Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has arrived in Turkiye on an official visit, where he is anticipated to attend the first high level conference under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia.

The visit comes at a critical time for regional security as the three countries seek to bolster defence co-operation under the deal reached earlier this month.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Pakistan said the visit of Field Marshal Asim Munir is intended to further cement the defence and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye.

During his tour he is anticipated to undertake crucial discussions with the Turkish political and military leadership on issues of mutual concern, regional security and bilateral defence cooperation.

The visit coincides with the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, to be held in Istanbul on Monday, August 31.

Senior officials from Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will attend the meeting, sources at the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Trilateral Talks

Pakistan will be represented by Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and top of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu will represent Turkiye. Saudi Arabia is likely to send its foreign and defence ministries and top of general staff.

The summit is likely to focus on international security problems, enhancing military capabilities, increasing interoperability among the armed forces of the three nations and deepening collaboration in the defence sector, including joint production and development.

The meeting is the first formal committee-level engagement under the trilateral defence mechanism set up in Makkah earlier this month.

Defence Pact of Makkah

The Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a summit in Makkah on August 7.

“The agreement states that an armed attack against any of the three countries will be considered an attack against all three,” he said.

The deal is designed to boost collective deterrence and deepen cooperation on security and defence.

Pakistan has maintained that the pact is defensive in nature and is not geared against any particular country.

Islamabad has also maintained the pact is meant to strengthen the three nations’ capability to preserve their sovereignty and territorial integrity while fostering regional peace and stability.

Cooperation in defence

Pakistan and Turkiye already have close military relations including collaboration in defence production, training and military exercises.

Saudi Arabia also maintains historic defence relationships with Pakistan and expanding military and defence-industrial collaboration with Turkiye.

The new trilateral framework offers another forum to coordinate these connections as the three countries look to boost their combined security capabilities.

Turkiye has said the deal is open to prospective growth but has stressed it does not intend to supplant current relationships

Turkish authorities have also argued the treaty does not name Iran or any other country as a shared threat.

Thus, the Istanbul summit is scheduled to outline the next steps for the implementation of the agreement. The talks are planned to include defence coordination, military interoperability and cooperation in defence technology and manufacturing.

Apple may be shaking up its standard iPhone launch timetable this year since the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are apparently available for pre-order on a Saturday, rather than the company’s standard Friday launch date.

Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Ultra at a special event on September 9. Apple typically begins taking pre-orders for its newest iPhones on the Friday immediately after the launch.

But this year, the regular schedule might not be kept.

The Friday after the rumoured September 9 occurrence would be September 11, a date of historical significance in the United States. According to the sources, Apple may then move up the start of iPhone pre-orders to Saturday, September 12.

Timing also may not line up with Apple’s normal schedule. Rather than launching pre-sales at roughly 5 a.m. Pacific time, the rumour is that the business will begin taking orders at midnight Pacific time.

So if the reported schedule holds, customers might be able to have their orders in earlier than usual on September 12.

The same launch timeline is said to apply to the Apple Watch Series 12 and other items that Apple might introduce during its September 9 event.

There may be one big exception though .

Earlier rumours have said the rumoured iPhone Ultra could be released later than the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, despite being announced alongside them. If that’s correct, Apple may announce the Ultra on September 9, but hold up pre-order and retail availability.

Apple has not confirmed the rumoured date for the event, the pre-order schedule or the launch timetable of the next products. So, the dates and times should be seen as rumour until Apple makes an official announcement.

For Apple aficionados looking to upgrade, the major question may not be what Apple will announce on Sept. 9, but when shoppers can actually get their hands on one.

The Islamabad district administration have decided to open the spillways of Rawal Dam at 6am on Monday, Aug.31 as the water level in the reservoir has gone high due to continuous monsoon rainfall.

The water level at Rawal Dam has reached at 1,751.40 feet, therefore, the district administration opened the spillway as precautionary measure.

Early Monday, the spillways will be opened to control the reservoir and safely pass further inflows from recent rainfall.

Police and rescue 1122 put on alert

The administration has asked Rescue 1122, Police and other concerned departments to keep vigilant as water is being discharged from the dam.

Officials have also been asked to make appropriate provisions of safety and precaution before opening the spillways.

The procedures are meant to help ensure a coordinated response should rising water downstream cause an emergency situation.

Public advised to keep clear from canal

Safety advisory issued to locals to stay away from streams, storm-water drains, waterways and low-lying areas during the discharge.

Authorities have urged the public living or travelling near downstream areas to exercise extreme caution and follow recommendations provided by local authorities.

The warning comes as the prolonged monsoon conditions have raised water levels in reservoirs and waterways across sections of the region.

Authorities underlined the need of not approaching water bodies to view the discharge as water levels and currents might escalate quickly when the spillways are opened.

Why are the spillways of Rawal Dam being opened?

Opening spillways is a reservoir-management method to discharge surplus water when inflows bring water levels toward operational limits.

Controlled releases also provide additional storage capacity for additional inflows and relieve strain on the reservoir during times of severe rains.

Monsoon conditions continue and authorities are constantly monitoring Rawal Dam and waterways around it.

Residents are advised to heed government warnings and avoid unnecessary travel in regions likely to be affected by the higher downstream floods.