08 Sunday, July 21, 2019 South Asia / Southeast Asia China hampering energy activity in South China Sea: US grounds pilot for sending hijack alert by mistake

Washington: The US on Saturday expressed concern over reports that China is hampering other coun- New : India has suspended a pilot for accidentally sending a hijack alert to air traffic control dur- News tries’ oil and gas activities in the South China Sea and accused Beijing of acting like a bully. The State ing a domestic flight last month, the aviation authority said. The AirAsia India plane, flying from the capi- Department said such acts by China -- it did not say when they are alleged to have happened -- threaten tal to Srinagar, suffered a stalled engine and the captain told first officer Ravi Raj to send in brief regional peace and security. It said these acts were interfering in particular with Vietnamese oil and gas an emergency code to alert authorities about the situation. Instead of the appropriate code 7700, Raj exploration and production. “As Secretary Pompeo noted earlier this year, ‘by blocking development in transmitted 7500 -- the code for a hijacking -- India’s Director General of Civil Aviation said in a state- the SCS through coercive means, China prevents ASEAN members from accessing more than $2.5 tril- ment on Friday. Such a transmission is considered a major security alert across the world. Precise lion in recoverable energy reserves,’” spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said. (AFP) details of the response from Indian authorities during the incident were not available. (AFP) Pakistan tribal Pakistani PM leaves for regions hold first provincial polls three-day maiden US visit

AFP Peshawar, Pakistan More than 2.8 million people lined up to vote for 16 repre- Pakistan’s tribal areas held sentatives for the provincial their first ever provincial elec- assembly after polls opened tions on Saturday amid high on Saturday morning, security, a key step bringing the northwestern region into the political mainstream after years ziristan -- are home to some five of turmoil fuelled by militancy. million residents, mainly ethnic The seven remote districts Pashtuns. They were previously along the border with Afghani- only allowed to elect representa- stan were once a focal point tives for the National Assembly in the global war on terror but in Islamabad. Candidates from were brought under the control all the main political parties of Pakistani authorities after the contested Saturday’s elections, passage of legislation last year. including two women -- a rarity More than 2.8 million peo- in the ultra-conservative region. ple lined up to vote for 16 rep- The legislation passed last resentatives for the provincial year extended the writ of Pa- assembly after polls opened kistani courts to the area, with on Saturday morning, Suhail hopes that it would bring devel- Khan, a spokesman for the opment assistance to the region election commission, said. No which Washington has long in- violence was reported and polls sisted provides safe havens to closed at 5:00 pm without any militants including the Taliban disturbances, officials said. and Al Qaeda -- an allegation The previously semi-auton- that Islamabad denies. omous region operated under a Security has improved colonial-era arrangement that in the region in recent years, endorsed collective punishment with the Pakistani military and created a fertile environ- carrying out multiple opera- ment for militancy. The seven tions there. But lower-level (File photo) Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Washington this week seeks a reset in Pakistan-US ties with a focus on expanding bilateral cooperation and evolve it beyond the tribal districts Bajaur, Khyber, attacks still occur and the area Afghanistan-centered relations. Kurram, Mohmand, North Wa- remains notorious for the ziristan, Orakzai and South Wa- availability of cheap guns. stan’s role in Afghanistan and years, Foreign Minister Shah The Pakistan premier is expected PM’s entourage overall war on terror, suspend- Mehmood Qureshi said on to discuss regional issues with The premier is accompa- ed the security and other as- Friday. nied by Adviser to PM on sistance to Pakistan. Last year “We are here to reset our he and PM Imran had a war bilateral relationship,” he US President during his visit Commerce Abdul Razzak of words on Twitter after the told a press briefing ahead of Dawood, Special Assistant US president reiterated his al- Prime Minister Khan’s arrival tribune.com.pk while Foreign Minister Shah on Overseas ZulfiB ukhari legations against Pakistan for in the US capital for a visit islamabad Mehmood Qureshi is already and Army Chief General “playing a double game”. on the invitation of President in Washington as part of the Qamar Javed Bajwa while Pakistani officials, how- Donald Trump. Prime Minister Imran Khan entourage. Foreign Minister Shah Me- ever, feel that direct interac- Qureshi said the prime on Saturday embarked on It is the prime minister’s hmood Qureshi is already tion between PM Imran and minister’s July 22 meeting his three-day visit to the US. maiden visit to the United in Washington as part of Trump can help address some with President Trump at the The prime minister is visiting States after assuming office. the entourage of the misgivings. White House will highlight Washington on the invitation The trip was originally Prime Minister Imran the points of convergence, of President Donald Trump. planned in June but was post- Khan’s visit to Washington where cooperation can be The premier is accompa- poned because of the PM’s ald Trump during his visit. this week seeks a reset in mutually beneficial. “We nied by Adviser to PM on Com- prior domestic engagements, Relations between Paki- Pakistan-US ties with a focus want to take forward an envi- merce Abdul Razzak Dawood, including the federal budget. stan and the US have remained on expanding bilateral coop- ronment of trust and cooper- Tribesmen line up to cast their vote outside a polling station for the Special Assistant on Overseas The prime minister is ex- strained since Trump took eration and evolve it beyond ation that has developed be- first provincial elections in Jamrud, a town of the Khyber Pakhtunkh- Zulfi Bukhari and Army Chief pected to discuss regional is- charge of the White House. the Afghanistan-centered tween the two countries from wa province, Pakistan, on Saturday. (AFP) General Qamar Javed Bajwa sues with US President Don- Trump, highly critical of Paki- relations of the last several a low point in the ties.”

New Delhi, Manila ask Iran to free Flooding, landslides take more lives in South Asia dpa agement official inI ndia’s their nationals on seized oil tanker New Delhi eastern state of Bihar said. “The situation is still grim.” AFP Spokesman for India’s foreign Russians and a Latvian were More than 350 people have “A total of 114,721 people are New Delhi ministry, said that 18 of its also among the ship’s crew. now died as a result of flood- currently in relief camps as “(Philippine) Ambassador to ing and landslides in South their villages are inundated India and Philippines asked nationals were on the ship Iran Fred Santos is contacting Asia brought on by heavy with water and roads sub- Saturday Tehran to secure the and said New Delhi was in Iranian authorities to seek as- monsoon rains over the past merged,” the official said. release of their nationals working touch with the govt of Iran surance that the Filipino sea- few weeks, officials said Sat- More than 6 million peo- on a British-flagged tanker seized farer is safe and will be released urday. ple in Bihar have been affect- by Iran in Strait of Hormuz. soon,” it said, adding the uni- So far, 184 deaths have ed by the devastating floods. Raveesh Kumar, spokes- ippines said it would ask Iran dentified crew member’s family been reported in India, 90 In Assam state, 50 people man for India’s foreign minis- to free a Filipino crew member has been notified. in Nepal, 41 in Pakistan have died in floods and land- try, said that 18 of its nationals on the Swedish-owned Stena The recruitment agency that and 37 in Bangladesh since People and cattle take shelter on a high land area in a flood affected slides, the state’s disaster were on the ship and said New Impero which was seized on supplied the Filipino crew mem- the latest heavy rains be- village in Morigaon district of Assam, India, on Saturday. (EPA-EFE) management unit spokesman Delhi was “in touch with the Friday, as tensions mount in a ber told Manila there were no gan in early July. Akhil Das said. More than 6 government of Iran to secure key waterway for the world’s oil reported injuries as the vessel Though the rains were remained critical across vast death toll reached 92 on Fri- million people have been af- (their) early release and repa- supplies. Philippine foreign de- headed for the Iranian coast on easing and floodwaters reced- swathes of the region which day as rescue workers found fected and over 20,000 are in triation”. Meanwhile, The Phil- partment said a Filipino, three Friday, the department added. ing on Saturday, the situation remained waterlogged. “The more bodies,” a disaster man- relief camps. Former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit passes away agencies bodh Ghat for cremation at initiating green reforms in the being a veteran new delhi 2.30 pm. The Delhi govern- public transport sector, and Congress leader, had close ties ment has decided to declare a phasing out the killer blue line with . Sheila Dikshit, the longest- two-day state mourning, said buses. In the run-up to the Dikshit finally made her serving chief minister of Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister Man- recently-concluded electoral debut in 1984 as a passed away at a private hos- ish Sisodia. A host of political elections, Dikshit was made member of the Congress, win- pital in the national capital leaders, including Prime Min- Delhi Congress chief and was ning from the Kannauj parlia- following a cardiac arrest on ister Narendra Modi and Con- entrusted with the task of re- mentary constituency in Uttar Saturday, a family member gress leader , versing Congress’ fortunes in Pradesh and thus kicking off a confirmed to The Indian Ex- have condoled the demise of the capital. 30-year-long career in politics. press. She was 81. Dikshit. However, she lost the However, power is a fickle The Congress stalwart had Widely credited for trans- North East seat to BJP’s mistress and soon a series of not been feeling well and was forming the face of Delhi, Dik- Manoj Tiwari and the party incidents followed that sullied rushed to Fortis Escorts Heart shit was at the helm of Delhi drew a drubbing. Dikshit’s her image. Institute in the morning. Lat- affairs for 15 years from 1998 Senior congress leader and former first brush with politics came Allegations of corruption er, she slipped into coma fol- to 2013. She also served as congress president Sonia Gandhi only after her marriage to Vi- levelled against her govern- lowing which she passed away, the governor of Kerala. A close (right) along with Sheila Dikshit. nod Dikshit, an IAS officer and ment during the Common- the family member said. associate of former prime son of former Union Minister wealth Games and the 2012 Her mortal remains will be minister and a Among her notable and governor Uma Shankar Delhi gangrape brought her kept at her Nizamuddin resi- minister in his cabinet, Dik- achievements are fasten- Dikshit. under fire from activists and dence till 11.30 am on Sunday shit became an MP for the first Indian people carry the mortal remains of former chief minister ing the flagship DelhiM etro She learnt the nitty grit- the media even as public dis- for people to pay tributes, and time from Kannauj Lok Sabha of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit near her residence in New Delhi, India, on project, overseeing the crea- ties of politics while assisting content soared due to inflation will then be taken to Nigam- seat in Uttar Pradesh. Saturday. (EPA-EFE) tion of a network of flyovers, her father-in-law, who besides and power crisis.