US "evaluating" Pakistan's Ukraine response

[Iron Shrappenel]

Sometimes I wish Pakistan would do dual nationality with China.

Hold your horses...

 

[K_Bin_W]

Look out for a rise in terrorism.. That is the best tool US has in its arsenal.

 

[CIA Mole]

wwiii might end up being against the us

 

[PakSarZameen47]

We know what the Yanks are up to. Regime change in Pakistan.

Do you think they will actually succeed here?

 

[nahtanbob]

Considering how Russia and Ukraine make up a third of global wheat supplies, Imran khan can say he thinks about the developing world that will go into famine if it stops buying from Russia.

Even the countries that have condemned Russia will still buy Russian wheat and oil. High wheat prices were one reason for the Arab spring, so countries around the world don’t have the means, like the developed world, to hold their noses and forgo Russian commodities.

More people in the developing world will die from this war then in Russia or Ukraine. 60 million people starved to death last year, how many more million have to starve this year before developed nations see the bind developing nations are in.

If people of Ukraine decides to fight and the production of wheat in Ukraine falls who is going to pay the price ?

Sometimes I wish Pakistan would do dual nationality with China.

But unfortunately, our hypocritical and traitorous leadership would rather live in luxury in the West.

practice what you preach. pack up your bags from Canada and settle in China (if you can even do that)

 

[LeGenD]

Fellow members are advised to contribute to a topic sensibly; pointless posts are a complete waste of bandwidth. Emotional outbursts will not change a dime.

WE should talk about solutions.

‘US evaluating’ Pakistan’s Ukraine response | The Express Tribune

Top official says lack of predictability in govt policies impacting investment climate

tribune.com.pk

‘US evaluating’ Pakistan’s Ukraine response

Top official says lack of predictability in govt policies impacting investment climate

Shahbaz RanaMarch 08, 2022

A Ukrainian service member walks near a building destroyed by shelling. PHOTO:Reuters

ISLAMABAD:

The United States will be evaluating Pakistan’s response to the situation unfolding in Ukraine, said Christopher Wilson, the Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, on Monday.

Wilson also urged the government to take steps aimed at stopping its departments from using pirated US-made software that were harming US interests. Pakistan’s biggest data hacking took place in August last year due to the Federal Board of Revenue’s decision to use pirated software.

In a virtual interaction with journalists after the 3rd round of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), Wilson said Pakistan’s economic relations with Russia did not enter into discussions, which were focused on the Pak-US economic relations. To a question whether the US would still trade with Pakistan if it goes ahead with plans to deepen economic ties with Moscow, Wilson said that the Office of the US Trade Representative focuses on trade and investment issues but not sanctions issues.
But “obviously we all will be evaluating the response of Pakistan and other governments to the broader situation unfolding in Eastern Europe”, said Wilson.

The US and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia aimed at crippling its economy. Pakistan is heavily reliant on the US and Europe for its trade and inflow of remittances. The EU remains the single largest trading partner of Pakistan as a block. “The US State Department has called for the need to show strong response against Russia, including economically,” said Wilson, and added Pak-US trade discussions were focused on taxation, transparency, good governance and intellectual property rights.

Total Pak-US bilateral trade is less than $8 billion, which the Assistant Trade Representative does not fully reflect the size of two economies. Christopher also said that unpredictable taxation policies of Pakistan were making the country less attractive for foreign investors.

“What we hear from the US investors that there is a general lack of predictability in applicability of taxes; there are often problems in payment of refunds and the concern is that there are frequent changes in tax arrangements that have the effect creating confusions among the investors and thereby diminishing Pakistan’s attractiveness as an investment locations.”

The Federal Board of Revenue has been using taxpayers’ money to inflate revenues. A tractor manufacturing company has announced to shut its plant due to refund problems. After failing to achieve its targets for two consecutive months, the FBR also resorted to slowing down the release of refunds in February to achieve a low monthly target. Refunds payments in February were roughly 35% less than the same month a year ago.

Wilson said that a lot of trade barriers in Pakistan are related to lack of clarity in regulatory decision making, lack of predictability in taxation, insufficient protection in intellectual property and all of those difficulties are impacting investment climate. The US expressed concerns over extensive use of pirated software, including by government agencies. “The government should only use licensed software in government computers,” said Wilson.

He said that Pakistan and the US were holding discussions under the TIFA after several years and it is now important to effectively re-launch the TIFA process. The discussions were “very productive” and there was “good relaunch of the process that both the governments place a lot of value”, he added.

“Our visit is part of the process of reinforcing trade and economic dimensions between the US and Pakistan relationship. Both the governments share an interest in deepening the economic dimension of our relationship. We made a big start today,” said Wilson.

He said that Pakistan and the US did not discuss the bilateral investment treaty because the Biden administration is not actively pursuing the BIT negotiations with any country in the world.

These are sensitive times.

Crippling sanctions imposed on Russia will have global implications and effects. These effects will extend to India as well:

Russia Sanctions: An Overview of the Impact on India - ELP Law

elplaw.in

India braces for sanctions on Russia to delay weapons programs, deliveries

Russia has been the largest arms supplier to India since the early 1970s. Today, 60% of India’s military hardware inventory is from Russia or the former Soviet Union and the bulk of India’s license-based defense manufacturing comes from Russia.

www.defensenews.com

But Indians are clever and calculative. They are pitching themselves as a counterweight to China in their discourses:

Russia Sanctions: US Hoist With Its Own Petard in Dealings With India

While US sanctions aim to punish Moscow's military-industrial complex, they will also impair India's ability to deter hegemonic China – Washington’s longer-term enemy.

thewire.in

They have something to offer to the WEST without cutting-off Russia from the equation entirely. There will be talks, negotiations and bargaining chips.

That is the point actually.

PM Imran Khan should control his outbursts. He represents Pakistan at international stage - his decisions and statements carry weight and will be taken seriously. He should surround himself with good advisors.

This wasn't helpful:

Pakistan PM Imran Khan slams West's pressure over Ukraine; asks: 'Did you write to India?'

Pakistan PM Imran Khan slams West's pressure over Ukraine, asks: ‘Did you write to India?’

www.tribuneindia.com

This is helpful:

PM, EU President discuss Ukraine war

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan received a telephone call from Charles Michel, President of European Council,...

www.brecorder.com

 

[CrazyZ]

Not much to monitor. NATO are and Russia are free to club each other to a bloody pulp. Pakistan is neutral.

 

[Dalit]

The target is Pakistan's nukes not regime change.



US will use Modi to start a war between Pakistan and India.

How do you think the Yanks will get to the nukes? They need a PML-N or a PPP.

Not much to monitor. NATO are and Russia are free to club each other to a bloody pulp. Pakistan is neutral.

Neutral isn't good enough for the US and EU.

Do you think they will actually succeed here?

Unlikely.

 

[airmarshal]

If they use genuine software, there will be loopholes for the US to steal data. Thats why pirated software is harming American interests.

And if I have to say this. This idiot named Shehbaz Rana is a Nooni journalist.

 

[lastofthepatriots]

US just wants to feel important. Tell US they are papa of the world and keep doing what Pakistan wants to do. It’s very simple.

 

[nahtanbob]

Not much to monitor. NATO are and Russia are free to club each other to a bloody pulp. Pakistan is neutral.

that is true. It is also Pakistan and India to lesser degree are irrelevant here

 

[CrazyZ]

that is true. It is also Pakistan and India to lesser degree are irrelevant here

The meek inherit the earth.

 

[waz]

Oh dear dragging Pakistan into something they have never been a part of or want to. Pakistan for decades has been on the opposite side to Russia, how much do these lot want to monitor the situation.
Stay neutral.