Weekly Global Newscast | November 5 - November 11, 2018

Asia

Russia Hosts Talks Between the Taliban and the Afghan Peace Council

Moscow remained a centre stage for the international players; hosting talks between the Taliban and the Afghan Peace Council. Delegations from almost all Central Asian Republics, Pakistan and India attended the meeting. Eyes were set on the meeting as a major peace brokering initiate in the region.

Analysis

‘India is participating in a Russia-sponsored peace conference with Taliban in a significant reassessment of its position on talks with the armed group that has waged an armed rebellion since 2001. New Delhi has sent former Indian envoys to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Amar Sinha and TCA Raghavan respectively, to attend the conference at the “non-official level”. “India supports all efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan that will preserve unity and plurality, and bring security, stability and prosperity to the country,” India’s foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said.  “India’s consistent policy has been that such efforts should be Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled and with participation of the Government of Afghanistan,” he said.’ Zeenat Saberin and Shereena Qazi write for Al Jazeera.

‘Sitting between Afghan representatives and their Taliban rivals, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov played the roles of mediator and experienced hand in Afghanistan’s conflicts. Russia hosted the landmark talks almost 30 years after it pulled out of Afghanistan in disgrace, ending a decade-long Soviet occupation that was seen as another chapter in what historians called the “great game” by world powers to hold away over Afghanistan and nearby areas. The United States and other nations have repeatedly failed to stem the fighting that has racked the country almost continuously for four decades.’ Amie Ferris- Rotman writes for The Washington Post.

‘Moscow has sought a greater role in international diplomacy in recent years, with efforts at settling conflicts that often give a junior role to the US. Russia also initiated talks on a Syrian peace process co-sponsored by regional powers Turkey and Iran. In both cases, the US has had an active military presence inside the countries. The US launched its intervention against Islamic State in Syria in 2014. US troops have been fighting in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion that was launched to dismantle al-Qaida and topple the Taliban. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the head of the Taliban’s political wing which has headquarters in Qatar, said the group would not negotiate directly with Kabul and demanded that all foreign troops leave Afghanistan. The Taliban said they would continue direct negotiations with Washington, which have been spearheaded by the US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad. “We do not recognise the incumbent government as legitimate,” Stanekzai said, according to remarks carried by Russian news agencies. “Therefore, we won’t hold negotiations with it. Kabul didn’t even send a representative to this conference.”’  Andrew Roth writes for The Guardian.

Pakistani Christian Woman Aasia Bibi ‘Freed’ From Jail

The landmark decision of acquitting Aasia Bibi- Christian Pakistani women convicted of blasphemy was finally materialized when Asia left the jail premises earlier this week. Her release was met by reinvigorated TLP supporters threatening to storm the streets once again.

Analysis

‘Authorities now say she may not leave the country because a petition for a review of the court’s ruling was filed by a radical Islamist lawyer requesting the acquittal be reversed. Pakistani courts usually take years to decide such cases.  Ms Bibi was arrested in 2009 on charges of insulting Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, before she was later sentenced to death in 2010.  Her family has always maintained her innocence and have repeatedly insisted she never insulted the prophet. Tom Barnes writes for The Independent.

‘There were no immediate signs of further unrest, but tension and uncertainty were evident in terse official statements, along with public confusion about Bibi’s status and whereabouts. Since the protests broke out, anxiety has run especially high in Christian communities, where people were elated by her acquittal last week but horrified by the violence that greeted the ruling. But within hours of the October 31st court order that overturned Bibi’s conviction, word spread in the community that thousands of Muslim protesters, angry at the verdict, were blocking major roads across the country. By the next day, the swelling crowds had grown violent.’ Pamela Constable writes for The Washington Post.

Middle East & North Africa

Timeline for Yemen Peace Talks Pushed Back to End of Year

The UN envoy Martin Griffiths has postponed the peace talks in Yemen- one of the catastrophically war torn countries till next year. The decision has raised many concerns over the course that the peace process in Yemen might take, keeping in view the role and stakes of major powers in the region.

Analysis

‘The apparent about-turn is a response to last week’s statements by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis calling for a ceasefire in Yemen within 30 days, to be followed by UN-facilitated peace talks. The UK dutifully followed suit shortly afterwards, expressing support for the initiative. This was somewhat ironic given that Alistair Burt, the minister of state for the Middle East – obviously not privy to the seeming about-turn – had just spent the day providing MPs with excruciatingly contorted explanations of why calling for a ceasefire was not a good idea.  “Passing a ceasefire resolution risks undercutting the UN envoy’s efforts to reach a political deal and undermining the credibility of the Council,” he told the House of Commons on 30 October. Yet, within 36 hours, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt was telling Newsnight that the US call for a ceasefire was “an extremely welcome announcement because we have been working towards a cessation of hostilities in Yemen for a long time.”’ Dan Glazebrook writes for The Middle East Eye.

‘Plans for talks aimed at halting the conflict in Yemen has faltered again, as the U.N. said its special envoy would convene negotiations by the end of the year—and not within the one-month time frame he previously outlined. The Yemen envoy, Martin Griffiths, is due to brief the Security Council next week. The U.N. spokesman, Farhan Haq, announced the delay on Thursday, saying: “There’s always different challenges to bringing the parties together. What we’re trying to do is clear up any issues so that we can get a successful round of talks as soon as possible.” The U.S., in a sign of growing frustration with the war, last week set a 30-day deadline for Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a pro-government coalition led by Saudi Arabia to reach a cease-fire to end Yemen’s nearly four-year conflict. At the U.N., diplomats have renewed an effort for Security Council action in the form of a resolution or a statement.’ Farnaz Fassihi writes for The Wall Street Journal.

Sub Saharan Africa

Libya Election to take place in Early 2019

Analysis

‘United Nations Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame has said he expects elections to take place in the war-wracked country in early 2019. The announcement on Thursday is the first official acknowledgement that elections in Libya will be difficult to hold on December 10, as had been agreed by rival leaders at a Paris summit in May. Salame said a national conference in early 2019 will set the stage for the vote. “The National Conference is to be held in the first weeks of 2019. The subsequent electoral process should commence in the spring of 2019,” Salame told the Security Council.’ Reported the Al Jazeera.

‘The UN envoy for Libya hopes another attempt to hold an election will take place by June after he scrapped a December plan, but said Libyans should first use a national conference in early 2019 to decide on the poll’s format. UN Special Envoy Ghassan Salame decided to abandon a plan to hold elections on Dec. 10 after a spike in violence in Libya, which has been gripped by conflict and paralysed by political deadlock since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Salame was speaking to Reuters before the start of a conference in Palermo organised by Rome with the aim of pushing forward a new UN plan. Salame said last week this plan would include an election in the spring, without elaborating.’ Reuters reported for The Indian Express.

‘Libya has been dogged by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the death of the strongman Moammar Gadhafi after more than four decades in power. Since then, the country’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power, one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli, and a host of heavily-armed militia groups. Italy is hosting a two-day summit bringing together representatives from Libya’s warring factions in Palermo, Sicily, next week. The head of Libya’s U.N.-backed government, Fayez al-Sarraj, urged the international community to find a “common vision” for the chaos-hit North African nation, ahead of crisis talks in Sicily.’ Reported the Daily Sabah Africa.

Europe

Irish PM: Brexit Undermines Good Friday Agreement

Uncertainty regarding the contentious border between Ireland and the northern Ireland border remains as a major factor impeding the course of Brexit talks. According to the Irish Prime Minister, Brexit has undermined the Good Friday Agreement and its role as a peace- keeper.

Analysis

‘Brexit has undermined the Good Friday Agreement which ended thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said. “Brexit has undermined the Good Friday Agreement and is fraying the relationship between Britain and Ireland,” he told Irish state broadcaster RTE. The border between Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit has been one of the major sticking points in Britain’s negotiations to leave the European Union in March next year. “Anything that pulls the communities apart in Northern Ireland undermines the Good Friday Agreement, and anything that pulls Britain and Ireland apart undermines that relationship,” Varadkar added.’ Agencies reported for Pakistan Today.

‘Brexit talks have reached an impasse over the EU’s “backstop” plan, which would see Northern Ireland effectively remaining in the customs union and single market unless alternative arrangements were found to prevent a hard border. But reports from Dublin had suggested that a deal involving an all-UK customs union in the Withdrawal Agreement, plus a separate backstop for Northern Ireland, is close to being agreed. Ireland’s deputy premier, Simon Coveney, said he believed a Brexit deal could be reached by the end of November, with his Westminster counterpart, Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, saying negotiators were “very close”, after the pair held talks in Dublin.’ Asher Mischane writes for the Evening Standard.

Americas

Trudeau Says Canada Received Turkish Tape of Khashoggi Murder

Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister released in a statement revelation that the Canadian intelligence got hold of a tape on Jamal Kashoggi’s murder. Kashoggi’s mysterious murder has remained much debated in the past few months.

Analysis

‘Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, has become the first western leader to confirm Turkish claims that an audio recording of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder exists and has been passed to intelligence agencies. The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said he had given recordings “to Saudi Arabia, to America, to the Germans, the French, to the British, to all of them”, but initially there was no independent confirmation from any country that they had received it. Speaking at a press conference in Paris, where he attended a peace forum after armistice ceremonies, Trudeau said Canadian intelligence had listened to the audio tape provided by Turkish intelligence, but he had not done so. “Canada’s intelligence agencies have been working very closely on this issue with Turkish intelligence and Canada has been fully briefed on what Turkey had to share,” he said.’  Patrick Wintour writes for The Guardian.

‘Trudeau said that he himself had not heard them, and he wouldn’t give any details on the contents of the tapes. Trudeau said he thanked Erdogan for “his strength in responding to the Khashoggi situation” at the sidelines of the Paris ceremonies this weekend. France’s account of Erdogan’s claim to have shared the tapes differs somewhat. When questioned on France 2 television Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Turkey has “not to my knowledge” given the French government any such recordings, and suggesting the Turks were playing games.’ Associated Press reported for Canada.com.

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