Monthly Archives: August 2018

Brigadier VS Chauhan has taken over as the Group Commander, Chandigarh NCC Group, succeeding Brigadier Harpreet Singh, who retired on December 31, 2024. He will be heading the four units comprising the group that includes an Army battalion, an air…

Tribune News Service

Brig VS Chauhan takes charge of the NCC Group Commander from Brig Harpreet Singh in Chandigarh on Monday.

Brigadier VS Chauhan has taken over as the Group Commander, Chandigarh NCC Group, succeeding Brigadier Harpreet Singh, who retired on December 31, 2024. He will be heading the four units comprising the group that includes an Army battalion, an air squadron, a naval unit and a girls’ battalion with a strength of around 5,000 cadets.

Commissioned into the 5th Battalion (Special Forces) of the Parachute Regiment, Brig Chauhan was awarded the coveted Sword of Honour on passing out from the Indian Military Academy. He is a recipient of the Yudh Seva Medal for his contribution to anti-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, he commanded 10 Rashtriya Rifles in Doda district and a Brigade along the Line of Control in the high altitude area. He has served as Director, Threat Assessment and Strategic Operations, Army Headquarters, and as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to two Presidents of India. He is also a distinguished alumnus of the US Army’s John F Kennedy Special Warfare Centre.

An Army jawan died under suspicious circumstances in Poonch district on Monday, officials said. Soldier Krishna Yadav, a resident of Rajasthan and who was posted in Sawajian, was found dead under suspicious circumstances, they said. His body was shifted to.

An Army jawan died under suspicious circumstances in Poonch district on Monday, officials said. Soldier Krishna Yadav, a resident of Rajasthan and who was posted in Sawajian, was found dead under suspicious circumstances, they said.

His body was shifted to the hospital where doctors conducted a post-mortem. According to the doctors, he suffered a head injury.

“After receiving all the reports, we will reach a conclusion about the cause of death. I cannot say if it was suicide or not. Let the reports come first,” a doctor said.

Finally putting an end to months of speculation, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned as the Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party on Monday. His position had become untenable following the resignation of his once-trusted colleague and Deputy…

Raveen Thukral

Finally putting an end to months of speculation, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned as the Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party on Monday. His position had become untenable following the resignation of his once-trusted colleague and Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, last month. Her departure triggered fresh demands for Trudeau’s resignation not only from opposition leaders but also from numerous Liberal MPs.

Trudeau’s resignation signals a pivotal moment for Canada, as it grapples with internal political shifts and external global challenges. Meeting with Governor General Mary Simon, Trudeau recommended proroguing Parliament until March 24 to facilitate the selection of a new leader. “This country deserves a real choice in the next election,” Trudeau asserted, emphasising the need for a fresh perspective amidst internal party strife.

He said, “I intend to resign, as party leader, as Prime Minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process. Last night I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”

In an emotional address to Canadians, Trudeau said, “Since 2015, I’ve fought for this country and for you. To strengthen and grow the middle class. We rallied to support each other through the pandemic, to advance reconciliation, to defend free trade on this continent, to stand strong with Ukraine and our democracy, and to fight climate change and get our economy ready for the future. We are at a critical moment in the world.”

Calling himself a “fighter”, Trudeau said, “Every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians. I care deeply about this country, and I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians. And the fact is, despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralysed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in the Canadian history.”While journalists questioned the timing of his resignation in the wake of the no-confidence motion threats by the opposition parties once the House reconvened in January, Trudeau said he had advised the Governor General that a new session of Parliament was needed, and she granted this request. On his long silence since Freeland’s resignation, Trudeau said over the holidays, he got a chance to reflect and also had long talks with his family about his future and arrived at the decision to quit.

He expressed the hope that the new Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party would carry its values and ideals into that next election. “I’m excited to see the process unfold in the months ahead. We were elected for the third time in 2021 to strengthen the economy post-pandemic and advance Canada’s interests in a complicated world, and that is exactly the job that I and we will continue to do for Canadians.” Responding to a question on his biggest achievement in the last decade as the Prime Minister, he said, in 2015, we were elected on our promise to work for the middle class in this country, and that is what we did. We’ve reduced their taxes, we increased the benefits to families, we made sure the economy was focused on working for everyone and not just a few.”

Responding to a question on Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Trudeau said, “His vision for this country is not the right one for Canadians. Stopping the fight against climate change doesn’t make sense. Backing off on the values and strengthening diversity that Canada has always worked to pull itself together on is not the right path for the country. We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future, and he is not offering that.” He expressed confidence that Liberals have a lot of leaders to take on Poilievre.

Trudeau came to power in 2015 after 10 years of Conservative Party rule, and had initially been hailed for returning the country to its liberal past. But the 53-year-old scion of one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers became deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing, and surging immigration. The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally. US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariff on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs into the US.

Calling it Pakistan’s “old practice to blame neighbours for its own failures”, the MEA on Monday condemned Islamabad’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had taken note of media reports on “airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including…

Tribune News Service

Calling it Pakistan’s “old practice to blame neighbours for its own failures”, the MEA on Monday condemned Islamabad’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had taken note of media reports on “airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several lives had been lost”. “We unequivocally condemn any attack on civilians. It’s an old practice of Pakistan to blame neighbours for its own failures,” he said.

On December 24 last year, Pakistan had launched airstrikes on Afghanistan’s Barmal district in Paktika province. The Taliban-led Afghanistan government had said 46 persons were killed in the airstrikes. The tensions between the two countries escalated after an attack by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) left 16 Pakistani soldiers dead on December 21 last year.

On December 28, the Taliban’s defence ministry said its forces targeted Pakistani points that “served as centres and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organised and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan”. One Pakistan soldier was said to have been killed.Pakistan has been accusing the TTP of using Afghanistan as a base to orchestrate attacks on Pakistani security forces. As per the United Nations Security Council report, an estimated 6,000 TTP fighters operate in Afghanistan under the Taliban rule.

However, the Taliban has denied these allegations and termed the issue as Pakistan’s internal matter. Taliban has maintained that Pakistan had long history of supporting Islamist movements, something that was hitting it back hard.

For decades, Pakistan had been supporting Taliban. Following the group’s takeover of Kabul in August 2021, Islamabad had expected the Taliban to crack down on the TTP. However, the Taliban didn’t taken up any fight with the TTP.

Former US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said Pakistan was grappling with “triple crises” including the imprisonment of former PM Imran Khan; economic challenges; and intensified security threats. “Pakistan needs a reset. It must start with freedom for Imran Khan,” Khalilzad said.

Formal paperwork soon, will boost civil-nuclear cooperation, says NSA Sullivan

Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service

Twenty-six years after the nuclear tests at Pokhran in May 1998 led to an embargo on several Indian atomic energy companies, the US is set to lift the sanctions, opening the route for closer cooperation in the civil-nuclear sector.

US president Biden sends letter to Modi

• US President Joe Biden, whose four-year tenure will end on Jan 20, has sent a letter to PM Modi, recalling the growth in India-US ties
• The letter was delivered by US NSA Sullivan. “The PM deeply appreciated the letter,” a statement from the PMO said
• Modi recalled his meetings with President Biden, including the one during his visit to the US in September 2024 for the Quad summit

The ban on the Indian companies stemmed from the chill in the India-US relations following the May 1998 tests.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan today said the US was finalising steps to remove the Indian companies from the Entity List to allow cooperation in the civil-nuclear area. He was speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Sullivan said, “Today I can announce that the US is now finalising the necessary steps to remove long-standing regulations that have prevented civil-nuclear cooperation between India’s leading nuclear entities and US companies.”

The formal paperwork would be done soon. This would be an opportunity to turn the page on some of the frictions of the past and create opportunities for entities to come off the restricted lists in the US and enter into deep collaboration with the US, “with our private sector, scientists and technologists”, Sullivan said.

India and the US had signed the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in March 2006, but the sanctions on the Indian companies had remained a hindrance to any cooperation.

As per the US Federal Register, the US Export Administration Bureau had, in 1998, barred some entities of the Department of Atomic Energy — Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Indian Rare Earths, nuclear reactors, including power plants, not under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, production facilities and their collocated ammonia plants.

On the need to remove Indian entities from the barred list, Sullivan said this was the

next major step in cementing the India-US partnership.

Sullivan said in the next decade, “we will see US and Indian firms working together to build the next generation of semiconductor technologies, US and Indian astronauts conducting cutting-edge research and space exploration together”.

He said, “The US was the first country to collaborate with India on technology.”

The US, he said, was deeply invested in India’s success. He underscored the robust economic relationship, pointing out the critical role of Indian investments in the US. “Indian investments in the US have created 4,00,000 jobs by some estimates,” he said, emphasising the mutually beneficial nature of these ties.

As an upper riparian state, China has a record of reluctance to cooperate

Ashok K Kantha

Xinhua reported on December 25 that the Chinese Government had approved the largest-ever hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet. This announcement, reportedly made without informing India, a lower riparian state, is a reminder of the complexity of rebuilding relations with the northern neighbour.

The proposed project, under preparation for several years and closely tracked by India, has major negative implications for India. As an upper riparian state, China has an unfortunate record of reluctance to cooperate, show transparency and safeguard interests of downstream states, as it is obliged to do. We have, therefore, another major irritant emerging in an already difficult relationship.

Xinhua lauded the venture as a “green project” without offering details. However, a report in Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) said the total investment in the dam could exceed 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion). It is expected to generate nearly 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, more than thrice the designed capacity (88.2 billion kWh) of the Three Gorges Dam in China, presently the largest in the world.

According to the SCMP report, this would be the world’s largest infrastructure project and involve drilling four to six 20-km tunnels and diversion of half the river’s flow. Yet, the Chinese Foreign Office spokesperson claimed that it would have no negative impact on downstream countries (India and Bangladesh)!

The proposed project is likely to be at a site in the Big Bend area of the Yarlung Tsangpo, where the river takes a U-turn and enters India just over 20 km downstream. The adverse consequences of the project for us will manifest in many ways. It will disrupt water flows in the Siang, as the river is called after entering India and is the main channel of the Brahmaputra river system. According to an Assam Government website, the catchment area of the Brahmaputra is 2,93,000 sq km in Tibet; 2,40,000 sq km in India and Bhutan; and 47,000 sq km in Bangladesh. The bulk of the waters of the river flowing in India are generated within our territory, but this mega project will significantly impact the river flows and consequently, livelihoods of residents downstream.

China’s development of smaller hydropower projects in the upper reaches of the Mekong (called Lancang in that country) and its cascade operations are leading to irregular fluctuations, drying out of certain areas, declining fish catches and the loss of access to fertile sediment deposits in the Lower Mekong Basin, affecting riparian residents in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. This presages foreseen and unforeseen consequences of the proposed dam for India and Bangladesh.

Equally, there will be an ever-present danger of disasters linked to this humongous project undertaken in an ecologically fragile and earthquake-prone geography. Even if there is no damage to the dam by an earthquake, large-scale diversion and impounding of waters will affect ecosystems and biodiversity downstream. This writer recalls emergency management by a group headed by the Cabinet Secretary when an artificial lake had formed in 2004 on the Parechu river, a tributary of the Sutlej, in Tibet.

Given the relatively good relations with China at that time, we could get advance notice and data, augmented by information generated by our geospatial resources and other means. The lake did not burst before freezing over, and drained partly the next year with only limited damage downstream in India due to preventive measures. Risks stemming from the planned project will be exponentially larger, even if we do not talk of weaponisation of stored waters, as some experts are doing.

It is with patient diplomacy that we have been able to put in place limited collaborative arrangements with Beijing, including three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on the provision of monsoon season data by China for the Brahmaputra, on monsoon season data for the Sutlej (signed after the Parechu scare) and on “strengthening cooperation on trans-border rivers”. The first two MoUs are renewed every five years and have now lapsed. No project has been possible under the umbrella MoU. The Chinese are niggardly in extending cooperation, not even agreeing to provide lean season data, let alone discussing broader cooperation like sharing of waters of trans-border rivers.

A similar approach characterises China’s dealings on trans-border rivers with other neighbours. It takes full advantage of its status as a predominantly upper riparian state vis-à-vis its co-riparians.

Neither China nor India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (1997). However, two key principles of the Convention — “equitable and reasonable utilisation” of shared waters and the “obligation not to cause significant harm” to downstream states — have broad relevance. India has been a responsible upper riparian state, even providing generous terms to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty despite troubled bilateral relations. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of China.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs remarked on January 3, “As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, we have consistently expressed, through expert level as well as diplomatic channels, our views and concerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in their territory. These have been reiterated along with the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries following the latest report.”

India has hitherto opted for quiet diplomacy. However, we are in new territory now, given the unprecedented scale and implications of the proposed project that will involve diversion and huge storage, unlike the existing run-of-the-river projects in Tibet. The Indian side must seek clarifications on technical parameters of the project and environmental impact studies. China should be asked to respect the principles of “equitable and reasonable utilisation” and the “obligation not to cause significant harm” to downstream states. In fact, we should formally ask for the suspension of any further work until there is full consultation and mutual understanding on the project.

Quiet diplomacy has its limitations. Our concerns would have to be articulated forcefully through official channels with China and in the public domain. India’s existing user rights on the waters of the Brahmaputra would have to be augmented with the implementation of hydropower and other projects with greater urgency, without compromising on environmental norms and interests of the local population. While the government would not do so, there is nothing to prevent our non-governmental organisations from expressing their concerns at relevant international platforms on large dams. Indeed, this mega project is at odds with the widely shared thinking on proceeding with extreme caution on large storage projects.

GURU GOBIND SINGH History will act as evidence if it has a parallel to epitome of sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh. There cannot be another 9 year old son who inspires his father to sacrifice hi mself for cause of Kashmiri Brahmins. There cannot be another father who sacrifices his 4 sons and then says” In putran ke sees par vaar diye sut chaar. Char muae to kya hua Jiwat kai hazar.” what if I have sacrificed 4 sons my thousands of sons are alive. There cannot be a warrior like Guru Gobind Singh who instructed his soldiers never to fight anyone who is unarmed, respect women, children and elderly and never to attack anyone behind his back. His arrows used to bear little gold as He said I have no personal enmity with anyone I have to fight those who are supporting the tyrants so the gold is meant for their decent last rites. He was a philosopher far ahead of his times. He was a great writer whose literary writings like Choupayi Sahib wil remain immortal.
Bhai Nandlal ji has described Him as MUQBAL-O MAQBOOL GURU GOBIND SINGH
WAASIL-O MAUSOOL GURU GOBIND SHAHE SHAHAN SHAH GURU GOBIND SINGH.

Today we celebrate Birth anniversary of Greatest Saint Warrior ever.

A great warrior and philosopher, who instructed his soldiers to maintain righteousness at war and said I have no personal enemity with anyone but with tyrants.He was a great writer whose literary writings like Choupayi Sahib remain immortal.

In addition to being the greatest saint-warrior ever, his leadership, compassion, and valor shaped an entire nation. He empowered the downtrodden, establishing the Khalsa as a force of righteousness, and taught us the eternal lesson that the fight for justice is a duty, not just a right.

Bhai Nandlal ji has described Him as MUQBAL-O -MAQBOOL GURU GOBIND SINGH
WAASIL-O MAUSOOL GURU GOBIND SHAHE SHAHAN SHAH GURU GOBIND SINGH ….

Today we celebrate the birth anniversary of greatest saint warrior ever (as per moon Nanakshahi calendar)…..Happy Gurpurab to all my friends and family members..!!May Guru Ji inspire us to achieve all our desired goals !! May His blessings be with us in whatever we all do !

ਗੁਰਪੁਰਬ ਦੀਆਂ ਲਖ ਲਖ ਵਧਾਈਆਂ ਜੀ।…

ਆਲਮੇ ਰੌਸ਼ਨ ਜ਼ਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ
ਜਾਨੋ ਦਿਲ ਗੁਲਸ਼ਨ ਜ਼ਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ॥ ੧੪੫ ॥

This world is bright because of Guru Gobind Singh,
And, due to him, the heart and the soul are pleasant like a garden of flowers.

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria in a message on the Gurpurb of Guru Gobind Singh called upon the people to rededicate themselves to the ideals and goals set out by the great Guru and work for creating…

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria in a message on the Gurpurb of Guru Gobind Singh called upon the people to rededicate themselves to the ideals and goals set out by the great Guru and work for creating a harmonious society based on values of humanism and secularism.

The Governor said that Guru Gobind Singh, a saint soldier, symbolised the virtues of truth, righteousness and universal brotherhood. He was a great warrior and launched a crusade against social injustice and tyranny of the rulers of those times. The sacrifice made by the Guru, who sacrificed his four sons, father and mother for saving humanity and preserving secular values, are rare in the annals of mankind.

He appealed to the people to strive in unison for carving out a healthy and harmonious society by following the precious legacy of the tenth Guru and celebrate the occasion irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to pray at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj today

Offering rich salutations to Guru Gobind Singh on the occasion of his Parkash Purab today the prime minister said the 10th Sikh Guru’s values of equality, sense of justice, bravery and his constant striving against casteism in society are at the core of New India.

Sharing a short clip saluting the life and sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh today, the Prime Minister said, “I bow to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji on his Prakash Utsav. His thoughts inspire us to build a society that is progressive, prosperous and compassionate.”

The Prime Minister ended the salutations with “Wahe Guru ji da Khalsa Wahe Guru ji di Fateh.”

Pakistan will continue to face the brunt of TTP attacks, as the latter’s crusade is religious and such militant groups seldom abandon their ideological beliefs.

Yogesh Gupta

ON December 24 last year, Pakistan launched targeted attacks against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in the Paktia province of Afghanistan, killing dozens of people, mostly women and children. This was in response to the TTP’s raids against Pakistani security forces on December 21 in south Waziristan, which resulted in the killing of 16 Pakistan soldiers.

As US-made weapons seized during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 became available to the TTP, it increased its attacks inside Pakistan in 2024, killing 1,612 security personnel and others in 444 terrorist attacks. Last year was the deadliest in terms of terror attacks, as per Pakistani sources.

Pakistan’s reading of the Taliban — whom it reared and supported for more than two decades against the US-led international security forces in the expectations of having a friendly regime in Kabul, which would provide it with “strategic depth” — has turned out to be completely wrong. The Taliban has accused Islamabad of pocketing much of the international aid it got from the US and other countries in the name of Afghanistan. The two countries have also differed on the installation of a fence by Pakistan in the bordering areas as Afghanistan does not accept the Durand Line marking the border, claiming that it was an artificial line dividing the Pashtuns unfairly on both sides.

In 2021, the then Imran Khan government of Pakistan engaged in peace talks with the TTP, which were facilitated by the Taliban. The year-long negotiations, which included a brief ceasefire, failed without the ceasing of attacks by the TTP. According to some Pakistanis, these talks provided useful time to the TTP to regroup and boost its strength. Pakistan has given several warnings to the Taliban at the highest levels, but the latter has shown no serious intent to control the TTP.

The Taliban and TTP share ethnic ties and have fought together against the West for years. The Taliban has ideological sympathy with the TTP’s objective of establishing a Sharia state in the tribal areas of Pakistan and uses TTP’s militant activities to pressure Pakistan whenever it wants. Also, if the Taliban were to take harsh action against the TTP, the latter’s fighters could defect to the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISK), an offshoot of ISIS, with whom they share jihadist beliefs and deep-rooted bonds and which is active in several parts of eastern and north-western Afghanistan. It would, thus, weaken the Taliban and strengthen its enemy.

At present, the Taliban has given a decisive blow to the ISK, killing several of its senior commanders and keeping the group’s terror activities under check.

The TTP attacks have increased destabilisation and insecurity in Pakistan and encouraged other dissident groups, such as the Balochs and Pashtuns, to fight against the Pakistani state. Pakistan’s hopes of attracting foreign investment from Saudi Arabia and the UAE have not borne fruit. China, which is Pakistan’s “iron brother” is unhappy about inadequate security arrangements for its 1,200 workers who are building critical infrastructure in Pakistan as the TTP and Baloch separatists have targeted Chinese experts in several attacks. With Pakistan unable to pay China’s loans and provide foolproof security to its personnel, China has stalled work on most projects.

The TTP attacks leave Pakistan with few viable options. Pakistan has no desire to mount a full-scale war — which it is unlikely to win — against the Taliban. It has seen how the Afghans have fought valiantly against the Soviets and Americans in the last four decades. The Taliban may not have a big army like Pakistan, but it has a brilliant record of mounting guerrilla operations, with its human suicide bombers and hit-and-run attacks. Even Pakistan’s allies like China and the US would not favour that option for their own reasons. The US would not like the Taliban to be distracted from its fight against the ISK. China nurtures the ambition to extend its Belt and Road Initiative to Afghanistan and carry out projects in mining, oil exploration and infrastructure sectors. Also, then the Taliban will not be able to control the China-centric terror group, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, in Afghanistan.

The deterioration in Pakistan’s relations with the Taliban has allowed India to reassess its policy towards the Taliban, reopen its embassy and provide emergency assistance to the Afghan people and consider resuming work on its economic projects in Afghanistan. The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi is now being run by the representatives of the Taliban government.

Pakistan has taken a few steps to increase the cost for the Taliban in allowing the TTP. These include the repatriation of about 8,00,000 Afghan refugees and disruption of Afghanistan’s land trade via Pakistan. These measures were not liked by the US and others as they felt that the Taliban was already facing a grim humanitarian situation, with a shortage of food, energy and other essential items, and was hardly in a position to look after so many more people.

The Taliban has also not relented in any of its policies about broad-basing its government, allowing education to women beyond the middle school or other human rights despite facing severe sanctions and near-total isolation on the world stage. It has enforced its religious codes of conduct in an authoritarian manner, oblivious of the global public opinion.It has become clear that the Taliban regime is not collapsing or being thrown out of power. More sanctions on the Taliban will only compound the misery of the Afghan people.

Pakistan is continuing its dialogue with the Taliban on the cessation of TTP attacks. The Taliban has asked Pakistan to allow trade to resume and assured it that it would shift the TTP elements away from the border. It is doubtful that the Taliban will keep this promise and change course. Given the experience, it is likely that Pakistan will continue to face the brunt of TTP attacks, as the latter’s crusade is religious and such militant groups seldom abandon their ideological beliefs.