ISLAMABAD: The seventh and latest round of peace talks between the US and Taliban is “critical,” said Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen on Sunday, the second day of talks with Washington’s peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in the Mideastern state of Qatar, where the militant group maintains a political office.
Shaheen told The Associated Press both sides are looking for “tangible results” as they try to hammer out the fine print of agreements that will see the eventual withdrawal of over 20,000 US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, and end America’s longest-running war.
The agreements are also expected to provide guarantees that Afghanistan will not again harbor terrorists to carry out attacks worldwide.
The talks began on Saturday and are expected to continue into the next week.
The two sides sat down to negotiate just days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington was hopeful of a deal to end Afghanistan’s protracted war by Sept. 1.
“Getting a comprehensive peace agreement with the Taliban before Sept. 1 would be nothing short of a miracle,” said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the US-based Wilson’s Center.
“That said, I could certainly envision a more limited deal being in place by Sept. 1 on a US troop withdrawal, given that there’s already been ample progress on this issue.”
Pompeo and Khalilzad have both said the final accord will include not only agreements with the Taliban on troop withdrawal and guarantees of a non-threatening Afghanistan, but also agreement on intra-Afghan dialogue and a permanent cease fire.
Until now the Taliban have refused direct talks with the Afghan government while holding two separate meetings with a wide array of prominent Afghans from Kabul, including former president Hamid Karzai, members of the former northern alliance that fought the Taliban during its five-year rule as well as members of the government.
The Taliban have said they will meet government officials but as ordinary Afghans, labeling President Ashraf Ghani’s government a US puppet and noting that the US is the final arbiter on their central issue, which is troop withdrawal.
The Taliban have refused a cease-fire until the withdrawal is complete, saying that to restart their insurgency if the US reneges on its promises could be difficult.
But the accelerated pace of negotiations and the sudden announcement of a Sept. 1 target date for an agreement could be linked to Afghan President Ghani’s insistence on presidential polls scheduled for Sept. 28 in Afghanistan, say analysts.
The upcoming elections have been criticized by many of his political opponents who often point to last October’s parliamentary polls. The voting was so badly mismanaged that Ghani fired the entire Independent Election Commission, and several of the parliamentary seats are still being contested.
A biometric identification system aimed at reducing election fraud was prematurely rolled out for the polls, with the few people trained on the machines not showing up on election day.
While there were incidences of violence during the polling, analysts widely agreed the greatest flaw was the widespread mismanagement and fraud.
Khalilzad has also suggested that presidential elections could hamper reaching a peace agreement.
“I do think the US government recognizes that the election could pose a major obstacle to peace talks, given that it will be a distraction and given that it will accentuate and intensify the fractures and rivalries in the Afghan political environment that undercut reconciliation prospects,” said Kugelman.
“Another reason for the focus on Sept. 1 is much simpler: President Trump wants out, and he wants a deal as soon as possible.”
Taliban say latest round of talks with US ‘critical’
Taliban say latest round of talks with US ‘critical’
- Talks began on Saturday and are expected to continue into the next week
- Agreements are also expected to provide guarantees that Afghanistan will not again harbor terrorists to carry out attacks worldwide
Imran Khan calls on overseas Pakistanis to halt remittances amid renewed political tensions
- In social media post, ex-PM Khan calls for nationwide protests on Feb. 8 anniversary of Pakistan election
- Pakistan’s government blames Khan and his party for breakdown of negotiations to ease political tensions
ISLAMABAD: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday reiterated his demand for overseas Pakistanis to boycott sending remittances to the country, amid renewed political tensions between his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the government.
The development takes place as talks between the government and the PTI that began last month broke down this week. Talks were suspended after Khan’s party told the government it would not partake in the process if judicial commissions to investigate anti-government protests of May 9, 2023 and November 2024 are not formed.
On May 9, 2023, angry Khan supporters are accused of rampaging through military offices and installations while on Nov. 26, 2024, they gathered in Pakistan’s capital to demand Khan’s release. The government says four troops were killed in the November protests while the PTI says its supporters also died in clashes.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar this week criticized the PTI for ending talks “unilaterally,” saying the party took the decision in a hurry. The government’s negotiation committee says it will respond to the PTI’s demands formally on Jan. 28.
“Once again, I urge overseas Pakistanis to continue their boycott of foreign currency remittances,” a post on Khan’s X account read. “Sending money to this government strengthens the very hands that are tightening the noose around your necks.”
Foreign workers’ remittances from countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, US, UK and others are important for cash-strapped Pakistan to shore up its foreign reserves and stabilize its fragile economy.
Khan also repeated his demand for supporters to mark Pakistan’s election anniversary on Feb. 8 as a “Black Day.” The PTI alleges that the results of the contentious election last year, marked by delayed vote results and suspension of Internet and mobile services countrywide, were manipulated by the caretaker government at the time and Pakistan’s election commission to keep it away from power. Both deny Khan’s allegations
“Prepare to observe a nationwide ‘Black Day’ on February 8th,” the post read. “People from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Punjab should gather in Swabi for protests, while others must hold demonstrations in their respective cities.”
Khan was ousted from power in 2022 after what is widely believed to be a falling out with the country’s powerful top generals. The army denies it interferes in politics.
He has been in prison since August 2023 and faces a slew of legal challenges that ruled him out of the Feb. 8 general elections and which he says are politically motivated to keep him and his party away from power.
Khan has either been acquitted or his sentences have been suspended in most cases. However, in the latest blow, Khan was handed a 14-year jail sentence in a land corruption case last week.
All cases against Khan have been tried inside prison, away from the public or media eye, on security grounds.
Brathwaite half century lifts West Indies to 129-5 against Pakistan
- West Indies extend slender nine-run first-innings lead to 138 at break
- Pakistan won first Test match in Multan by 127 runs to go 1-0 up in series
MULTAN, Pakistan: Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite hit a fighting half century Saturday to lead the West Indies to 129-5 at lunch on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan in Multan.
The tourists negotiated Pakistan’s spin attack aggressively to take their slender nine-run first-innings lead to 138 at the break in their bid to pull off a series-levelling win.
Pakistan lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 127 runs, also in Multan.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali brought Pakistan back in the game with 4-59, trapping Alick Athanaze leg before for six on the cusp of lunch, while Justin Greaves was unbeaten on five.
With the Multan Stadium pitch offering slow spin in comparison to day one, Brathwaite led the way with two sixes and four boundaries in his 31st Test half century.
Noman broke the solid 50-run opening stand by dismissing Mikyle Louis for seven after the tourists started their second innings in the morning.
Brathwaite overturned two leg before decisions against him before he was stumped by Mohammad Rizwan off Noman for a well-made 52.
Debutant Amir Jangoo also batted well for his 30 with three boundaries, before Sajid Khan had him caught in the slips by Salman Agha.
Kavem Hodge was stumped by Rizwan off Noman for 15 as the West Indies slumped from 92-1 to 129-5.
Pakistan Association Dubai hosts climate action event to promote sustainable solutions
- Pakistan is counted among world’s Pakistan is counted among world’s most severely threatened countries due to climate change effects most severely threatened countries due to climate change effects
- Event brings together climate activists, advocates and youth leaders to discuss climate challenges
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) this week organized a climate action event in the city to promote sustainable solutions and highlight the dangers of deteriorating weather patterns, the Pakistani embassy in the UAE said.
The event on Friday was a collaboration between community climate action platform Extreme Hangout Dubai, social enterprise Earth Warriors and the Pakistan Youth Forum.
It featured climate advocates and members of the Pakistani community in the UAE, and Pakistan’s Consul General in Dubai Hussain Muhammad.
“Pakistan remains committed to be part of the solution,” Muhammad was quoted as saying by the Pakistani embassy in UAE. “However, global solidarity, climate finance, and technology transfer are essential to tackling this crisis.”
The event featured entrepreneurial stalls showcasing innovative eco-friendly solutions, keynote speeches and panel discussions by experts, activists and youth leaders who engaged in insightful discussions on climate action strategies and the importance of collective efforts.
The event also included performances and artistic presentations highlighting the beauty of nature and the necessity of preserving it for future generations.
“The Consul General encouraged the Pakistani community in the UAE to act as global ambassadors for Pakistan’s climate challenges through storytelling, social media and community engagement to raise awareness and bring change,” the embassy’s statement said.
The South Asian country is counted among the most severely threatened countries in terms of climate–induced challenges, especially in the context of its dependency on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water, natural resources and the environment, and socio-economic issues such as poverty.
Unusually heavy monsoon rains and melting of glaciers in June 2022 triggered flash floods across the country which killed over 1,700 people and dealt damages to critical infrastructure across the country.
Pakistan estimates damages from the floods to be around $33 billion.
Over 3,000 Pakistani, overseas athletes expected to take part in Islamabad Marathon today
- Marathon to feature five categories: full marathon, half marathon, children’s race, family race and senior race
- A prize money of Rs1 million [$3594] has been allocated for winners of all categories, says marathon organizer
ISLAMABAD: Over 3,000 athletes from Pakistan and abroad are expected to take part in a running marathon in Pakistan’s capital today, Sunday, state-run media reported.
Organized by the Islamabad Run With Us (IRU) running community in the capital, the marathon will feature five categories: a full marathon, a half marathon, a children’s race, a family race and a senior race.
The IRU says it has organized over 700 complimentary community events and numerous races, adding that it launched the Islamabad Marathon event in 2020.
“Founder of the Islamabad Run with Us community, Qasim Naz announced on Friday that the fifth Islamabad Marathon will take place on January 26, with the participation of over 3,000 athletes from across Pakistan and abroad,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
Naz said a prize money of Rs1 million [$3594] has been allocated for winners of all categories of the marathon.
The marathon kicked off at the city’s newly built Iran Avenue at 9:00 am. Its route includes the GT Road and runners will have to return to the starting point, the organizer said.
Naz said a pitch system would be introduced to ensure transparency, enabling real-time tracking of athletes and accurate identification of winners.
“He said that the purpose of organizing the event is to showcase Pakistan’s soft image and highlight the country’s beauty to the world,” APP said.
Naz said arrangements for medical and other facilities for participants have been made with cooperation from the district administration and police.
Pakistan says won’t risk rushing Saim Ayub’s recovery for Champions Trophy
- Saim Ayub was ruled out of competitive cricket for six weeks after suffering ankle injury this month
- Left-handed batter will enter recovery phase in a day or two, says PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday that he will not risk injured batter Saim Ayub’s future by rushing his recovery for the sake of the multi-nation Champions Trophy tournament, which is scheduled to get underway in Pakistan and Dubai next month.
Ayub, one of Pakistan’s most in-form batters who helped the team secure a historic ODI series whitewash over South Africa in December, suffered a right ankle fracture while fielding in the second Test against South Africa this month.
The injury forced Ayub out of competitive cricket for six weeks, dealing Pakistan a massive blow before it hosts the multi-nation Champions Trophy tournament in February. Ayub is currently in London seeking treatment as Pakistan hopes the star batter recovers in time for the crucial tournament.
“I am in contact with Saim on almost a daily basis. His rehab is going on and god willing, the plaster on his foot will be removed in a day or two after which he will enter the recovery phase,” Naqvi told reporters.
“It will take time, I don’t want to put his future at risk because of one Champions Trophy.”
The PCB chairman said he was monitoring Ayub’s rehabilitation himself, adding that Ayub was Pakistan’s asset and would soon make a full recovery.
Pakistan will play the Champions Trophy tournament opener on Feb. 19 against New Zealand in the eastern city of Lahore.
