China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): A MultiDimensional Plan 2017-2030 and Its Characteristics

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a grand economic programme of regional connectivity. The plan will advantage to China-Pakistan and have great benefits to regional countries including Afghanistan, Central Asian Republics, Iran, India, and many other countries of the world. The basic purpose of plan is to promote geographical connections with the gains of communication development of 3,000-kilometer network of road, railways and air transport system and consistent connections of economic progress and people to people contact (Dawn, 2019). The mega plan will also enhance cooperation and understanding with relation to academic, socio-cultural activities and regional knowledge which will enhance flow of trade and commerce and energy development. It is for the development of collaboration by win-win model and to integrate regions with common purpose, peace and development. Moreover, it is long-term plan (2017- 2030) of economic regionalization and globalization with the instrument of peace and economic development. Thus, CPEC project will base on unison and collaboratively efforts of federal, provincial, local governments and share-holders including private secto

Nation-Building Process of Pakistan: Traditional and Non-Traditional Challenges

“Nation-building or State-building” has been a 20th century highly complex and controversial concept which taking again center-stage in the post-Cold War era. The idea has generated much heated debate in the world as well as in the academic circles. The notion is a process of constructing or structuring a unification of the people within the state through the state power which can be politically and economically stable and viable in the long run. In the past „nation-building‟ or „state-building‟ approach emphasizes on cultural identity for the newly established „nation-states‟ which lead to self-determination. However, in the contemporary modern world, it is process whereby a diverse society with different languages, cultures and religions come together within the boundaries of a sovereign state with a unified constitutional and legal dispensation. In this regard, Pakistan is multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious state where people have less amount of commonality of interests, goals and preferences. It is extremely unlikely that different linguistic communities will agree on the definition of „nation‟. Its complexity and fragility is the product of deep rooted political and economic factors which are the main threats to its domestic security and stability. It is also fact that religion and external threats are no more viable reason for the state and regime survival. So, the guardians of the state remain failed to succeed in „nationbuilding‟ process which is still the biggest challenge to the country‟s solidarity. Modern scholars have views that nation-building cannot complete without economic development, modernization and democratization. Thus, the state is the political regime that operates within an existing nation or nations. It is the role of the state to bring together disparate national communities into a stable political regime. Nonetheless, the model of democratization, expansion of federal structure, economic growth and stable political institutions recognize as the formula of success and this is the only way of nation-building or national integratio

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Politics of Islamic Shariah in the Contemporary Muslim World

Islam around the globe is considered as the world’s second-largest religionand conservative’s Muslim desire Sharia (Islamic jurisprudence) laws, which isa contested and highly controversial concept. The idea holds variety ofinterpretative power but still beyond the implementation within Muslimcountries. Sharia perceived to be moral and spiritual notion, have no legalmechanism and can lead to socio-cultural disequilibrium. The focus of thispaper is to evaluate the fragmented nature and conceived scope of Sharia in amodern democratic age and assess the compatibility of Sharia with thedevelopments of human rights and women empowerment. It differssignificantly from its moderate opponents therefore it cannot be part of thepresent pluralistic legal systems. It is clear that the contemporary Muslimworld is backward in numerous significant areas including the science,technology and economic development. Thus, there is indeed a need ofradical reforms for Muslim societies and they must revitalize Islamic laws andhuman values. In short, Muslims scholars and intellectuals have to codifySharia according to the contemporary circumstances because without that thesurvival, growth and development of Muslims will be difficult in the highlytechnologically advanced world

Kashmir Combustible Region: Abrogation of Article 370 & 35-A and its Grave Implications

Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan is one of the world‘s most enduring conflicts which has severely affected the South Asian landscape and it is remained unresolved. The issue became serious when India gained territorial control of Jammu and Kashmir by force and the region emerged to the forefront of international attention. The situation become more worst when India‘s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) eliminated the semi-autonomous provision of Jammu and Kashmir on August 2019 through the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A of the Indian constitution which gave special status to the region. They divided the state into two union territories and attempted to open a new chapter on Kashmir dispute. The action provoked intense diplomatic response from the world community and Pakistan also strongly condemned the New Delhi unilateral action because it was against the will of right of self-determination and against the spirit of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The decision has become the cause of backlash for BJP government when they imposed communication restrictions on people and curb their civil liberties. There are no appropriate measures by the central government for uplifting of poverty, illiteracy, backwardness, and socio-economic progress except the lips services. In the situation, the people of the Kashmir deserve the real attention, road map and the same protection as the rest of the world. Nevertheless, there is no comprehensive diplomatic solution has defied by the international community, leaving people disillusioned about the prospect of peace. Large-scale violence ebbs and flows, leaving communities insecure and enabling the conflict to persist as a rallying tool for nationalists and extremist actors, thereby demanding continued US and international attention to prepare the ground for peac

The Development of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) Status and Trade Progress between India-Pakistan

India and Pakistan are the major political actors and largest economies of South Asia that share a common border and similar culture and history. Since their independence in 1947 both countries have antagonistic relations with complex multi-dimensional problems. However, apart from enduring rivalry both the neighbors have many other options to cooperate with each other and fight against poverty in the region. In the past, India granted Pakistan Most Favored Nation (MFN) status in 1996, but Pakistan acted otherwise and took economic relations in the light of underlying conflicts. This paper presents the impact of political decision on regional trade between India and Pakistan from the prospect of MFN. The study is based on pre and post MFN status, which shows substantial evidence that Indian decision of declaring Pakistan as MFN has shifted the dimension of trade in favour of India. The study is based on qualitative and descriptive analysis which shows consumerism in Pakistan and its trend of Indian exports to Pakistan. The broad objective of study is aimed at analyzing the possibility of trade between India and Pakistan under the world trade system. However, Pakistan‟s exports to India are indifferent to Indian economic situation and Pakistan‟s decision has insignificant impact on mutual trade. Thus, despite the volatile relationship, trade can play important role for economic growth of Pakistan and the country can exploit the bigger market of India. Further, reduction in political tensions would eventually benefit both countries like Brazil and Argentina where means can generate larger benefits and trade facilitation measures. For the very reason both India and Pakistan took some serious steps to break the deadlock for trade and mutual benefits. In this process trade routes have been opened, communications have been established. Mutual trade can benefit billions people living in both countries and instead of being caught up in the past both should look towards the brighter future.&nbsp

Dynamics of India’s Contemporary Domestic Security Challenges

India’s immense diversity is unique with its pluralism based on myriad ethnic communities, cultures, religious identities and tribes. Since independence, the country failed to produce one single dominant nation’s concept because identities have not yet forged a common national outlook and its ethnic, religious, and cultural identities remains strong and quite distinctive. Moreover, the Indian federal structure seems to be failed to accommodate the expectations of diverse communities and socio-political cultures. Consequently, the federation is asymmetric with the separatist movements in many parts of the country specifically violent movements in Kashmir, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Mezoland which have severely challenged the country’s sovereignty. Furthermore, the insurgencies in Northeast of India and violent movements of Naxalites and Maoist have also challenged India’s territorial integrity. In the same manner the Dalits (Harijan) and minorities (Christians and Muslims), are the victims of superior Hindu caste and Hindu chauvinism. Hence it is perceived that India has lost sight of vital constitutional spirit of secularism and federalism. Further, the worst internal security situation lies on India’s unfair, unbalanced and discriminatory policies with the communities and especially with its judicial system. Nonetheless, it has proved that various socio-economic and political imperatives are not fulfilled by the ruling elites or society. Thus, ethno religiousideological fault lines, which exist in India, have to be managed with a sense of fairness and transparent federal policies and there is no need to use forces to suppress people. In this context, India requires peaceful and development manual at the national level in order to stabilize all section of society. Without a coordinate approach, the domestic security threats will lead the country to the worst situation

India’s Role as a Determinant in Pakistan-US Relations (2005-2015)

The United States adopted a policy of de-hyphenation in its relations with India and Pakistan in the post-09/11 period which continued to be operational in the period 2005-2015. This policy apparently meant that the United States would deal each of the two South Asian adversaries, India and Pakistan. The main reason for this phenomenon was that the policy-makers in the US saw India as a heavy-weight to counter the rising economic, political and military power of China in Asia. Pakistan could not be fitted in this strategic calculus. The United States changed its previous position on Kashmir and instead of calling for resolving this issue according to the United Nations resolutions, it stressed on bilateral negotiations. Similarly, the United States endorsed Indian stance that Pakistan was backing terrorist outfits that perpetrated acts of terrorism in India. Strategic partnership between The US and India extended cooperation in civil nuclear technology, missile defense, space technology and defense production. No such cooperation could be extended to Pakistan. Permanent membership in the UN Security Council for India was endorsed despite Pakistan’s objections