De/Cypher Data Dive 📈
ASIA View
Written By Amogh Dev Rai
History redux?
ISIS-Khorasan has been very clear about its intentions concerning Russia for some time it has been very clear that it sees Russia as no different from the United States of America. In an article written by an unnamed contributor and published in the Voice of Khurasan titled “The Black Hole in Ukraine” in 2022, the article argued that the war had great tidings for the terror organisation, “America has been a furious enemy of Islam throughout the last century, and Russia has proven no different.” The attacks last week in Moscow are a clear indication of the spreading network of this terror organisation and a lack of comprehensive policy to deal with them at a multilateral level.
Since 2022, China, Iran, and Russia have been trying to fill the gap left by the retreat of the United States in Afghanistan, and this has led to the restive and often egregious assaults by ISIS-K in Afghanistan, and Pakistan (please see maps below). In the first year of the Taliban takeover, after the fall of the weak government in Kabul, as the Americans retreated, ISIS-K took responsibility for 224 attacks. The numbers, scale, and scope of these attacks have only gone up, and they looked to delegitimize the Taliban rule in the eyes of Afghans. The year after that, they stretched the terror network’s attack in Pakistan. Amira Jadoon, a scholar specialising in ISIS, has called the terror outfit—the “most brutal” operating in the region. The response to ISIS-K has been muted, and it often goes under the radar.
ISIS-K needs a comprehensive policy and a willingness on the part of the United States and its coalition partners to deal with the conflicts in Syria and the broader Middle East, a fact that is becoming clear to the policy apparatus in the United States but a lot depends on the upcoming administration next year.
Geographical Shifts in ISK-PK Attacks Over Time (2014 – 2018)
The scale and scope of ISIS-K in the Al-Hol refugee camp led to the discovery of ISIS terrorists and a cache of arms. The network extends from Syria to Afghanistan and beyond; how it is tackled will determine the security and peace in Asia in the next decade.
The view of the Israel-Gaza War from Prince Turki Al-Faisal
Summarized by De/Cypher Team
“Frankly Speaking: How Saudis view the war in Gaza,” it is evident that Saudi Arabia maintains a stance that normalization with Israel will only occur after the establishment of a Palestinian state with necessary arrangements for viability and survivability. Former intelligence chief Prince Turki Al-Faisal emphasized the importance of achieving Palestinian rights and statehood as a longstanding goal of Saudi Arabia and the broader Arab and Muslim world. The interview also discusses the failure of the Abraham Accords to bring about peace and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with accusations against Israel and calls for a balanced negotiation process. Additionally, the interview touches on the changing dynamics in the region, including the U.S. administration’s shifting policies and the complexities of regional conflicts involving various actors including the U.S. administration’s changing policies towards Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. In the interview the former intelligence chief mentions the complexities of regional conflicts, such as the conflict in Yemen involving the Houthi militia and the repercussions of the war in Gaza on the broader Middle East peace process. The document also addresses international reactions to the conflict, including South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and global demonstrations condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Overall, the interview provides insights into Saudi Arabia’s role in the peace process, its commitment to Palestinian rights, and the challenges and complexities surrounding the conflict in Gaza and the broader Middle East region.
Af-Pak De/Cypher
25 March, 2024
Top Stories📜 this week
We Don’t Want Armed Conflict With Afghanistan, Pakistani Defense Minister Tells VOA
Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, has stated that Pakistan does not wish to engage in armed conflict with Afghanistan. This statement follows Pakistan’s airstrikes on alleged terrorist hideouts across the border. Asif emphasized that force is a last resort and that Pakistan wishes to avoid a military conflict with Afghanistan. He did, however, warn that if Kabul fails to combat anti-Pakistan terrorists operating on Afghan soil, Pakistan may block the trade corridor it provides to landlocked Afghanistan. The airstrikes were launched in response to an attack on a regional military base in Pakistan’s border district of North Waziristan, which killed seven soldiers. Pakistan claims that fighters linked to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and groups supporting it have a safe haven in Afghanistan. Read more: VOA
Pakistan commerce delegation to visit Kabul on Monday amid tense relations with Afghanistan
Islamabad and Kabul have decided to hold talks to ease into more cooperative terms for bilateral trade. This decision emerges at a vital time when border skirmishes and tensions are on the rise between Pakistan and Afghanistan. While Afghanistan has seen increased trading with Iran due to the constraints imposed by Pakistan, it still seeks to improve commercial ties with its estranged neighbour. The trade talks in Kabul could be a precursor to ironing out relations between the two countries that are highly weary of each other and require avenues of cooperation and trust building. Read more: Arab News
PM Shehbaz, Saudi defence minister discuss bilateral cooperation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to discuss bilateral matters, regional peace, security, and the situation in the region. They exchanged views on enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the sectors of defence and security. The meeting was attended by Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. Read more: Dunya News
PM Shehbaz orders upgrade of road network to link Reqo Dik project with Gwadar
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered that the road network be upgraded to connect the Reqo Dik project to Gwadar by road. He emphasized the importance of proper communication infrastructure planning, particularly for railway lines, in order to fully utilize Balochistan’s minerals. The prime minister also emphasized the importance of providing security and logistics for project workers. Read more: Business Recorder
Pakistan’s KP government announces Rs100 million in aid for Gaza
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Ali Amin Gandapur has announced Rs 100 million ($ 359,901) in aid for Gaza amidst the ongoing crisis between Israel and Palestine. This comes in line with the continued support Pakistan offers Palestine. It has no diplomatic ties with Israel and has consistently demanded a free Palestinian state following international norms and rules. Read more: Arab News
PM sets up seven cabinet panels; to lead ECC, CCoE
Pakistan’s new PM Shehbaz Sharif has formed seven panels to address matters of economy, finance, energy, development, trade, and Chinese investments. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) will focus on economic policy and coordination towards establishing a welfare state. Additionally, a committee for privatizing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and a cabinet committee for Chinese Investment Projects (CCCIP) have been announced. Parallel meetings with Canada and Saudi Arabia were also held. Read more: Dawn
Pakistan court sentences woman to life in prison for burning pages from Holy Qur’an
A Pakistani court in the eastern city of Lahore sentenced a Muslim woman named Aasiya Bibi to life in prison after she was found guilty of burning pages from the Holy Qur’an. Aasiya Bibi was arrested in 2021 on blasphemy charges after residents claimed she burned the Qur’an’s pages. The judge announced the verdict on Wednesday. Aasiya Bibi has the right to appeal the decision. Read more: Arab News
Bangladesh De/Cypher
25 March, 2024
Top Stories📜 this week
Bhutanese king to arrive in Bangladesh on Monday
Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will arrive in Bangladesh on Monday, March 25, for a four-day visit. During his visit, he will pay tribute to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and visit various sites such as the Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone. The visit focuses on the strong bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Bhutan since 1971. Read more: The Business Standard
BNP with ‘Boycott India’
BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi expressed solidarity with the movement to boycott Indian products by publicly throwing away his Indian shawl. He claimed that boycotting Indian products means boycotting the Awami League government, as he alleged that the ruling party made a mockery of the election with India’s support. Read more: The Daily Star
Swedish Crown Princess visits Ukhiya Rohingya camp
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), paid a visit to the Cox’s Bazar Ukhiya Rohingya camp in Bangladesh on Wednesday, March 20. Princess Victoria assumed the role of UNDP Goodwill Ambassador to advocate for the SDGs in October last year. Read more: Dhaka Tribune
Germany keen on technical co-op in aviation industry
Germany is interested in providing technical assistance for the development of Bangladesh’s aviation industry. Achim Troster, German Ambassador to Bangladesh, said this during a meeting with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan. Read more: The Business Post
Prof Yunus honoured with Unesco award
Professor Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, received “The Tree of Peace” award from Unesco at the XI Global Baku Forum’s closing session. The Nizami Ganjavi International Centre (NGIC) organizes the Global Baku Forum, a renowned high-level event. Read more: The Daily Ittefaq
External debt surges past $100b amid rising public borrowing
According to the most recent Bangladesh Bank data, the country’s total external debt will reach $100.64 billion by December 2023, up 4.24% from the previous year. The increase in external debt is primarily caused by the government’s increased borrowing to fund development activities. Read more: The Financial Express
Air quality index: Bangladesh air most polluted in 2023
According to data published in 2023, Bangladesh had the world’s most polluted air that year. The average concentration of PM2.5, which are small airborne particles that harm the lungs, was 79.9 micrograms per cubic meter in Bangladesh. This is approximately 15 times the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which suggests no more than 5 micrograms per cubic meter. Read more: Prothom Alo
Asia Headlines Quick Recap 🌏
4 Suspects in Russia Concert Hall Attack Charged With Terrorism
Four suspects, alleged Tajik citizens, have been charged with terrorism in connection with the concert hall attack in Moscow that killed at least 137 people. ISIS claimed responsibility, and witnesses said gunmen stormed the venue. Russia declared national mourning and accused Ukraine of assisting the attackers, which Ukraine and the United States denied. The United States claims to have warned Russia about a planned attack earlier in March. Read more: VOA
North Korean leader Kim inspects ‘Seoul’ tank unit
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently paid a visit to the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Tank Division, where Kim oversaw drills, praised soldiers’ preparation, and advocated for more ideological education to improve combat capability and war readiness. Read more: CNA
China blocks use of Intel and AMD chips in government computers
China has implemented new guidelines that phase out US microprocessors from Intel and AMD in government PCs and servers, as part of a larger effort to replace foreign technology with domestic alternatives. Read more: Financial Times
South Korea doctors’ strike widens as medical professors join protests
The doctors’ strike in South Korea has grown as medical professors join the protests. Some professors intend to reduce their working hours, while others plan to resign. This move supports trainee doctors who have been on strike for more than a month, opposing the government’s plan to increase medical school admissions. Read more: The Guardian
