VIF Information Alerts - 21 August 2019

Trump administration notifies US Congress of plan to sell F-16s to Taiwan
Published: South China Morning Post

21 Aug 2019

The Trump administration formally notified Congress on Tuesday of its plans to authorise an US$8 billion sale of 66 F-16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan over the Chinese government’s objections, in a step that makes the deal all but certain.
The State Department said it approved the sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, Taiwan’s de facto embassy, and the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, an arm of the Department of Defence, delivered formal notification to Congress. Both steps are required for such deals.Click here to read.... [2]

US supports direct dialogue between India, Pakistan on Kashmir: American official
Published: The Economic Times

21 Aug 2019

The US supports a direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir, a senior American diplomat has said, insisting that at this point it is all the more important that Islamabad demonstrate its resolve to stop cross-border terrorism.
Welcoming Prime Minister Imran Khan's stated commitment that Pakistan will prevent militant groups from operating on its territory, the official said the US continues to encourage "sustained, verifiable and irreversible” measures on this front, like prosecuting and convicting members of terrorist groups and their leadership.Click here to read.... [3]

Three reviews to determine Pakistan’s place on FATF list
Published: The Dawn

21 Aug 2019

Three separate evaluations currently in progress will determine Pakistan’s possible exit from the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) by the mid of October. A senior government official told Dawn that Asia-Pacific Group — the regional affiliate of the FATF — was currently conducting in Canberra (Australia) five-year mutual evaluation of Pakistan’s progress on upgrading its systems in all areas of financial and and insurance services and sectors.Click here to read.... [4]

No evidence that India is running afoul of sanctions, says US official
Published: Hindustan Times

21 Aug 2019

The United States has no evidence that India is running afoul of American sanctions on Iran, a top US diplomat said on Tuesday. “We have no evidence that India is running afoul of US sanctions,” Special US Representative to Iran, Brian Hook, told reporters at the Foreign Press Centre. Hook was responding to a reporter’s questions alleging that India is violating the US sanctions through the Chabahar port which it is building in Iran for the purpose of Afghanistan.Click here to read.... [5]

Pakistan to move International Court of Justice over Kashmir
Published: The Asian Age

20 Aug 2019

Pakistan, on Tuesday, said it would take the Kashmir dispute with India to International Court of Justice, after New Delhi revoked special status for its portion of the region earlier this month, to the fury of Islamabad. "We have decided to take Kashmir case to the International Court of Justice," said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. "The decision was taken after considering all legal aspects."Click here to read.... [6]