OPINION
Is the anti-Pakistan militant group, TTP, forging an alliance with armed rebels in Balochistan?
Citing intelligence reports, the Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid told media that: "Baloch militants are not capable of launching major attacks in Nushki and Panjgur. TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) has the capability, experience and latest NATO weapons to launch such attacks. There's some understanding between the TTP and Baloch militants. They have their hideouts in Afghanistan."
Union Budget FY23: Right intent but with trade-offs
The two numbers which really stood out were the higher capex and higher market borrowing for FY23. We look at the trade-offs of this approach, in terms of its likely impact on states, funding, fiscal consolidation and, most importantly, growth. Implied Q4 FY22 (Jan-Mar) estimate point to a 14.5 per cent y/y contraction in gross tax revenue, after it grew 44 per cent during Apr-Dec. Revenue from excise duties (which fall given the cut in November 2021), income tax, CGST etc. appear realistic.
Is Turkey punching beyond its weight by trying to mediate between Ukraine and Russia?
As in a number of conflict zones - North Africa, the Middle East, and the South Caucasus, Turkey is trying to intervene in Ukraine too, though choosing to adopt a relatively lower profile. President Erdogan has repeatedly offered to host Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodimir Zhelensky, as part of his effort to mediate between the two antagonists.
Union Budget: The Good, The Macro & The Bond Market
The Budget exercise over the past few years has undertaken the important initiative to progress along the path of transparency. This has had multiple facets: Bringing below the line financing above the line, clearing up arrears, and projecting conservatively. The bond market has had a relatively rough ride over the past month or so. This has been mostly in sympathy to global developments, but also to some extent with market's assumption that RBI will intervene sporadically getting frustrated.
India's Central Asian outreach
The importance which India attaches to the 5 Central Asian Republics (CARs) was shown by its commitment to hold a virtual summit with the Presidents of 5 CARs, when they were unable to travel to India to participate at the Republic Day parade as Chief Guests duet to Covid travel restrictions.
Claiming to be a responsible state
Imran Khan spoke of the dire need of a 'multi-prong strategy', pointing out that the country had since its inception focused on military security because of 'an insecure environment' created for it by 'a neighbor that is seven times bigger, and tries to make out that Pakistan would now work for economic security, strong presence of the 'rule of law' and regional peace.
Pakistan on a new track?
A critical review of the recently released National Security Policy (NSP) of Pakistan by its National Security Advisor, Yusuf Moeed, reveals that it's a document which contradicts itself through its various promises and their delivery mechanism. Further it also reveals that how the military-political combine in Pakistan has controlled so far and plans in the future too, how to control the distribution of resources in the country, consolidate its power over every aspect of the governance, every state organ and the civil society.
PoJK calls Modi for help
Here is the story of this hapless man. In 1947 his family migrated to PoJK and were allotted a house in Muzaffarabad. At the time there were thousands of empty properties that originally belonged to those Hindus and Sikhs who were either massacred during the 1947-48 communal genocide or had somehow managed to escape to Jammu. These properties were confiscated by the government and a department of Matrooka Emlak or abandoned properties was set up. It was in these properties that the Kashmiri refuges were housed and over a period of a few years were given ownership rights. Over decades the prices of these properties soared from a few thousand ruppees to crores. Influential people are allegedly bribing the local government officials who deal with real estate to change the ownerships of the properties to a middleman and then buy it of them.
Budget Watch: Centre expected to lower deficit target for FY23
"The Budget this year will be watched out for the pace of fiscal consolidation. The balancing factor for higher spending would be next year's divestment target, which could still be kept robust even as BPCL (and possibly even mega LIC IPO) may get pushed to next fiscal," said Madhavi Arora, Lead Economist, Emkay Global. "The revenue expenditure pressure may continue in FY23 with the year being a heavy election calendar in key states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat, and early signs of easing consumption momentum, led by the rural areas."
After plot to kill Pak activist, ISI now targets via fake campaign
"All known stooges of ISI have become active. Is it a coincidence that this campaign started right at the start of trial. The purpose is clear to divert attention from trial coverage. This is 21st century and fake campaigns lead by known fraudsters don't work," Goraya, who's based in the Netherlands and is also a blogger, said in a series of tweets.
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