Headlines:
- ISIS comes to Afghanistan
- China showers Pakistan with Investment
- US Confers Human Rights to Animals
- Saudi declared false end to Yemen strikes
Details:
ISIS comes to Afghanistan
35 people were murdered and over 100 wounded in a bombing outside a bank branch in Jalalabad in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday April 18. The deaths of so many people were due to many queueing up to collected their paychecks. Whilst suicide bombings were used as a tactic at the height of the insurgency against US occupation forces this bombing was different. A Taliban spokesman denied responsibly for the suicide attack, telling Reuters: “It was an evil act. We strongly condemn it.” Soon after, a militant group linked to ISIS reportedly released a picture of the alleged suicide bomber who struck the bank branch in Jalalabad. This would be the first attack in Afghanistan that ISIS has claimed responsibility. ISIS has shown once again that its target is the Muslims rather than foreign occupation troops or targets. In Syria, ISIS have shown they are not on the side of the Ummah as the battle the rebel groups rather than Bashar al-Assad’s forces. It looks as this will be the same strategy in Afghanistan.
China showers Pakistan with Investment
In a ceremony with great pomp and fanfare, Chinese premier Xi Jinping signed 51 agreements with Pakistan promising investment of $46 billion. This is 3 times more foreign investment that Pakistan has received in the past 7 years. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will connect the northwestern Chinese province of Xinjiang with the Pakistani port of Gwadar, some 3,000km, through a network of roads, and provide Pakistan with much-needed economic infrastructure, especially power-generation plants. $28 billion of the projects are expected to be completed by 2018, including numerous power generation projects. The Chinese-built power plants, if completed in time, would be enough to plug Pakistan’s existing electricity shortfall ahead of its next election, due in 2018. The Chinese transport projects include a $1.6 billion elevated mass transit railway for Lahore, Nawaz Sharif’s hometown. The plan calls for the completion of all the projects by 2030. Pakistan will establish a special security force of several thousand personnel to guard the Chinese projects against attacks by militants. Whilst Pakistani politicians are touting this as a major economic investment, China is not off-loading so much money for its concern for Pakistan but due to its own economic needs and alternative land based routes for its own national economy. What the Pakistani government didn’t mention was the investment is not the typical investment or aid, Chinese companies will carry out the work, which will be financed through either Chinese investment or concessional loans. The fact that a foreign nation is investing more money than the national government is very revealing.
US Confers Human Rights to Animals
A judge in New York has issued a writ of habeas corpus in a case brought by animal rights activists on behalf of two chimpanzees. Habeas corpus, which is Latin for “you may have the body”, is a writ which traditionally requires a person detained by the authorities to be brought before a court of law so that the legality of the detention may be examined. The case concerns two chimpanzees, Hercules and Leo, being held at a research facility at Stony Brook University in New York State. The Nonhuman Rights Project filed a lawsuit on behalf of the chimpanzees in 2013 with a view to having them transferred to a sanctuary in Florida, but in that instance the courts refused to issue a writ. The group argues that New York law does not limit legal personhood to human beings only, they also argue hundreds of organizations say they work for “animal rights.” but the only animal with legal rights is the human animal. No other animal has any rights at all. The outcome of this case will have numerous implications as it could extend rights to animals, which in an extreme case could make slaughtering for consumption, technically murder. Common law, which is the mainstay of western legislation has already conferred legal rights on domestic animals who are the beneficiaries of trusts and corporations already have rights and are viewed as a personality.
Saudi declared false end to Yemen strikes
Fresh from killing scores of civilians in an airstrikes on the Yemeni capital city of Sanaa, Saudi Arabia has declared victory in its ongoing war against the Houthis, insisting the military objectives of “Operation Decisive Storm” have all been achieved. Initially Saudi stated the goal was to reinstall former President Hadi, who is still living in exile in Riyadh. In the three weeks of strikes, hundreds of Muslims have been killed, humanitarian resources are in short supply everywhere, Houthi forces are still contesting Aden with Hadi forces, and al-Qaeda has taken considerable territory in the east. The declaration of victory and an end to the war is not real as Saudi officials are announced “Operation Renewal of Hope,” which will begin immediately, and will include military components. Saudi described it as an anti-terror operation, though all indications are that it will focus entirely on the Houthis, and not al-Qaeda. Saudi has been conducting attacks in order to clear the way for negotiations between all the different factions, Saudi faced no threat from Yemen, when it began attacks showing it has undertaken such action for other purposes, rather than its stated reasons.