Tag: islamabad

Geetika Srivastava: Know about first woman to head Indian Mission in Pakistan

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Geetika Srivastava, a 2005 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, will be India’s new charge d’affaires at its high commission in Islamabad. Geetika, who is currently serving as the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is the first woman to head India’s mission in Pakistan.

Geetika is currently handling the Indo-Pacific division in MEA and will succeed Dr M Suresh Kumar, who is expected to return to India soon.

From 2007 to 2009, Geetika served in the Indian Embassy in China where she mastered Mandarin language. She has also had stints at the Regional Passport Office in Kolkata and has been the director of the Indian Ocean region division in the foreign ministry.

New Delhi and Islamabad haven’t had high commissioners since August 2019 after Pakistan downgraded the diplomatic relations between the two nations following the abrogation of Article 370, which granted a special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Although women diplomats have earlier represented India in Pakistan, none of them headed the mission. A few years ago, Islamabad was declared a “non-family” posting for the Indian diplomats. Besides Geetika, another woman diplomat holds the First Secretary level position at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

Geetika is expected to report to her post in Islamabad soon.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has also appointed a new charge d’affaires, Saad Ahmad Warraich, in New Delhi. Saad is a career diplomat, who served at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. He will succeed Salman Sharif, who returned to Pakistan in July.

Also Read:Pakistan court drops murder abetment charges against Imran Khan: Report

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Pakistan court allows Imran Khan’s aides Shehryar Afridi, Shandana Gulzar to go home

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday allowed two aides of jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan to go home as it heard their pleas against prolonged detentions under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance, a media report said.

Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar, the two leaders of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: party, were held by the police in connection with the May 9 violence that erupted following the former prime minister’s arrest in a corruption case.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) also said it would indict city Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz Memon and a senior superintendent of police (SSP) for contempt of court as the two officials abused authority to obstruct the dispensation of justice.

The court on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to Memon, Inspector General Akbar Nasir Khan, the city chief commissioner and other police officials for “criminal contempt of court for abuse of authority to obstruct dispensation of justice and cause diversion to the course of justice”, Dawn News reported.

It had sought written replies from the two officers “as to why they should not be punished by the court for obstruction of justice”.

Afridi was first arrested on May 16 from his Islamabad residence under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance, 1960.

He was rearrested on May 30 under the same section soon after he was released from prison.

A petition was subsequently filed by his lawyer in the high court arguing Afridi’s release and for the MPO order to be set aside.

Meanwhile, Gulzar was allegedly abducted by the Islamabad police on August 9.

A petition filed by her mother in the Islamabad High Court on the grounds of her illegal arrest and violation of Articles 4, 9, 10A and 14 of the Constitution, asked the police to produce her daughter in court.

IHC Justice Babar Sattar took up Afridi and Shandana’s pleas on Wednesday and sought responses from the officials who were summoned on Tuesday.

Memon appeared in the court on Wednesday to represent the district magistrate while IG Khan and the chief commissioner were also present.

The PTI leaders were presented in the court as well along with their counsel Sher Afzal Marwat.

After hearing the responses of the DC and the SSP, Justice Sattar deemed their argument “unsatisfactory” and decided to indict both officials for contempt of court in the next hearing.

He also asked IG Khan to submit the names of the station house officer (SHO) and the district police officer (DPO) concerned with Afridi’s case, ordering show-cause notices to be issued to both police officials.

Suspending the MPO orders issued against both PTI leaders, the court ordered their release but barred them from going outside Islamabad.

The court also asked the PTI leaders to refrain from issuing statements on mainstream and social media till the case was going on.

“If anything happens to any of them (Afridi or Gulzar), then the IG and the chief commissioner will be responsible for it,” Justice Sattar observed.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Imran Khan arrest LIVE Updates | Former Pakistan PM indicted in Toshakhana case

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case, is likely to be sent to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) custody, Dawn reported. One person died, while 12 were injured as Khan supporters clashed with police following the dramatic arrest. The former Prime Minister will now be produced before the court on Wednesday. Follow LIVE updates on Imran Khan’s arrest here:

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Pakistan suffers major power outages in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi after grid failure

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Pakistan is reeling under a severe electricity crisis for many months now. Both urban and rural areas of the country regularly face power outages. Now, latest reports suggest that the worst may yet to come as far as the ongoing electricity crisis is concerned. Significant parts of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi are without power for hours, reported ANI on Monday.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Energy has issued an official statement saying that the system maintenance work at the national grid is in progress to restore power.

“According to initial reports, the system frequency of the National Grid went down at 7:34 this morning, causing a widespread breakdown in the power system. System maintenance work is progressing rapidly,” read the statement of the Ministry of Energy.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government announced a new energy conservation plan which includes shutting down all markets by 8.30 PM and restaurants by 10 PM.

Wedding halls were also asked to shut down by 10 PM. The cash-strapped country is aiming to save 62 billion Pakistani rupees ($274 million) via this desperate plan to conserve energy.

Pakistan will also introduce energy-efficient fans and bulbs to help save another 38 billion Pakistani rupees.  This national energy-conservation programme was launched by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

Also Read:Pakistan politics on edgy pitch with fresh Imran Khan offensive, Speaker action

Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have dwindled to alarmingly low levels. The country’s central bank stated in December 2022 that Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves stood at $11.7 billion.

Pakistan is literally strapped for cash as its foreign exchange reserves now barely cover a month of imports, most of which are for energy purchases.

Moreover, money expected to come in under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme has been delayed, according to an Al Jazeera report.

Pakistan’s fragile economy is struggling with multiple challenges and was hit hard by last year’s devastating floods. The flooding from historic monsoon rains ravaged Pakistan’s vast swathes of cropland and villages.

Intensifying polarisation and heightened political tensions have also taken a toll on its economy since former PM Imran Khan was ousted from power in April 2022.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Pakistan Police announces ‘special security plan’ in Islamabad amid terror alerts

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The Pakistan Police on Tuesday announced additional security measures, including the installation of 25 new checkpoints, to bolster security in capital Islamabad after several nations, including the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, requested their citizens to limit their travel after a possible terrorist threat. The security strategy, which was announced on the official Twitter account of the Islamabad Police, calls for the Safe City cameras to record the Red Zone’s access points and the video monitoring of metro bus riders.

Special security plan Issued in view of current security situation in Islamabad. Temporary security check posts have been established at 25 different locations in Islamabad. Red zone entrances will be recorded by Safe City cameras.Metro service passengers video will be recorded⬇️

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) December 27, 2022

Foreigners and citizens of Pakistan are both required to keep their identification documents with them at all times.

Also read: China to reopen borders for international travellers from January 8

“Special security plan issued in view of the current security situation in Islamabad. Temporary security check posts have been established at 25 different locations in Islamabad,” it said.

The police cautioned anyone who employed unregistered local or foreign workers that they would be subject to investigation and recommended residents to register tenants and employees at the nearest police station.

citizens are advised to register tenants and employees at the nearest police station or khidmat markaz. citizens employing unregistered local or foreign workers will also be investigated. report any unusual activity on call 15.#ictp #islamabadpolice #islamabad #sci #igp

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) December 27, 2022

It has been mandated that all drivers make sure their cars have licence plates issued by the excise office. Anyone observing odd behaviour is urged to report it to the appropriate authorities on the hotline.

citizens are requested to carry their identification documents. use excise office issued number plates on vehicles. legal action will be taken against illegal number plates and unregistered vehicles. foreign nationals should carry their identification documents with them.
⬇️

— Islamabad Police (@ICT_Police) December 27, 2022

The advisories came in the wake of a suicide bombing on Friday, December 23, in Islamabad that killed a policeman. It was the first major incident of terrorism in Islamabad following the onset of the recent wave of militancy that was initially limited to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Also read: From the rise of the Fourth Reich to civil war in US: Bizarre predictions for 2023

The US embassy in Islamabad issued a warning about a potential terror threat against American people at the Marriott Hotel in the nation’s capital two days after the explosion and forbade American workers from visiting the five-star hotel.

On Monday, December 26, the Saudi Arabian embassy in Islamabad also sent a security alert advising its people in Pakistan to limit their travel.

The same day, the governments of the UK and Australia issued separate security advisories requesting their citizens to restrict travel within Pakistan.

(With inputs from PTI)

Also read: Fumio Kishida sacks fourth minister to patch up scandal-hit Cabinet

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Pakistan: US warns of possible attack in Islamabad amid security fears

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad on Sunday warned its staff of a possible attack on Americans at a top hotel in Pakistan’s capital as the city was already on high alert following a suicide bombing earlier in the week.

The U.S. government is aware of information that “unknown individuals are possibly plotting to attack Americans at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad sometime during the holidays,” the embassy said in a security alert. The advisory banned its American personnel from visiting the popular hotel over the holidays.

The U.S. mission also urged all personnel to refrain from non-essential travel in Islamabad during the holiday season.

The embassy directive came two days after a suicide bombing in a residential area of the capital killed a police officer and wounded ten others. The explosion happened when police stopped a taxi for inspection during a patrol. According to the police, a rear seat passenger detonated explosives he was carrying, blowing up the vehicle.

Militants with the Pakistani Taliban, who are separate from but allied with Afghanistan’s rulers, later claimed the attack.

Islamabad’s administration has since put the city on high alert, banning public gatherings and processions, even as campaigns are ongoing for upcoming local elections. Police have stepped up patrols and established snap checkpoints to inspect vehicles across the city.

A suicide bombing targeted the capital’s Marriott Hotel in September 2008, in one of the deadliest such incidents in the capital. Attackers drove a dump truck up to the hotel’s gates before detonating it, killing 63 people and wounding over 250 others.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Jaishankar comments on F-16 for Pakistan earns Internet’s kudos

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

External affairs minister S Jaishankar took a sharp dig at the US rationale behind sending the F-16 fighter jet fleet to Pakistan earlier this month. Referring to the US argument that the package was to fight terrorism and not designed as a message to India, Jaishankar said everybody was aware of where and against whom F-16s were used.

“You’re not fooling anybody by saying these things,” Jaishankar said in response to a question at an interaction with Indian-Americans in Washington on Sunday.

Earlier this month, the US government overturned a decision by former President Donald Trump to suspend military aid to Pakistan as it was providing safe havens for the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network. The Joe Biden-led administration approved a $450 million F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme for Pakistan, saying that it was required to sustain Islamabad’s capability to counter terrorism threats.

Soon, Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh expressed his concerns over Washington’s decision.

How US reacted?

A day after Jaishankar’s comments, US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the sustenance package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet was not a new programme. Speaking at a joint press conference with Jaishankar on Tuesday, Blinken said it was an ‘obligation’ for the US to provide military equipment in order to bolster Islamabad’s capability to deal with terrorist threats.

 ALSO READ: Government appoints Lt General Anil Chauhan as Chief of Defence Staff

Social media erupts

The Internet lauded the external affairs minister’s fiery response, some calling him the most outstanding foreign minister India has ever seen.

One user wrote on Twitter: “India’s EAM Jaishankar has just slammed the US and its Pakistan policy very directly.”

India’s EAM Jaishankar has just slammed the US and its Pakistan policy very directly: “For someone to say it is for counter-terrorism when you’re talking about aircraft like the F16, where everybody knows where they are deployed and their use.. YOU ARE NOT FOOLING ANYONE” 🔥

— Shubhangi Sharma (@ItsShubhangi) September 26, 2022

Another user said: “As usual, EAM Jaishankar Ji is roasting Americans on their own land!”

AS USUAL,EAM Jaishankar Ji is Roasting Americans on their own land!

Taking sharp dig at US on deciding to send F-16 fighter jet fleet sustainment programme to Pakistan to meet‘Current & Future Counterterr0ri$m Threats’,he said “YOU ARE NOT FOOLING ANYBODY BY SAYING THESE THINGS”

— BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) September 26, 2022

This user described the minister as a “Man of Steel!”

Man of Steel! Dr S Jaishankar on 🔥🔥Sitting right there in DC, he responded to F16 package – “You are not fooling anybody”. Perfect example of how powerful one becomes under strong leadership pic.twitter.com/Mip9rECFpD

— A K 🇮🇳 (@AK_Inspire) September 28, 2022

After the 9/11 terrorist attack on the US, the sale of F-16s to Pakistan continued as an aid for Islamabad’s war on terror.

In the aftermath of the Balakot airstrike in 2019, then-wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet over the Line of Control (LOC). Pakistan said it did not use the F-16s as it would be a direct violation of its terms of use with the US.

ALSO READ:  IMF warning forces Bank of England to act after UK’s mini-budget mayhem

Jaishankar also commented on India-Russia ties and said that New Delhi’s choice to procure defence equipment from Moscow was in its own national interest.

Speaking at the joint press conference with Blinken, Jaishankar said India has always multi-sourced defence equipment. “Where we get our military to equip (sic) is not a new issue or changed due to geopolitical changes. We exercise a choice that is in our national interest,” he said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Pakistan flood toll rises with 25 children among 57 more deaths

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The toll from cataclysmic floods in Pakistan continued to climb on Saturday with 57 more deaths, 25 of them children, as the country grapples with a relief and rescue operation of near unprecedented scale.

A high-level body set up to coordinate the relief effort met in Islamabad on Saturday for the first time, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to take stock of the disaster.

Record monsoon rains and melting glaciers in northern mountains brought floods that have affected 33 million people and killed at least 1,265 people, including 441 children. The inundation, blamed on climate change, is still spreading.

Also read: Pakistan floods: Dramatic ‘before & after’ NASA images show shocking changes in landscape

The proportion of children’s deaths has raised concern. On Friday, the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) said there was a risk of “many more” child deaths from disease after floods.

The floods that have inundated a third of the country were preceded by four heatwaves and multiple raging forest fires, the disaster management chief told the high-level meeting, highlighting the effects of climate change in the South Asian nation.

“The year 2022 brought some harsh realities of climate change for Pakistan,” the chief of the National Disaster Management Authority Lieutenant-General Akhtar Nawaz told a briefing for the country’s top leadership.

“This year we did not witness a spring season – we faced four heatwaves which caused large-scale forest fires across the country,” he said.

The fires were particularly severe in the southwestern province of Balochistan, destroying swaths of pine-nut forests and other vegetation, not far from areas now underwater.

Balochistan has received 436 percent more rain than the 30-year average this monsoon.

Also read: Melting glaciers, global warming the reason for flash floods in Pakistan, says senior journalist

The province has seen widespread devastation, including a washing away of key rail and road networks as well as breakdowns in telecommunications and power infrastructure, the meeting was told.

The country has received nearly 190 percent more rain than the 30-year average in the quarter through August, totalling 390.7 millimetres (15.38 inches). Sindh province, with a population of 50 million, was hardest hit, getting 464 percent more rain than the 30-year average.

Aid has flowed in from a number of countries, with the first humanitarian assistance flight from France landing on Saturday morning in Islamabad. But Pakistan’s largest charity group has said there were still millions who had not been reached by aid and relief efforts.

Initial estimates of the damage have been put at USD 10 billion, but surveys are still being conducted along with international organisations.

The United Nations has appealed for USD 160 million in aid to help tackle what it said was an “unprecedented climate catastrophe” as Pakistan’s navy has fanned out inland to carry out relief operations in areas that resemble a sea.

Also read: Pakistan floods: Climate experts warn more extreme conditions ahead

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Pak PM says he wants ‘permanent peace’ with India as war not an option to resolve Kashmir dispute

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Islamabad wants to have ‘permanent peace’ with India through dialogue as war is not an option for either of the countries to resolve the Kashmir issue, according to a media report.

Speaking to a delegation of students from Harvard University, Sharif also said that sustainable peace in the region was linked to the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolutions, The News International newspaper reported.

Pakistan resolves to maintain peace in the region, and that sustainable peace in the region was linked to the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the UN resolutions, he said during the interaction on Friday evening.

“We want permanent peace with India through dialogue as war is not an option for either of the countries,” he was quoted as saying in the report. Relations between India and Pakistan have often been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

However, the ties between the two countries were nosedived after India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. India’s decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

ALSO READ|: Pakistan gives nod to abolish CPEC Authority

India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of the country. India has said it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

During the interaction, Sharif pointed out that Islamabad and New Delhi should have competition in trade, and economy and improve the conditions of their people. He said Pakistan was not an aggressor, but its nuclear assets and the trained army are deterrence, he said, adding that Islamabad spends on its military to protect its frontiers and not for aggression.

In response to a question about Pakistan’s economy and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the premier said that the country’s economic crisis stems from structural problems along with political instability in recent decades. He said the first few decades since the inception of Pakistan witnessed impressive growth across all sectors of the economy when there were plans, national will and the implementation mechanism to produce outcomes.

“Over time, we lost the edge in sectors in which we were ahead. The lack of focus, energy and policy action led to a reduction in national productivity,” Sharif added. Cash-starved Pakistan is facing growing economic challenges, with high inflation, sliding forex reserves, a widening current account deficit and a depreciating currency.

With the rising current account deficit at USD 13.2 billion in the first nine months and pressing external loan repayment requirements, Pakistan required financial assistance of USD 9-12 billion till June 2022 to avert further depletion of foreign currency reserves.

ALSO READ: Pakistan economic crisis: IMF to disburse bailout package by August, says report

As Pakistan turned 75 on August 14, Sharif wrote an essay in The Economist magazine in which he stated that the country in its adolescence, in the 1960s, brimmed with hope and promise as it had a date with destiny.

He said the nation was widely thought ready to ‘become the next Asian tiger’. However, in 2022, Pakistan found itself mired in its latest economic crisis.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund’s executive board will meet on August 29 and is expected to approve a bailout package for Pakistan, including the pending disbursement of about USD 1.18 billion.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Pakistan rejects ‘unwarranted reference’ in Joint Statement issued after US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Pakistan on Wednesday categorically rejected what it called the “unwarranted reference” in the Joint Statement issued after the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, asking Islamabad to take “immediate, sustained, and irreversible action” to ensure that no territory under its control is used for terrorist attacks. The Foreign Office termed it unfortunate that a bilateral cooperation mechanism was used to target a third country for political expediency and to mislead public opinion away from the real and emerging terrorism threats.

“The gratuitous reference in the statement alluding to some non-existent and dismantled entities betrays misplaced counter-terrorism focus of both countries,” FO said. The assertions made against Pakistan in the statement are malicious and lack any credibility, it said, referring to the Indo-US Joint Statement issued on April 11 in Washington.

Also read: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif thanks PM Modi for felicitating him; expresses desire for ‘peaceful and cooperative’ ties with India

The FO said that it also conveyed its concerns to the US. “Our concerns and rejection of the unwarranted reference to Pakistan in the US-India Statement have been conveyed to the US side through diplomatic channels,” it said.

It said that Pakistan remained a major, proactive, reliable and willing partner of the international community in the global fight against terrorism over last two decades and its successes and sacrifices were unparalleled and widely acknowledged by the international community, including the US. No country in the region has sacrificed more for peace than Pakistan, it said.

t said that India’s insinuations against Pakistan were in fact a desperate attempt to conceal its “atrocities” in Jammu and Kashmir. “We expect and urge the partner countries to take an objective view of the issues of peace and security in South Asia and refrain from associating themselves with positions that are one-sided, politically motivated, and divorced from ground realities,” it said.

Also read: Pakistan starts probe against ousted PM Imran Khan for allegedly selling a gifted necklace

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow