The Press Roundup

January 17, 2024 (Wednesday)

Curated Summary

Saudis could recognize Israel if Palestinian issue resolved - Foreign minister (Reuters)

• Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, stated that regional peace, including peace for Israel, can only be achieved through the establishment of a Palestinian state. He mentioned that Saudi Arabia has been working on this with the U.S. administration and that it is more relevant in the context of the recent conflict in Gaza.
• The normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel was put on hold after the eruption of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The war has caused a reordering of Saudi Arabia's diplomatic priorities.
• The establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel is seen as a significant step for Israel, following its normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco. It could also have a transformative impact on the geopolitics of the Middle East.
• The Palestinians' desire for a state in the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war, with East Jerusalem as their capital, remains a key hurdle in the peace process. Other obstacles include Israeli settlement of occupied land and internal conflicts among Palestinian authorities.

The US strikes the Yemen-based Houthis agian, hitting anti-ship missiles, a US official says (The Telegraph)

• The U.S. launched a strike against the Houthis, hitting anti-ship missiles, in the third assault on the group in recent days.
• The strike came after the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack on the Zografia, a Malta-flagged bulk carrier in the Red Sea. No injuries were reported.
• Despite previous U.S. and British assaults on the group, the Houthis continue to carry out attacks on shipping in the region.
• The Zografia, managed by a Greek firm, sustained material damage but had no cargo onboard. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos, and one Georgian.
• The U.S. military recently seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry from a ship bound for the Houthis in Yemen. Two commandos went missing during the raid.

Torkham border: Visa mandatory for commercial vehicle drivers entering Pakistan (Samaa)

• Visa documents are now mandatory for drivers of commercial vehicles entering Pakistan at the Pakistan-Afghanistan Torkham border.
• Previously, drivers could enter Pakistan with just a passport, but now passports and visas are required for transit from both countries.
• The new visa policy aims to stabilize trade legally, improve security, and prevent smuggling.
• Traders and truck drivers have welcomed the move, as it benefits both countries and the business community.
• The implementation of the Visa Implementation Stamp will help keep a record of those entering and exiting through the border.

A former ambassador argues that Pakistan needs a new political compact (The Economist)

• Pakistan has struggled to develop a workable political system, with repeated economic failures and poor human-development indicators.
• The country has faced political chaos, with the military assuming power in four coups and having its own views on how the country should be run.
• Military-backed efforts to create dual control between the military and politicians have not been successful in bringing stability.

Missile strike sparks diplomatic standoff: An in-depth analysis of Iran-Pakistan relations (BNN)

• Iran-Pakistan relations have been influenced by geopolitical shifts, historical tensions, and security concerns.
• The establishment of Pakistan in 1947 marked the beginning of diplomatic ties with Iran, but relations strained during the Cold War due to Pakistan's association with the United States and Iran's ties with the Soviet Union.
• The Iranian Revolution in 1979 brought about significant ideological and geopolitical shifts, creating frictions between Iran and Pakistan.
• The Afghan conflict in the 1980s deepened the divergence in Iran-Pakistan relations, with Iran supporting Afghan resistance groups and Pakistan supporting mujahideen fighters with U.S. assistance.
• Nuclear concerns, allegations of Iranian involvement in Balochistan, and sporadic border clashes have added complexity to Iran-Pakistan relations.

Will Pakistan retaliate against 'unacceptable' Iran air attacks? (Aljazeera)

• Iran's air attacks on Pakistani territory in Balochistan have raised concerns about the potential for a broader regional conflict, especially with national elections approaching. The attacks targeted the armed group Jaish al-Adl and resulted in the death of at least two children.
• The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the incident as a violation of Pakistani sovereignty and warned Iran of serious consequences. Pakistan deported Iranian envoy and and recalled its ambassador from Iran.
• Despite recent engagements between Pakistani and Iranian officials, including meetings and joint naval exercises, low-scale clashes at the border have been a constant issue.
• Iran has previously warned Pakistan to stop Jaish al-Adl from launching attacks in Iran, and tensions have escalated in the past with clashes and border guard deaths.
• Analysts warn that the attacks could pull Pakistan into a broader regional conflict. Pakistan is considering both diplomatic and military responses to the attacks. The attacks could also push Pakistan to seek closer ties with the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

CPEC Phase-II and SIFC: New model of development & FDIs (Pakistan Observer)

• There is a discourse in the country about the strategic role of the SIFC in CPEC Phase-II, which is seen as a positive sign for attracting more foreign direct investment. The government is working to build trust and collaboration among stakeholders to boost investments. The ongoing policy adjustments in China's bilateral relations with the US and EU provide an opportunity for convergence between CPEC and SIFC. The rise of geo-economics and policy adjustments towards ASEAN, Central Asia, South Caucasus, Middle East, and Africa are seen as the way forward for economic recovery and attracting more investment.
• The delay in the initiation of CPEC Phase-II has become a hot topic, but the activation of SIFC offers hope for its revival. The delay is attributed to sudden changes made by the Punjabi bureaucracy regarding the starting point of the ML-I project. Political instability is also affecting Chinese investment prospects. The Chinese government and private companies have expressed their displeasure with the unfriendly and unprofessional approach of the bureaucratic system, which has damaged the country's credibility and economic recovery efforts. Similar concerns have been raised by the governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Belt and Road Initiative in 2024 (Pakistan Observer)

• China plans to enhance the environmental sustainability of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, emphasizing a transformative shift towards green initiatives, reflecting strategic policy measures.
• China aims to streamline trade with improved infrastructure, anticipating a 12% reduction in travel times along BRI transport corridors by 2030, subsequently lowering trade costs.
• Pakistan is a partner of the BRI and will continue to benefit from the greener BRI vision. Chinese solar solutions giant LONGi announced a goal of achieving 2 gigawatts (GW) in Pakistan by 2024, with the help of more Chinese companies. Pakistan's solar energy market size is expected to grow from 1.3GW to 9.77GW in the coming years.
• Chinese companies, both individually and in collaboration with Pakistan's local enterprises, have launched numerous electric vehicle (EV) projects in the country.

Pakistan, US call for elevating air forces' training momentum (The Nation)

• Both sides expressed their desire to enhance collaboration in air force-to-air force mutual exercises and emphasized the importance of knowledge sharing and robust exchange of delegations to bolster the capabilities of both the PAF and the US Air Force.
• The discussion also focused on collaboration in recently established techno parks, with a focus on leveraging technological advancements to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Reorganization of mutual cooperation parameters was deliberated upon, with an aim to fortify existing ties and explore new avenues for joint ventures and strategic partnerships.
• The Air Chief emphasized the cordial relations between Pakistan and the United States and expressed determination to elevate the existing synergistic partnership between the two countries.
• The US ambassador praised the professionalism of Pakistan Air Force personnel and acknowledged the strides made by the PAF through indigenization under the current leadership.

Team Biden needs a reset on Israel (The New York Times)

• Benjamin Netanyahu, during his first stint as Israel's prime minister, undermined Washington-led peace efforts with the Clinton White House.
• Since the Biden administration's support for Israel following Hamas's attacks, Netanyahu has been slow-walking Washington's requests regarding the war, hindering the achievement of US goals.
• The war has been ongoing for four months, resulting in a high number of Palestinian civilian casualties, including children, and the threat of mass starvation and disease.
• Israel's government has rejected any horizon for peace, and talks seem to be at an impasse.
• The United States' steadfast support for Israel, while unconditional, hinders the achievement of other policy goals and finding a path out of the conflict.
• Israel has recently shifted its war strategy, using fewer troops and focusing more on central and southern Gaza.

A peaceful solution on Taiwan is slipping away (The New York Times)

• Taiwanese voters have given the Democratic Progressive Party (D.P.P.) an unprecedented third consecutive presidential victory, indicating their desire to maintain autonomy and stay independent from China.
• China has warned that a win by President-elect Lai Ching-te, who is considered a Taiwan independence advocate, could trigger a war. However, the Taiwanese people have disregarded these warnings.
• The hardening of Taiwanese attitudes towards China has been a long time coming, with the division between the Kuomintang (K.M.T.) government and Communist Chinese forces in 1949 being a significant factor.

Diplomacy and the Taliban (Modern Diplomacy)

• The Taliban's victory has put many countries in a dilemma of whether to recognize the newly emerged regime or confront it. No country has officially recognized the Taliban and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, despite active diplomatic contacts.

• The international community's consolidated position for recognizing the Taliban includes conditions such as reforming the regime, respecting human rights, particularly women's rights, and fighting against international terrorist structures present in Afghanistan.

• If the Taliban meets these conditions, the international community would be willing to recognize the regime and unfreeze Afghanistan's sovereign funds held in Western banks.