Politics

US terms Pakistan ‘major’ non-Nato ally, Nato partner

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

US to work with Pakistan on regional security, defence cooperation.
State Dept avoids delving into details on COAS visit.
COAS Asim Munir is currently on an official US visit.

WASHINGTON: The United States acknowledges Pakistan’s significance as a “major” ally and plans to partner with it on regional security and defence cooperation.

Responding to a question during a presser on Tuesday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said Pakistan is a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) ally and a Nato partner.

The US comment comes at a time when Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir is on his maiden official visit to the US since assuming office in November last year.

The visit comes a day after the conclusion of a two-day stay of US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West in Pakistan.

The army chief, during his visit, is scheduled to meet senior military and other government officials. However, details of the COAS’s visit have not been disclosed by the military’s media wing.

Responding to a question about the army chief’s official visit, the spokesperson did not delve into the details of his prospective meetings. However, it did share Washington’s wish to partner with Pakistan on regional security and defence cooperation.

“Generally speaking, we look forward to partnering with them on regional security and defence cooperation,” the spokesperson said.

Indian SC ruling on Article 370

In response to another question, the State Department mentioned it is keeping an eye on the developments in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) after India’s top court upheld Delhi’s controversial decision to revoke the special status of the state.

“We continue to follow developments in Jammu and Kashmir closely, noting the Supreme Court’s recent ruling,” the US State Department spokesperson said responding to The News.

“We look forward to further steps by the Indian government to fulfil its pledges to restore political normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir including by holding assembly elections as stipulated in the Supreme Court’s ruling,” it said.

It should be noted that the army chief’s visit coincides with the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370, which strips the IIOJK of its special status.

This also means that during the visit by the COAS, discussion could be held on this pressing issue.

The Indian SC stated that the occupied territory was an integral part of the country.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in August 2019 unilaterally abrogated the special status of the occupied valley and deployed tens of thousands of troops in a bid to ward off protests against the illegal move.

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The PPP and PML-N will confer on power-sharing arrangements in Punjab today.

Published

8 hours ago

Farwa

The coordination committees of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are scheduled to convene today at the Governor’s House in Lahore to deliberate on power-sharing arrangements in Punjab.

The PPP delegation would comprise Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mahmood, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Hassan Murtaza, and Ali Haider Gilani.

Ishaq Dar, Azam Nazir Tarar, Rana Sanaullah, Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, and Maryam Aurangzeb will represent the PML-N.

The conference will discuss local issues in Punjab and offer a forum for the PPP to express its concerns over its collaboration with PML-N in the province.

Both parties seek to fortify their partnership and optimize governance techniques in Punjab.

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Sheikh Rasheed says PTI and government negotiations won’t provide any results.

Published

1 week ago

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Sheikh Rasheed voiced his worries about the nation’s ongoing political dilemma while speaking outside the Anti-Terrorism Court.

According to Sheikh Rasheed, a committee was established to negotiate, but the process has not produced any tangible results. In order to emphasize the seriousness of the situation, he said, “Political conditions are extremely bad.”

He made the joke, “Even after war, if negotiations fail, then it will all come down to judo karate,” in reference to the next steps.

“Everyone there prays for Pakistan’s betterment,” Sheikh Rasheed, who had returned from Saudi Arabia, said. He emphasized the necessity for the nation’s circumstances to improve and stabilize.

Assad Qaiser, a former speaker and PTI leader, had earlier called on Speaker Ayaz Sadiq of the National Assembly to discuss the official start of talks with the government.

The two leaders shared their opinions on bringing parties together on matters of national importance and reducing political tensions and conflict.

“I will persuade my people, you persuade the hardliners in your party,” Ayaz Sadiq said to Assad Qaiser.

The party’s founder is in jail, and the PTI leadership has asked to meet with him. “We will continue to confer with him,” Assad Qaiser declared.

Earlier, PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai stated that if the discussions don’t begin, a campaign of civil disobedience will begin on December 14.

Speaking to the media Regarding the meetings, Yousafzai claimed that the government ministers were making insincere remarks.

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Bushra Bibi maintains bail as the IHC concludes the FIA’s petition.

Published

2 weeks ago

Farwa

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) conducted a hearing about the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) plea for the revocation of Bushra Bibi’s bail.

The court, led by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, rejected the FIA’s petition during the hearing.

Judicial Proceedings

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb sought information regarding Bushra Bibi’s location, to which her attorney, Barrister Salman Safdar, affirmed her attendance in court.

The judge urged the counsel to regard the matters with gravity, underscoring the necessity of adherence to trial protocols.

The court sought details about instances where Bushra Bibi had been exempted from attending trial hearings and clarified that if the High Court grants bail and the accused fails to appear, the trial court holds the authority to cancel the bail.

Justice Aurangzeb assured that such actions would not amount to contempt of the High Court’s order.

Based on these considerations, the court closed the proceedings and dismissed the FIA’s plea.