KARACHI: In order for any sporting competition to be interesting, we require some level of parity. Watching a complete mismatch, where one competitor destroys the other, can be interesting once or twice but if repeated, becomes a bore. Without competition, sports loses its essence — its ability to provide escape and entertainment.
On Sunday in Manchester, Pakistan endured arguably the most comprehensive of its seven consecutive defeats to India in the World Cup, leaving one wondering if this was even a competition anymore. Indeed, there was simply no point during the much-hyped clash when India looked like they would lose to their alleged rivals.
To be fair to them, Pakistan had laid out all the signs for an epic mismatch. The night before the game, pictures emerged of the players piling into a carb-friendly American diner, with captain Sarfaraz Ahmed walking away with a creamy milkshake. Another video, allegedly from the same night, showed veteran Shoaib Malik and a few other players, smoking sheesha. It wasn’t clear when these images were taken, but for professional athletes to be indulging in such activities during a World Cup hinted at an unprofessional side that wasn’t quite up to the challenge.
That feeling persisted at the toss, when both captains spoke on TV. India’s VIrat Kohli, leading one of the tournament favorites, was almost blasé about the nature of the occasion, quipping that “it’s just another match. We don’t think about the opponent.”
In contrast, Pakistan’s Sarfaraz Ahmed admitted that “whenever India and Pakistan play, it’s always very special. A big match.” That difference in approach spoke volumes about the two teams, with one appearing focused and calm and the other trying to harness the chaotic nerves caused by pressure.
At least Sarfaraz won the toss, the last time that Pakistan had an advantage on the day, after which his decision to bowl first arguably backfired. Indian opener KL Rahul later said that the team had expected to score around 270 considering the weather, so the eventual total of 336/5 was well above par.
Perhaps the most symbolic moment showcasing how ineffectual Pakistan would be during this match came early in the Indian innings. Rohit Sharma, who would end up with the highest score in World Cup matches between these two sides, was left stranded far from his crease after a mixup with Rahul. But somehow, the Pakistani fielders reacted in a tragicomic manner, throwing at the wrong end and failing to collect the ball cleanly. Rohit survived, and it allowed the Indian side to continue its dominant start. Near the end of the innings, the falling of two quick wickets again suggested some hope for Pakistan, but a brief rain shower halted their nascent momentum. Eventually, India ended with the highest score posted in an India-Pakistan World Cup match.
Pakistan’s bowlers were largely quite poor, with former world no.1 Hasan Ali the bellwether for his side, his alarming drop in form mirroring the listlessness of his team. The one bright spot was Mohammad Amir, who continued his perchance for showing up for tournament matches, capping off a superb performance of 3/47 to become the joint leading wicket-taker in the World Cup.
Sadly for Pakistani fans, the bowling effort was arguably the high point of the match. The Pakistani batters Fakhar Imam and Babar Azam did put up a 100 run partnership, though it came slowly enough that the momentum was never with them. And then in a twist that was sadly and eminently predictable, Pakistan suddenly lost five wickets for twelve runs, and the match effectively ended with more than a quarter of it still to go.
So, if you’re still looking for symbols to encapsulate the mismatch, you could point to the fact that Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar — the two weakest Indian bowlers — were largely responsible for this collapse. Pakistan couldn’t even compete with India’s backup, and it was perhaps a blessing that rain arrived to reduce the match length and put Pakistan out of their misery.
After the match, Kohli re-emphasised the main reason his side has been so dominant of late. “If you focus on this (Pakistan vs India) game too emotionally, things can go wrong. We never approach them from that perspective. We are professional about it and the result is what matters.” His counterpart, Sarfaraz had little to offer, rueing that “definitely, it’s getting tougher and now we have to win all remaining games.”
The problem for Sarfaraz is that even if they win every single one of their remaining four matches, a task that currently looks impossible, qualification still won’t be guaranteed. Pakistan would need for other results to go their way in order to complete a miraculous entry into the knock-outs. For India, this was merely a notch to mark off enroute their expected procession to the knockout stages.
In the larger picture, India having a comfortable win over Pakistan just continued a trend that has now held for twenty seven years. Yet at the same time, the abject mismatch of this encounter might finally start raising the question of whether it’s even worth it to care as much about this occasion.
Pakistan cricket has consistently looked a decade or more behind India’s, who look comprehensively better in every department. Any chances of this rivalry becoming more even look remote at best, and the widening material gulf between the two cricket boards will only reinforce that disparity. This no longer feels like a competition, but just an exercise for one team to show off its undeniable superiority. For all the shared history and culture that causes this match to be so hyped, games like tonight’s might eventually cause this rivalry to seem like little more than a memory.
Woeful Pakistan slump to abject World Cup defeat against arch-rivals India
Woeful Pakistan slump to abject World Cup defeat against arch-rivals India
- During Sunday’s much-hyped match, there was no point when India looked like they would lose to their alleged rival
- India having a comfortable win over Pakistan continued a trend that has now held for 27 years
Pakistan expresses solidarity as 12 Turkish soldiers die in Iraq cave gas incident
- Incident occurred during a mission to locate the remains of a soldier killed earlier in operations against PKK group
- In past years, Turkish forces have reported discovering elaborate tunnel networks used by PKK fighters in northern Iraq
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday said it was saddened over the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers who were killed after being exposed to methane gas during a military search operation in northern Iraq, offering condolences and reaffirming solidarity with Turkiye.
According to the Turkish defense ministry, the incident occurred on Sunday during a mission to locate the remains of a soldier killed earlier in operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union.
The soldiers were operating in the Claw-Lock Operation zone, part of a broader Turkish cross-border military campaign launched in April 2022 to root out PKK fighters from northern Iraq’s mountainous terrain. The ministry said several other soldiers exposed to methane gas in the same cave were hospitalized for treatment.
“We are deeply saddened to learn that 12 Turkish soldiers were martyred, after being exposed to methane gas during a search mission in the Claw-Lock Operation zone,” the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“We wish Allah’s mercy upon the martyrs and express deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Pakistan stands in firm solidarity with brotherly Turkiye in this moment of grief.”
While fatal gas exposure incidents in combat zones are relatively rare, the risk of methane buildup in enclosed or underground spaces such as caves or tunnels is well documented in both military and mining contexts. Methane is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas that can displace oxygen, leading to suffocation in confined environments.
In past years, Turkish forces have reported discovering elaborate tunnel networks used by PKK fighters in northern Iraq, often rigged with explosives or hazardous substances. In 2021, three Turkish soldiers were killed in a suspected chemical exposure during clashes in a cave complex in the same region, though Turkish authorities did not publicly confirm the substance involved.
The latest incident underscores the continuing dangers faced by Turkish troops deployed in high-risk terrain as part of ongoing security operations. Turkiye has maintained a network of military bases in Iraq’s Kurdistan region for years, a policy that has drawn criticism from Baghdad but is defended by Ankara as necessary for national defense.
Pakistan and Turkiye share close defense and diplomatic ties, with regular high-level exchanges and joint military cooperation. Islamabad has consistently voiced support for Ankara’s security concerns, including its fight against the PKK.
Police probe ‘serious’ sexual assault on teen wife in Karachi, husband in custody
- 19-year-old woman in coma after alleged assault days after marriage, attempted murder, rape filed against spouse
- Over 32,000 gender-based violence cases reported in Pakistan in 2024 with conviction rates below 1 percent
KARACHI: A 19-year-old woman from the southern Pakistani city of Karachi is in a coma after allegedly being subjected to sexual violence by her husband, police and medical officials confirmed on Tuesday, in a case that has renewed focus on the country’s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence.
Police arrested the suspect, identified only as Ashok, after the victim’s family lodged a complaint under Sections 324 and 376B of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deal with attempted murder and rape. The assault allegedly took place just days after the couple were married on June 15.
“The victim, a 19-year-old from Lyari [neighborhood], is now in a coma. Her physical examination findings are consistent with sexual violence,” Dr. Summaiya Syed, Police Surgeon Karachi, told Arab News, adding that such incidents were “tragically frequent.”
“Circumstances vary and names change, but violence remains,” she said.
According to the police complaint, the woman’s condition deteriorated following a series of violent assaults by her husband. She was first taken to a local hospital by her in-laws and later shifted to Karachi’s Civil Hospital, where she remains in intensive care.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arif Aziz said the suspect was arrested promptly after the incident was reported.
“This brutal sexual assault is a grave and serious offense, and the police are treating it with utmost urgency and priority to ensure the perpetrator is held accountable,” he said.
“We are committed to preventing such incidents in the future through firm and effective action.”
The case has drawn renewed attention to widespread violence against women in Pakistan, where incidents of domestic abuse, rape, and honor-based crimes remain pervasive.
According to a March report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO), over 32,617 gender-based violence cases were recorded nationwide in the first part of 2024 alone, including 5,339 cases of rape.
Despite the scale of the crisis, conviction rates remain dismally low. Prosecutions for rape and so-called “honor killings” result in a conviction in just 0.5 percent of cases, according to SSDO.
Activists cite underreporting, entrenched stigma, patriarchal attitudes and weak enforcement mechanisms as key reasons for the lack of justice.
“This case is horrifying, but sadly not isolated,” said Mehnaz Rehman, former Resident Director of the Aurat Foundation and a long-time women’s rights activist.
“Without accountability, these crimes will continue.”
Over the years, several high-profile rape and assault cases have sparked public outrage in Pakistan, including the 2020 gang rape of a woman on the Lahore-Sialkot motorway in front of her children, and the 2018 rape and murder of six-year-old Zainab Ansari in Kasur.
While both cases led to convictions, activists say such outcomes remain rare and systemic reform is still lacking.
Qurat Mirza, a founding member of Aurat March, said that victims of sexual assault or rape are often subjected to shame and social stigma, which discourages them from reporting such cases.
“Had this girl not fallen into a coma, this incident may never have come to light either,” she said, adding that while laws exist in Sindh province, the corresponding rules of business have yet to be formulated.
Urging the government to demonstrate political will by implementing existing laws and pursuing judicial reforms, Mirza said women would continue to speak out.
“Resilience and resistance are our only solutions,” she said. “We will continue to condemn injustice, raise our voices in protest, and create awareness until women are truly protected.”
The Karachi case remains under investigation.
Pakistan plans to slash container dwell time at ports by 70% to boost trade efficiency
- Government forms committee to identify bottlenecks, recommend faster cargo clearance measures
- It aims to deploy drones, AI to ensure real-time monitoring of vessel docking and container movement
KARACHI: Pakistan plans to cut container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70% to improve trade competitiveness and ease congestion, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Tuesday, which also announced the formation of a committee to present recommendations within ten days.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize its port infrastructure and position Pakistan as a regional trade and transit hub.
Islamabad is working to increase the efficiency of its ports in Karachi and Gwadar as it seeks to expand connectivity with global markets, including plans to launch a ferry service to Gulf countries and encourage landlocked Central Asian states to use Pakistani ports for access to international sea lanes.
The announcement to reduce the dwell time followed a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry at the Federal Board of Revenue headquarters with senior officials from Pakistan Customs, Karachi Port Trust and other relevant bodies.
“Minister Junaid Chaudhry emphasized that reducing dwell time is not merely an administrative change, but a strategic move to enhance port efficiency, lower logistics costs and strengthen Pakistan’s standing in the regional trade and logistics landscape,” the statement said.
He also announced the formation of the committee and tasked its members with identifying procedural bottlenecks and proposing measures to expedite cargo clearance.
Currently, container dwell time at Pakistani ports averages around a week. The government’s target is to reduce this to just two days, following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
To support implementation, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs will establish a dedicated monitoring room to oversee real-time container movements.
“Drones and AI technology will also be deployed to monitor vessel docking operations through to the container’s exit from the terminal,” the minister said during the meeting.
He noted that persistent delays in container release impose additional costs on importers and exporters, diminishing Pakistan’s competitiveness in international markets.
White House calls Pakistan’s Nobel nomination for Trump ‘win’ for American people
- Islamabad said it would recommend Trump for Peace Prize for helping resolve recent conflict with India
- Pakistan says US intervention ended the fighting, India says it was due to a bilateral agreement
ISLAMABAD: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday called Pakistan’s nomination of US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize a “win” for the American people.
Islamabad said last month it would recommend Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, an accolade that he has repeatedly said he craves, for his work in helping to resolve the recent conflict between India and Pakistan.
In May, a surprise announcement by Trump of a ceasefire brought an abrupt end to a four-day air war between nuclear-armed foes India and Pakistan. Trump has since repeatedly said that he averted a nuclear war, saved millions of lives and grumbled that he got no credit for it.
Pakistan agrees that US diplomatic intervention ended the fighting but India says it was a bilateral agreement between the two militaries.
On Monday evening, Leavitt wrote on X that “over the past few weeks, President Trump has delivered more wins for the American people than most Presidents do in four years.”
In the list of his victories she included:
“Pakistan nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention to prevent a nuclear war between India and Pakistan.”
Pakistan on June 21 said it was nominating Trump as “a genuine peacemaker” for his role in bringing the conflict with India to an end, adding that he had “demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship.”
In a social media post a day earlier, Trump gave a long list of conflicts he said he had resolved, including India and Pakistan and the Abraham accords in his first term between Israel and some Muslim-majority countries.
He added: “I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do.”
Pakistan’s move to nominate Trump came in the same week its army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met the US leader for lunch. It was the first time that a Pakistani military leader had been invited to the White House when a civilian government was in place in Islamabad.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Trump he had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, handing Trump a nomination letter during a meeting at the White House.
Pakistan urges world to accept Taliban’s de facto rule to avoid new Afghan conflict
- Pakistan has not officially recognized Taliban government in Afghanistan, which seized Kabul in August 2021
- Pakistan’s UN ambassador says militant groups from Afghanistan are a threat to Islamabad’s national security
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad this week called on the international community to acknowledge the de facto Taliban rule in Afghanistan, warning that failure to do so could risk igniting another conflict in the war-torn country.
Pakistan has not officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which seized Kabul in August 2021 after the chaotic withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from the country, but has retained high-level diplomatic engagement with Kabul. Islamabad has also called on the international community to engage with the Taliban government and unfreeze Afghanistan’s financial assets to ward off the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Ahmad’s statement follows Russia’s move to become the first country to recognize the Taliban last week as it accepted the credentials of a new ambassador of Afghanistan.
“We should acknowledge that there is one authority that controls the territory of Afghanistan with no credible challenge to it,” Ahmad said on Monday, during a UN General Assembly plenary meeting on Afghanistan. “We must avoid actions that could ignite another conflict in Afghanistan which can affect the entire region.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan have had rocky relations mainly due to a spike in militancy in Pakistan’s western regions that border Afghanistan. Islamabad says anti-Pakistan militants carry out cross-border attacks using safe havens in Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies. Another source of tension has been Pakistan’s drive to expel Afghans, which first began in Nov. 2023.
Ahmad warned that “terrorism” emanating from Afghanistan continues to be a serious threat to its neighbors, particularly Pakistan. He said Daesh and other militant entities such as the Al-Qaeda, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch militant groups continue to operate from “ungoverned spaces” in Afghanistan.
He said the TTP is directly threatening Pakistan’s national security with 6,000 fighters at its disposal, alleging that Islamabad has evidence of the outfit’s collaboration with Baloch militant groups to disrupt infrastructure and economic development projects in Pakistan.
“The international community must speak with a unified voice to hold the de facto authorities to their commitments, including not to allow the use of Afghan soil against any country and to ensure the shared goal of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan free from terrorism, at peace within, and without,” Ahmad said.
The Pakistani envoy said Islamabad is ready to support regional and international engagement efforts with Afghanistan via clear objectives, reciprocal steps and a realistic roadmap.
“What could not be realized through force, will not be achieved through isolation, sanctions or financial coercion,” he said.
The development took place the same day that Pakistan and Afghanistan held the inaugural additional secretary-level talks between the two countries, pursuant to the decisions reached during the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul in April.
The two sides discussed deepening trade and transit cooperation, militancy, the deportation of Afghan refugees from the country and the legal travel of the citizens of the two nations in the talks on Monday.
