United States and Pakistan Political Parity
March 5, 2024
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India – Global Hunger Index
December 2, 2022
India – Global Hunger Index
Padmini Arhant
Amid Vikas (progress and development) touted as the incumbent administration i.e. the Central Government in New Delhi’s campaign slogan, it is important to notice the real indicator of economic progress or the lack thereof critically reflecting hunger and poverty among overwhelming population in India at the lowest economic strata.
Not to mention New Delhi Central government monetized political campaign through foreign hired presenter embellish India’s GDP at the alleged 13.5% in contrast to ground reality with dire hunger and poverty situation.
India – Global Hunger Index
In the 2022 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 107th out of the 121 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2022 GHI scores. With a score of 29.1, India has a level of hunger that is serious.
In comparison, India’s neighbors in the Indian sub-continent surpassed India with considerable lead in this context.
Nepal ranks 81st out of the 121 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2022 GHI scores. With a score of 19.1, Nepal has a level of hunger that is moderate.
Bangladesh has moved eight notches down to rank 84th among 121 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022, still surpassing neighbouring India (107th), Pakistan (99th) and Afghanistan (109th).
Pakistan – In the 2022 Global Hunger Index, Pakistan ranks 99th out of the 121 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2022 GHI scores.
No matter what paid propaganda persists during elections, the actual economic conditions such as hunger, poverty and survival amongst the vast majority of population speak for national economic circumstances confirming the government failure to address the most pertinent issue.
In the rank out of 121 countries;
Nepal – 81st
Bangladesh – 84th
Pakistan – 99th
India – 107th
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter
PadminiArhant.com
Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com
Russia – Western Edifice
April 20, 2022
Russia – Western Edifice
Padmini Arhant
The recent exit of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan was largely associated by the subject as western conspiracy behind his incomplete term in office, though the development is not unique in Pakistan’s politics.
The outgoing Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan also publicly stated during the rally and address to his nation that the former administration was chided by western represented emissary viz. EU and the United States for the ex- Prime Minister’s visit to Moscow at the onset of Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The former Prime Minister Imran Khan drew parallel in this context by citing the next door neighbor and adversary India’s relation with Russia. The former Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated that economic ties between India and Russia in energy and defense procurement continued slighting western sanctions against Russia.
The former Prime Minister Imran Khan also expressed disappointment and noted western discriminatory practice against his administration in particular reference to the Moscow trip on the eve of Russian invasion of Ukraine which the ex-Prime Minister and his former cabinet colleagues like the ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Quereshi said was pre-arranged diplomatic tour long before the Ukraine war.
All said and done – here are the glaring dichotomy in the entire international foreign policy.
First of all, the former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s anti-western anguish doesn’t quite fit into the backdrop of the cricket sports star who has been promoted with extravagant publicity from the United States ally Britain with enthusiastic support from Israel.
The cricket sportsman turned politician Imran khan has overwhelmingly enjoyed special favorable coverage from London all along with national media like BBC including Fleet Street fawning over the cricketer never having enough of Mr. Khan’s profile extending beyond the running commentary of first class cricket test match and international series. Although the cricketer Imran Khan led the Pakistan cricket team as the captain and not England with the latter even defeated in the final world cup tournament in 1992 at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Pakistan winning the world cup that year.
As for Israel’s affinity towards Mr. Imran Khan, the sentiment is largely related to Mr.Khan’s former wife Jemima Goldsmith, the British citizen of Jewish descent and wealthy background.
The anti-west turn around from the former Prime Minister Imran Khan prior to political turmoil was conspicuously to appease China. Pakistan’s largest creditor and investor China, especially in the complex CPEC – China Pakistan Economic Corridor in Pakistan’s gwadar port is ongoing strenuous undertaking.
On the other hand, Pakistan and Russia relations basically developed following United States and NATO failure in neighboring Afghanistan which in fact is interesting considering Pakistan’s close ties with United States in the aftermath of former Soviet Union’s defeat in Afghanistan earlier. The partners were reversed as situation changed in the two Islamic states.
Russia and Pakistan conducted first joint military exercise in 2016 much to New Delhi’s angst and concern. The relation between the two countries further advanced into arms sales and military training of Pakistan soldiers by Russia in August 2018 and later in 2020 which happens to be during former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s term in office.
It is fair to say Russian defense strategy in the Indian sub-continent pivoted towards Pakistan as Moscow noted New Delhi drawn closer towards United States mostly to attract India with defense procurement from the U.S. despite India until now remains the largest buyer of defense hardware from Russia.
There is a shift in partnering in the Indian sub-continent with Moscow wooing Islamabad to convey New Delhi on Moscow’s discomfort regarding India’s intimacy with the United States in defense as well as other strategic alliance such as Quad in the Indo-Pacific.
While this is going on in South Asia, the European and Russian relation beckons focus.
The Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer visit to Russia on April 12, 2022 after direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin were described by Russian academia and scholars as follows.
“The Austrians stick to more balanced approaches than even the Germans, claiming the role of a global mediator and a negotiating platform. This is why, despite being an EU member, they refused to provide weapons to Ukraine,” Associate Professor with the Department of International Relations, Political Science and Foreign Area Studies at the Russian State University for the Humanities Vadim Trukhachev stated.”
“Austria opposes an oil and gas embargo on Moscow. Vienna depends a lot on Russia in terms of energy. Austria used to be a big advocate of Nord Stream 2. And now, they keep stressing that although they support EU sanctions, their national interests should not suffer. Those interests particularly include Russian gas supplies,” Vladimir Schweitzer, Head of the Department for Social and Political Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Europe noted.”
The major economic power in EU – Germany signed contract with Russia for gas pipeline Nord Stream 1 in 2011 and Nord Steam 2 pipeline back in 2012 during the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s term in office.
The five large stake holders in the Nord Stream energy pipeline project are – “Shareholders of the company are the Russian gas company Gazprom (51% of shares), German companies Wintershall Dea and PEG Infrastruktur AG (E. ON) (both 15.5%), the Dutch gas company Gasunie (9%), and the French gas company Engie (9%).
OMV, about 32% of which is owned by the Austrian state, has put around 730 million euros ($813.95 million) into Nord Stream 2. The other financial investors in Nord Stream 2 are Shell (SHEL. L), France’s Engie and Germany’s Uniper (UN01.DE) and Wintershall DEA (WINT. UL)” Feb 27, 2022.
According to International Energy Agency – IEA .org
“In 2021, the European Union imported 155 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Russia, accounting for around 45% of EU gas imports and close to 40% of its total gas consumption. Nobody is under any illusions anymore. Russia’s use of its natural gas resources as an economic and political weapon show Europe needs to act quickly…said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.” – IEA Press Release – March 3, 2022.”
International news agency : “The Hungarian government opposes a ban on Russian energy supplies and will continue to defend its position at meetings of the European Union, the country’s Foreign Ministry, Peter Szijjarto said on Monday. He was taking part in a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.”
It is abundantly clear from the international reports and western European energy companies stakes in Russian energy production – Nord stream 1 & 2 pipeline projects, the energy inter-dependency between Russia and EU as supplier and consumer respectively continued till date amid ongoing war in Ukraine with EU members like Austria and NATO ally Hungary defending their stance on anti-sanctions against Russian oil & energy.
Juxtaposed Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s similar position on the Moscow trip and energy deals with Moscow emphasized in Pakistan’s national interest unfortunately resulted in the Pakistan former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ouster from power.
The ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ties with Moscow synonymous to EU counterparts like Austria, Germany, Hungary and others in Western as well as eastern Europe were treated differently causing political change in the islamic state in South Asia.
Yet another contradiction among EU members is while they remain Russian energy importers quoting national requirement, their supply of arms to Ukraine from some EU states is quoted as aiding Ukraine to defend democracy. Notwithstanding they are financing Russian invasion of Ukraine via energy consumption.
Russia on its part positioned as anti-west and anti-NATO apparently has no problem in supplying energy products to any and all of them maintaining cash flow from economic activities with them amidst bombing and shelling Ukraine for over two months now.
In effect, both EU and Russia fearing security threats from each other in the region fail to realize their symmetrical role in the energy deals contributing to Russian financial resources on the one side and Russia enabling NATO military capability with Russian exported energy on the other end. There is no recognition from either in terms of self-generated security reality.
Ukraine in the middle of this predicament expected to be neutral, bare arms and bear the brunt of nuclear Russia and EU convenient economic policy.
In the whole gamut, the Ukrainian civilians are paying the price with their lives and property destroyed in Russian heavy artillery hitting every possible standing structure in Ukrainian cities and coastal towns of the once beautiful country.
Meanwhile, the western edifice is justified as necessity prioritizing economic interests over own security considering the spill over effects already experienced with Ukrainian refugees forced to flee their homeland to neighboring Poland, Hungary and Moldova…
Above all the possibility of prolonged war in Ukraine becoming the protracted battle across Europe cannot be ruled out with the status quo.
Unwise to fuel the fire for it might sooner than later engulf the entire zone.
Had EU then respected Ukraine’s economic relations with Russia in 2014 and refrained from cooperation with United States violent insurrection overthrowing Ukraine’s democratically elected incumbent government of President Viktor Yanukovich in 2014 over Kiev and Moscow economic treaty, the situation could have been economically beneficial and politically peaceful for Ukraine and eastern Europe unlike the present time.
Not to mention, the western dogma – what is good for the goose not appropriate for the gander.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter
PadminiArhant.com
Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com
Pakistan – Deja Vu
April 10, 2022
Pakistan – Deja Vu
Padmini Arhant
The latest development in Pakistan’s politics is nothing new. In fact it is Deja vu.
The following posts that were published earlier in this domain and sub-domain prove the repeat of events in Pakistan from 2012 replayed in 2022. The episodes again clarify the shadow powers behind political upheavals in Pakistan.
Pakistan democracy survival and sustainability is dependent on Pakistan republic i.e. the people of Pakistan’s will to reject external meddling and influence alongside letting the internal forces know such as Pakistan’s intelligence services (ISI) and army to strictly remain committed to national defense and security besides preventing domestic and cross border terrorism at all costs to save lives all around. This is the most important step moving forward with the new government now and in the future.
Pakistan’s army and intelligence owe the people of Pakistan long overdue freedom and democratic system without being brought down even before the formation of any elected government.
In the seventy five years since India’s partition in 1947, the citizens in Pakistan have been subject to perpetual freedom struggle with little or no hope to emerge and remain an independent sovereign nation. No democratically elected government is allowed to complete the entire term in office leaving Pakistan in the foreign powers’ intended status viz. the failed state and terror haven lacking in political stability without any acknowledgment from the accusers such as foreign forces involvement in Pakistan’s status.
The west has zero tolerance to foreign interference in their election or internal affairs as witnessed in the false claims in 2016 election results.
However similar respect to other nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is not considered necessary by them.
Case in point is United States led insurrection and EU direct engagement in Kiev Maidan Square in Ukraine in 2014 resulted in 2022 status quo. Pakistan and many nations near and far are ruined by western interventionist foreign policy in elections and politics.
It is about time the west recognized, appreciated and practiced the concept of mutual respect and treating others – the nations and their citizens with dignity renouncing imposition of undemocratic principles and conditions attributing vassal statehood.
Pakistan’s youth and general population at large in unison denying access to foreign intrusion in their domestic matter would be the beginning of the end to hegemony control over destiny of millions of citizens in Pakistan.
The post – Pakistan – BBC Projection on General Election was published on July 27, 2018 – Right before Pakistan’s National Election in August 2018 when PTI led by leader Imran Khan was elected to office in 2018.
Please click on the link below and then click on the hyperlink to view content. Thank you.
Pakistan – BBC Projection on General Election
Earlier, the article below was published on June 20, 2012 in reference to Pakistan’s routine political turmoil. At that time it was Pakistan People Party (PPP) government headed by then Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was under fire as elaborated in the article under.
Pakistan – Democracy Under Siege – Published on June 20, 2012.
https://www.padminiarhant.com/pakistan-democracy-under-siege/
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter
PadminiArhant.com
Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com
India – Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s Pre-Nostalgia for Counterpart Narendra Modi
April 11, 2019
India – Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s Pre-Nostalgia for Counterpart Narendra Modi
Padmini Arhant
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed desire for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s re-election in the ongoing polls in 2019.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during pre-election stated Pakistan would cheer Indian opposition parties success in 2019 election and added there will be celebration upon such event hinting at Pakistan’s expectation for a weak government across their border.
The latest twist from Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement for his counterpart Narendra Modi brings the hidden secret relation out in the open contradictory to PM Narendra Modi’s juggler act.
Politics leaning on strange bedfellows when reality turned against them is nothing unusual.
When the going gets tough, the tough ain’t get going apparently in this instance.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com
Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com
Pakistan – JeM Masood Azhar
March 13, 2019
Pakistan – JeM Masood Azhar
Padmini Arhant
Why is China protecting Pakistan based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror commander Masood Azhar?
Masood Azhar is a self-admitted terror mastermind with direct links not only to JeM but also al-Qaeda, IS and Taliban.
Masood Azhar is a known terrorist fostered by Pakistan Army and intelligence agency ISI among other terror networks chief such as Hafez Saeed of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Taliban operating in neighboring Afghanistan.
China justifying crackdown as terror measure against Uyghur Muslim population holding large number in detention camps that Chinese official refer to as boarding schools in Xinjiang autonomous region in NorthEast China while defending Pakistan resident Masood Azhar’s terror activities estrange China in the war on terror.
Whatever may be China’s formal and informal position on terror, shielding Pakistan’s Masood Azhar from international ban is a dangerous cause with enormous liability for both China and Pakistan.
China and Pakistan providing impunity to terrorist Masood Azhar, Hafez Saeed, al-Qaeda and Taliban clarify the respective states lack of concern for violence through terrorism consuming innocent lives not only across Pakistan borders viz. India, Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh but also within Pakistan.
Any nation claiming to be emerging economic power and stakeholder in Asia i.e. China backing terrorists in Pakistan is unfortunate and beckons reasoning confined to ethical and humanitarian values imperative in evaluating strategic ambitions threatening peace and stability in the nuclear age.
China as a mature and ancient civilization rising to the occasion and meeting global expectations in curbing and eliminating terror rather than inverse strategy exemplified in action against Masood Azhar would earn regional and international trust as well as respect.
Furthermore, China’s economic goals especially targeting neighboring India and other partners in trade relations, investments and export market could be facilitated at ease upon China’s cooperation and unequivocal stance against terror and terrorists like Masood Azhar, Hafez Saeed and more harboring terror from Pakistan against nations sharing border with the Islamic state.
Above all, nuclear Pakistan enabling terror sanctuary with armed shelter for terrorists is self-inflicting catastrophe that demands rationale and wisdom to reverse course and engage in dismantling terror infrastructure wreaking havoc in the interior and exterior of economically struggling Pakistan.
China as a major creditor to Pakistan besides Saudi Arabia playing pivotal role in terminating terrorism from Pakistan soil would guarantee positive returns in economic, financial and political exchange.
Meanwhile, the global community enlisting all terror networks without exception and imposing sanctions against them by denying arms, funding and logistic support beginning with terror factions, their founders and operatives in Pakistan and worldwide is fundamental in wiping terror that remains the contentious challenge in the world.
Importantly terror manifestation prevalent in Pakistan and elsewhere already endanger life world over and immunity to terrorists exacerbate conditions for victims and potential vulnerable targets near and far.
The global consensus to act effectively against terrorism would convey a strong message to terror sponsors and recruiters on the noose tightening against them with the only option for them to renounce terror and terror related agenda as well as ideology.
The patience and tolerance have been exhausted among those forced to deal with cross border terrorism from Pakistan in Kashmir and other territory.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com
Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com
Politics – Paradoxical Paradigm
March 6, 2019
Politics – Paradoxical Paradigm
Padmini Arhant
I feel the importance for a relevant reminder to United States incumbent administration i.e. right from the time when Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s chance of winning the Presidential bid in 2016 experienced seismic tremor with the controversial Access Hollywood tape revealing then candidate Donald Trump’s sexist profanity against women, the race was practically over for the republican contender.
Subsequent to swearing in to the office of Presidency, the U.S.President was confronted with liberal outrage demanding the newly elected President Donald Trump ouster from the office in the movement led by Jill Stein, Hillary Clinton – the bruised democrat candidate having lost the election to the least expected rival and the left wing Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont and more.
Then there was an insurgency against President Donald Trump to leave office citing mental instability for impulsive reactions on twitter handle (that is persistent until now as a signature trait) not barring the nuclear threat against North Korea with inflammatory remarks such as:
United States President Donald Trump pledging fast and fury destruction of North Korea boasting United States had a much bigger nuclear button than North Korea and so on… in the run up to then imminent nuclear confrontation with North Korea.
Fast forward to January 2019, the longest United States government shutdown costing U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars over border wall did not resolve among themselves for those claiming to be problem solvers on national and international disputes thus far.
Similarly, the de-escalation of India Pakistan feud is also hogged by political actors whether in the United States, India or Pakistan despite their individual belligerence displayed on numerous occasions including escalating warfare between two nuclear states rather than defusing war rhetoric and channeling focus on terror and terrorism remaining the contentious issue.
Undoubtedly, the political beneficiaries and their die hard supporters with crony conventional and social media playing prominent role in promoting bizarre propaganda on how their so-called respective leaders as President and Prime Ministers steer through the rugged terrains and sail valiantly on the rough seas on their own while conveniently and deliberately attributing my positive and productive contribution all along paradoxically to those involved in flaming the fire.
However, any efforts towards peace from anywhere is always welcome and not to be patented as a commercial commodity.
Politics never shying away from contradictory paradigm is the fact that makes political gains all the more fallacious and fraudulent.
Any engagement towards peaceful resolutions is worthy of recognition upon those demonstrating in action by resolutely and consistently committed to peace and progress of humanity at large unlike selective disposition favoring allies even when they are responsible for illegal invasion, occupation of foreign territory and gross violation of human rights viz. in Palestine, Syria, Yemen and now the resurrection of India-Pakistan long standing line of control (LOC) skirmishes along the Indian borders of Kashmir and Punjab.
There is more to it than meets the eye especially in politics.
The divine mission is witnessed not only by the world but also the Supreme entity, the all-knowing and seer of events on earth and galaxy.
Accordingly, those for whom I am an arch nemesis, I say to them – You may keep me anonymous and illegitimately assign my identity to wannabes, opportunists and power, fame as well as fortune seekers from politics and entertainment world in particular.
Nonetheless, you and those whom you have deployed in the ill-fated task can never seize my good Karma as it is noted by the one and only Supreme force – the infallible Almighty God.
Something to remember that all actions bear consequences and none are exempt from karmic effects as Karma is and ever remain the judge, jury and executioner in living and upon inevitable departure from this world regardless of stature and background.
Padmini Arhant
Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com
Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com
Pakistan – Response to Investigation on JeM Masood Azhar
March 1, 2019
Pakistan – Response to Investigation on
JeM Masood Azhar
Padmini Arhant
Pakistan – The safe return of Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is appreciated.
However, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Quereshi response to evidence dossier on Pulwama terror attack causing more than 40 Indian security forces martyrdom inflicted by terror group JeM Masood Azhar housed and cared for in Pakistan bode well for none.
Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Quereshi during interview with western media a day after receiving dossier from India stating Masood Azhar is unwell and that he is too sick to even move around the house is unfortunately not very convincing.
Considering Pakistan establishment’s concern for JeM Masood Azhar health status,
A non-partisan, Apolitical international medical team should be allowed by Pakistan to evaluate Masood Azhar’s health condition for necessary steps in investigation process on the heinous terror attack against India’s CRPF security personnel.
Please refer to the video for needful action from Pakistan.