should resolve financial issues coming in the way of implementing NAP as soon as possible. (Ausaf Edit)
3. Though Pakistan is asking India to accept UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s mediation on Kashmir in back channel diplomacy but mediation is not the solution to the Kashmir issue. Only the UN Resolutions on Kashmir offers the way out. Ban Ki Moon should ensure action on those resolutions and put sanctions on India if Delhi is not ready to obey the UN. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
4. PM’s advisor on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz has expressed disappointment that the world community has failed to solve the problems in Palestine and Kashmir. Pakistan has paid the price for siding with the West (US) against Russia. Only peace in Afghanistan will improve the security scenario in Pakistan. He added that the operations in Waziristan have improved the conditions in Pakistan and more foreign investments have started pouring in Pakistan. (Awami Awaz)
5. Columnist Javed Hafiz says though the World Bank has facilitated the signing of the Indus Water Treaty, it is wrong to assume that it is a Guarantor of the agreement. A senior diplomat and former Deputy Executive Director, UNEP Shafqat Kakakhel said that it is not possible for India to stop the waters because if India stops water, entire Kashmir valley will get submerged. Dr. Ijaz Hussain who is an authority on the Kashmir dispute and whose book on Indus Water Treaty is due to published, said that there will be no reduction or shortage of water after Kishanganga Dam is constructed. However, electricity of Neelum-Jhelum project will be affected by 10per cent. Jamat Ali Shah the former commissioner of Indus Water Treaty said that India is not stealing water from the Pakistani rivers but there is reduction in the flow of water which is due to less rain in the catchment area. India has not used water of its own share from Pakistan’s rivers and abided by the Indus Water Treaty but with the construction of more dams India’s ability to store water will increase. India can stop water when Pakistan needs it for agriculture. (Roznama Duniya)
6. Arif Bahar writes in his column that India’s intellectuals are not looking at the current situation between India and Pakistan as continuation of the past but a new beginning of a cold war similar to that of cold war between North and South Korea. India is forcing smaller countries to float a new forum in South Asia minus Pakistan which would also end the existence of SAARC. He said the All Party Conference (APC) on Kashmir is APC ended the perception that Kashmir policy is made at the Army Headquarters. Threats from the enemy will certainly unite people and in emerging situation Pakistan needs to be united. (Jasarat)
7. The All Party Conference on Kashmir reflected the sentiments and mood of the nation over tensions with India. All political parties are lending support to the government over the Kashmir issue. They also revealed continuing political, logistic and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people. (Jang Edit)
8. Chairman of the Standing Committee for Gilgit-Baltistan Council Ashraf Sada said that India is under the control of extremist Hindus. The sun of Kashmir’s freedom will engulf the entire India. (Baad-e-Shimal)
9. ANP leader Asfandyar Wali has termed Pakistan’s foreign policy as failure pointing out that four countries have boycotted the SAARC summit to be held in Islamabad. He demanded that the foreign policy should be reviewed. He further stated that the benefits of the CPEC should not be limited to a few and should reach all. (Khabrain)
10. PML (Q) leader Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain said Indian PM Modi should not expect soft reactions from 20 crore Pakistanis if India stops water to Pakistan. Pakistan will not tolerate any form of aggression under any circumstances. (Awami Awaz)
11. Writing under the heading ‘Pakistan’s foreign policy and suspending the SAARC meet’, Dr. Abdal Majeed Chandiyo says, Pakistan’s establishment, of late, has been trying to come out of its old image. Operations against mujahideen and militants are good omen. So is the decision not to join the Saudi-led alliance of 34 countries against terror. Right now Afghanistan is under control of the Northern Alliance. Pakistan has its own interests for restoring peace in Afghanistan but Pakistan cannot sacrifice its own priorities and interests or give priority to Afghanistan’s priorities. Also, the growing Indian meddling in Afghanistan has become a big challenge and that is the reason there is a lack of activity Pakistan and Afghanistan emissaries of late now. Afghanistan has fallen for the Indian lobby and is not attending SAARC meeting. Bhutan and Bangladesh are naturally inclined to join the Indian lobby. Pakistan should not feel let down diplomatically because India too has not much succeeded in its plans to isolate Pakistan as it is evident from the UN where despite emotional and spirited accusations against Pakistan by Indian Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj, Pakistan remained unscathed. (Kawish)
12. Former diplomat and prominent politician, Begum Syeda Abida Hussain has rejected the possibility of war between India and Pakistan despite the tension on the border. She said Pakistan should maintain good relationships with China and Russia. There is no coordination between the government and the establishment on some issues but it does not mean that the Pakistani forces have some political intentions. (Ausaf)

ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
1. A Federal Minister told the Army Chief that an impression is being created that attempts are on to keep the MQM out of the political mainstream. The Chief replied that it is not the Army’s job to make or break parties. He added that the Army is not supporting nor opposing any party. The operations in Karachi are strictly as per law. (Kawish)
2. Former defence secretary, Lieutenant General (Retd) Khalid Naeem Lodhi says, if Pakistan’s Armed Forces are ordered to make surgical strike against India then historic defeat will become the fate of India. India did not conduct any surgical strike against Pakistan nor does it have courage the do so. The morale of Pakistan’s Army is very high. (Ausaf)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. There are indications of banned organisations and anti-national groups getting active again in Karachi. According to sources, ever since Indo-Pak border tensions began, criminal activities have begun to rise in the urban centres. Organised crime has started making a comeback as they have received new guidelines from their bosses, who reportedly told them that they need not worry about Rangers. The cadres were told the Rangers could vacate Karachi and move out to the border in the wake of India-Pak tensions. Though there is no formal decision to send Rangers to the borders as of now, the anti-national and militant groups have started re-grouping. Against this backdrop and the possibility of Indian agents stepping up their activities in view of Moharram, the police have stepped up their vigil. Security has been tightened at bus stands, railway stations and sea routes, as also entry and exit points of various cities. (Sindh Express)
SINDH/KPK/PUNJAB
1. Shoukat Lohar writes: Imran Khan’s planned Raiwind March has not unnerved PML (N), which has a strong grip over Punjab because of its good work – good infrastructure and better transport facilities. Sindh, has not seen much development, and wears a pathetic look, and appears worse than war ravaged Afghanistan. The only thing that is holding Sindhis together is their pride as inheritors of the world’s oldest civilization which is over 5000 year old. Unending hardships have made Sind and its people helpless and insensitive too. Imran does not seem to be heading towards any better tomorrows but there is always no last word in politics. (Ibrat)
2. People in Sindh are complaining that they are being neglected for the jobs in local factories and industries across the province and that outsiders are being preferred for these jobs. Sindh CM must take serious note of the issue and direct the factory owners and industrialists to strictly consider locals for jobs in their establishment. The factories should also set up training centres for locals. (Ibrat Edit)
POLITICAL SCENE
1.Lahore High Court has admitted the petition of former Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, seeking Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification from Parliament. The petition says PM and his family have hidden assets and that they have spoken lies. The case will come for hearing on Oct 6. (Kawish)
2. Senior analyst Najam Sethi has criticized PTI leader Imran Khan’s decision to boycott the joint session of Parliament convened to discuss Kashmir and national security issues. Khan’s decision comes at a time when Pakistan is suffering from many crises and when India has made a fake claim of surgical strikes against Pakistan. Imran should give priority to national interests right now instead of personal interests. (Jang)
3. Mazhar Abbas, Salim Safi, Babar Sattar, Shahzad Chaudhry Imtiaz Alam and Hassan Nisar have criticised Imran Khan’s decision to boycott the joint session of parliament, saying it is a wrong step. Right now there is a need for national solidarity. Imran could have at least sent his colleague and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to the meeting. Pakistan has no foreign policy but success has come its way because of India’s foolishness. (Jang)