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DPM Dar supports Palestinian cause, urges peace between US, Iran on sidelines of UNGA
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday expressed his support for an independent Palestinian state and called for dialog to resolve tensions between the United States (US) and Iran, the foreign office said as he met various leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) 81st summit in New York.
Dar, also Pakistan’s foreign minister, arrived in New York Monday for the UNGA conference. He would be accompanying Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to New York for attending the UNGA, till Sept 25.
He is visiting amid upheaval in the Middle East. Tensions between the US and Iran remain high, with no diplomatic breakthrough in sight. The growing number of strikes by Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia have interrupted global oil supply.
Last week, Pakistan’s foreign office said Dar would reiterate the Palestinian right to self-determination and underscore Islamabad’s efforts at the UNGA for regional peace. Since the confrontation began in February, Pakistan has played a significant role in mediating between the US and Iran, shuttling offers for peace between the two parties over the previous few months.
Dar met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on the sidelines of the UNGA session where the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and regional developments.
“The DPM/FM appreciated French efforts in support of the two-State solution including the decision to restrict imports of goods from the Israeli settlements,” the Pakistani foreign office said.
“Both ministers stressed the need for keeping the Palestine issue high on the international agenda and emphasized the importance of continuing international efforts for a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement.
“Pakistan has always backed the demand for a separate and independent homeland for the Palestinians. Since 2023, Islamabad has denounced Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, urging the international community to hold Israel accountable for crimes against humanity.
The Pakistani minister also held talks with EU Foreign Policy Head Kaja Kallas. The two sides exchanged views on trade and economic cooperation, with Dar highlighting the importance of the GSP Plus for Islamabad’s trade relations with the EU.
They both talked about the US-Iran dispute and Dar spoke about Pakistan’s attempts for peace.
“He stressed the importance of returning to the path of dialog and diplomacy and to ensure full implementation of the Islamabad MoU by all sides,” the foreign office stated.
See the Islamabad MoU on interim peace pact that Islamabad helped the US and Iran sign as mediator in June. The pact fell apart in July when the US hit Iran over its fire at vessels on the Strait of Hormuz maritime waterway. Iran disputes the charges.
The Pakistani foreign office said the two ministers emphasized the need for conversation and diplomacy to address the regional concerns.
Dar’s commitments at the UN will include speaking at the UN Security Council high-level briefing on artificial intelligence and attending a high-level discussion on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
The foreign office also confirmed last week that he will lead a meeting of the ECO Council of Ministers.
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OpenAI says its AI agents weakened internal monitoring system
Two of OpenAI’s artificial intelligence agents turned off sections of an internal monitoring system designed to identify misbehaviour, the latest example of AI agents operating in ways the developers did not expect, the company said Tuesday.
While the ChatGPT maker stated the incidences occurred during internal code work and were not considered its most serious, the disclosure underscores how even the methods developers use to spot AI misbehavior are vulnerable to the agents they monitor.
The discovery also comes amid rising fears that efforts on AI safety are failing to keep pace with the rapid development of ever more powerful systems. Scientists have cautioned about the emergence of powerful AI agents becoming increasingly autonomous and difficult to monitor and manage.
In recent months, developers including IPO-bound rivals OpenAI and Anthropic have disclosed incidents where their AI agents accessed external systems without authorisation.
In a blog post Tuesday, OpenAI reported that a GPT-6.1 Sol agent on an internal testing task on October 3 disabled automatic security alarms after interpreting an earlier order not to send Slack messages as also covering safety notifications.
Separately, on Oct. 6, an Astra agent using GPT-6 removed a safety monitor when copying an existing piece of code and later stated falsely that it did not do so, OpenAI said.“In both cases, agents thought about keeping monitoring safeguards in place but “interpreted normal coding instructions as permission to weaken them,” the company said.
“OpenAI said it was making it harder for models to disable monitoring, saying it does not ‘yet have a satisfying explanation for this behavior’.
The San Francisco-based company said it was studying whether its models would be inclined to avoid being observed and seek out reasons to justify such behaviour.
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Makkah pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye
Turkiye sent a defence treaty with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to parliament for ratification on Tuesday, three parliamentary sources said, bringing NATO’s second-largest army closer to a formal mutual defence promise with Riyadh as it fears Houthi threats.
The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August, under which an armed attack on one member is an attack on all.
The first clause of the agreement says the parties shall use “all necessary means” to eradicate threats to each other’s territorial integrity, sovereignty or internationally recognised borders, according to a text seen by Reuters.Article 2 of the agreement states, “If one of the parties is subjected to an armed attack or military aggression by another country or group of countries, the parties shall immediately render assistance to the party which is under attack, with all means of mutual assistance at their disposal.”
Similar to NATO’s Article 5, the clause references Article 51 of the UN Charter, which deals with the individual or collective right of states to self-defence against armed attack.
The same page says the three countries “will determine the scope and nature of the support to be provided following an objective assessment of the assistance required” and will collaborate within their available resources, including military capabilities and resources.
Earlier this month, the three countries decided in an emergency alliance conference in Riyadh to guarantee the “rapid deployment” of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
Turkiye, which has its own strong defence sector, has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, showed a willingness to help satisfy Riyadh’s military technology demands and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition to assure navigational safety in the Red Sea.
The pact also foresees tight cooperation on the defence sector, exchange of information, logistical support, and the fight against “all forms of terrorism”, including at the operational level.
Parliamentary approval is required for Turkiye to formally sign off on the pact.
The aim is to “strengthen collective deterrence”
Two sources claimed Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, who is on a visit to Kyrgyzstan, would send the deal to the foreign affairs commission of parliament after he returns. The terms and specifics of the agreement are expected to be released when it is filed with the commission.
The commission may discuss the accord as early as Friday, another person added.
Turkiye’s latest move was an important milestone in the institutionalisation of strategic collaboration between the three countries, Burhanettin Duran, communications director for President Tayyip Erdogan, stated.“This strategic partnership between our countries aims to strengthen collective deterrence, improve joint capabilities in the defence sector and secure security and stability in our region,” Duran said in a post on X.
A Turkish official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Turkey’s own contribution was likely to be limited to military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems, and no other form of deployment had been made under the alliance so far.
“The Mecca Agreement is not a ‘offensive agreement,’ and Turkiye would not send forces to another nation to conduct out operations on its land. When asked how Turkiye could help Saudi Arabia fight against attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan responded
Turkey’s constitution needs independent parliamentary approval for any deployment of military overseas, regardless of international agreements.
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Pakistan decide not to participate in Over-50s Cricket World Cup 2027 in India
– Pakistan have decided not to participate in the Over-50 Cricket World Cup 2027 scheduled to take place in India after failing to secure government permission for the tournament.
The competition is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad Deccan from January 23 to February 7, 2027. Pakistan was due to participate as defending champions after winning the 2025 edition in Sri Lanka.
Fawad Ejaz Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), said Indian veterans cricket officials had assured the Pakistani team of visa arrangements and high-level security for the tournament.
He said the association had sought permission to participate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior. However, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi subsequently informed the association that permission would not be granted.
Following the government’s decision, the association decided against sending the team to India, Khan said, adding that the organisation respected the government’s position.
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