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February 17, 2019: National Current Affairs
1. Pakistan asks India to share evidence, pledges cooperation
• Pakistan on February 16, 2019 warned the international community that India could resort to military adventurism in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack and asked the neighbouring country to investigate the attack before passing on the blame and share `actionable evidence` so that the matter could be pursued.
• Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he had told his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and other foreign ministers, whom he met on the sidelines of Munich Security Conference, that the Indian government could undertake some misadventure to capitalise on the outpouring of grief and anger over the Pulwama incident in which 44 Indian security personnel were killed.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had two options: either to exploit the situation to his own advantage in view of the upcoming general elections or to act like a statesman who has vision for the betterment of his country and the region. `One is to act like a typical politician and stage his reactions and policy while keeping an eye on the next election. Alternatively, he has the option of being a statesman who thinks about his region, his country`s poverty, the betterment of his country, as well as regional betterment.
• While assuring of Pakistan`s cooperation on the matter, the foreign minister asked India to probe the incident and share `actionable evidence` so that the matter could be pursued accordingly.
2. Afghan Taliban may meet Saudi crown prince
• Saudi Arabia`s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is likely to meet Afghan Taliban representatives during his visit to Pakistan starting on February 17, 2019, government sources said, part of efforts to broker an end to Afghanistan`s 17-year-old war.
• Pakistan has been playing an increasingly vital role in Afghan peace talks, which have been gathering momentum in recent months amid a growing US desire to pull out its troops.
• Along with other Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia has been part of the peace negotiations and is seen to have some sway over the Afghan Taliban due to Riyadh`s historical ties with the Islamist group and the kingdom`s religious clout as the birthplace of Islam.
• The crown prince was likely to meet Afghan Taliban representatives in Islamabad, where the group says it`s to meet US representatives and Prime Minister Imran Khan.
• `Though it is top secret so far, there are strong indications representatives of the Afghan Taliban will meet Prince Salman during their visit of Pakistan on February 18,` one of the Pakistani officials said.
3. Saudi Arabia reduces visa fees for Pakistanis
• The Saudi embassy in Islamabad on February 16, 2019 announced a significant reduction in visa fees for Pakistanis.
• A request for reducing non-pilgrimage visa fees was made by the Pakistan government to Saudi authorities a few days ago.
• The embassy said the implementation on the new fee structure was already started from Friday (Feb 15).
• The fee for a single-entry visit visa had been reduced from 2,000 to 338 Saudi riyals. In dollar terms, this is equal to a reduction from $533 to $90.
• The fee for multiple-entry visit visa has also been slashed from 3,000 to 675 Saudi riyals, which in dollar terms, amounts to a reduction from $800 to $180.
4. Akhtar Langove named Balochistan PAC chairman
• Members of the Balochistan Assembly both from opposition and treasury benches on February 16, 2019 unanimously nominated Akhtar Hussain Langove of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
• Ten members from the parties in the ruling coalition and seven from the opposition will be inducted in the standing committees of the provincial assembly. The government and opposition had unanimously finalised the standing committees and decided to appoint Mr Langove as PAC chairman.
• The BNP-M and other opposition parties will chair committees of Public Health Engineering, Communication and Works, Irrigation and Social Welfare and Agriculture departments.
5. FIA arrest FPSC Officers for CSS 2019 Papers Leakage
• Khalid Hussain Mughairi, Assistant Director / In charge, Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) Balochistan was arrested by FIA Balochistan February 16, 2018.
• He was allegedly involvement in the leakage of CSS papers. An FIR against the accused was lodged by FIA Lahore while FIA Balochistan obtained his four-day transit remand.
February 17, 2019: International Current Affairs
6. Pulwama explosives obtained locally, says Indian commander
• `It is not possible to bring such massive amounts of explosives by infiltrating the border, says an Indian military commander, Lt Gen D.S. Hooda.
• India blames Pakistan for February 14, 2019`s suicide bombing in Pulwama that killed over 40 soldiers in India-held Kashmir. Pakistan has strongly rejected the Indian claim, urging New Delhi to avoid such `sad and baseless knee-jerk reactions`.
• The Indian media reported that the suicide car-bomber Aadil Ahmad Dar used more than 750 pounds of explosives against the military convoy he targeted.
• Gen Hooda, who commanded the Indian army`s Northern Command during a similar crisis in September 2016, told The New York Times on February 16, 2019 that `the material may have been taken from stashes of explosives` being used to broaden the Jammu highway where the attack occurred.
• The newspaper also noted that India`s options for putting diplomatic pressure on Pakistan were limited, so were its options for a military response.
• `Pakistan is largely shielded by its alliance with China, which has used its veto power at the United Nations Security Council to protect it,` said the NYT report while explaining why India did not have too many options for diplomatically isolating Pakistan.
7. India`s fastest train breaks down a day after its launch
• India`s first semi-high speed train broke down on February 16, 2019 after colliding with a cow on the tracks, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new passenger service.
• The Vande Bharat Express, touted as India`s fastest train and built under the Modi government`s flagship `Make in India` programme, made its first journey Friday from New Delhi to the Hindu holy city of Varanasi.
• But on its return to the capital the next day a collision with a cow disrupted electricity supply to four carriages and damaged the brake system, according to Indian Railways.
• The train later experienced technical issues and was stranded on the wayto Delhi.
• The train reached the capital `safely` ahead of its first commercial journey on Sunday, she added.
• Cattle obstructions on roads and rail tracks are common in India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh state where Saturday`s collision happened.
8. UK and Russia hold first talks in over a year
• Junior foreign ministers from Britain and Russia met in Germany on February 16, 2019 in the highest-level contact between the two countries since an alleged nerve agent attack in Britain last March froze diplomatic relations.
• Britain`s Minister for Europe Alan Duncan held talks with Russia`s First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, according to the foreign office in London.
• `Alan underlined that we have deep differences, and the Russian state would need to choose a different path and act as a responsible international partner before there can be a change in our current relationship with Russia,` it said in a statement. Duncan added his own reaction on Twitter, alongside a photo of the pair.
• `While we remain open to a different relationship with Russia, we will continue to stand with our allies and partners in expecting Russia to play its full part in upholding the rules-based international system,` he said.
February 17, 2019: Sports Current Affairs
9. Shaheen, Haris lead Lahore to win over Karachi
• Lahore Qalandars, inspired by hostile bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, won the crucial clash against Karachi Kings in the HBL Pakistan Super League at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 16, 2019 night.
• Not even a brief rain interruption could prevent Lahore from chalking up a thoroughly-deserved first win by a handsome margin of 22 runs by T20 standards after losing to holders Islamabad United on opening night of the fourth season of the league on Thursday.
• Chasing 139 on a sluggish pitch, Karachi were sent packing for 116 in 19.5 overs after reaching 90-3 from 15.2 overs when rain began. But upon resumption Lahore were all over their old foes as seven wickets tumbled without a trace.
• Shaheen was magnificent upfront. First he got rid of the dangerous Liam Livingstone by uprooting his middle stump and then returned in middle overs to remove Colin Ingram.
10. Veterans Malik, Afridi unite to sink champions
• Multan Sultans needed the experienced hands of their skipper Shoaib Malik and retired Pakistan star Shahid Afridi to chalk up a nervy fivewicket victory over HBL Pakistan Super League holders in Dubai on February 16, 2019.
• In a low-scoring afternoon fixture at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 22-year-old pace bowler Ali Shafiq made a fine debut in the competition with a brilliant spell of 2-11) that fetched him the man-of-the-match award, while the evergreen Afridi (2-18) and Junaid Khan (2-33) combined to curtail Islamabad to 125-7 in their 20 overs after Malik opted to field first.The only notable contribution for the champions was provided by opener Luke Ronchi, who slammed 55 from 33 deliveries with five sixes and a four in an otherwise insipid batting effort.
• But Multan then found the going tough before Malik calmed their dugout by taking the responsibility upon himself to see his team over the line in the company of Afridi.
• The skipper scored an undefeated 31 with his 29-ball knock featuring two sixes. But Malik had to rely on Afridi when 14 runs were required from the final two overs. The former Pakistan stalwart didn`t disappoint the Multan fans as he finished off Islamabad with a brace of consecutive sixes against the left-arm paceman Waqas Maqsood.
