ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday it aims to send its first astronaut into space by 2022 and will begin selecting candidates next year.
Neighbor and long-time rival India put its first astronaut into space in 1984 as part of a Soviet-led mission. It launched a rocket into space on Monday in an attempt to safely land a rover on the moon, its most ambitious mission yet.
Pakistan’s program, announced 50 years after the US Apollo 11 mission put the first man on the moon, marks a new departure after focusing on developing communication satellites.
“This will be the biggest space event of our history,” Science and Technology Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said in a tweet.
A selection committee would begin choosing candidates in February, he said.
Pakistan’s National Space Agency SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) was set up in 1961. It launched its first communication satellite 50 years later with help from a subsidiary of China Aerospace and Technology Corporation.
Pakistan aims to send first astronaut into space by 2022
Pakistan aims to send first astronaut into space by 2022
- The country’s minister for science and technology says “this will be the biggest space event of our history”
- Pakistan has previously developed communication satellites and sent them in outer space
Imran Khan announces nationwide protest in Pakistan after Ramadan for ‘restoration of democracy’
- Khan asks party’s negotiation committee to expedite communication with opposition parties, people from all walks of life
- Pakistan’s ruling coalition government accuses Khan and his party of leading violent protests, particularly in 2023 and 2024
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan has announced that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party will launch a nationwide protest movement with other opposition parties for “the restoration of democracy” and Pakistan’s constitution after the holy month of Ramadan.
Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 on a slew of charges that he says are politically motivated, claims the February 2024 general elections were rigged by the caretaker government at the time and the election commission, who had the army’s backing, to keep him away from power. All three deny the allegations, with the army repeatedly saying it refrains from interfering in political matters.
The former premier and his party have been accused of leading violent anti-government protests in the past, particularly in May 2023 and November 2024. On May 9, 2023, frenzied mobs across the country carrying the PTI’s flags attacked government and military installations while in November last year, Khan supporters gathered in Islamabad to demand his release from prison. The government says four troops were killed in clashes with Khan supporters. The PTI denies it instigated its followers to violence in both instances, accusing the military and its political rivals of resorting to rights abuses, including torture and a nationwide crackdown against its supporters.
“After the holy month of Ramadan, we will formulate a strategy in collaboration with all opposition parties and launch a nationwide protest movement,” a statement posted from Khan’s social media account on X said on Sunday night.
The cricketer-turned-politician said he has directed his party’s negotiation committee to expedite communications with other parties, adding that the PTI would invite individuals from all sectors of Pakistan including lawyers, farmers, laborers, scholars and students to participate in the protest.
“This protest will be for the restoration of democracy and the constitution, and for our genuine freedom and sovereignty,” he added.
Khan’s party held negotiations with the government in December 2024 to ease political tensions in the country. However, talks between both sides broke down in January after the PTI pulled away, accusing the government of not fulfilling its two principal demands of forming judicial commissions to investigate the 2023 and 2024 protests.
The government rubbished the PTI’s allegations, accusing the party of “unilaterally” abandoning talks without waiting for the government to respond to its demands.
“Despite our repeated demands, no judicial commission has been formed to investigate the events of May 9th and November 26th (2024),” Khan’s statement read. “The truth would have been revealed to the public if such a commission had been established.”
Khan alleged his supporters were being denied their right to visit him in prison, describing it as a fundamental violation of his rights.
“Even my own children are not allowed to speak with me, all in an attempt to exert pressure on me,” the former premier claimed.
The government has so far not reacted to Khan’s call for protests.
Khan’s ouster from office since April 2022 has plunged Pakistan into a political crisis, particularly after he was sent to jail in 2023. The former prime minister fell out with Pakistan army’s top leaders in the lead-up to his ouster and has since led an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the institution.
He continues to remain popular among the masses, with his party’s rallies drawing thousands of people in various cities.
ODI World Champions Australia arrive in Pakistan for Champions Trophy tournament
- Australia will kick off Champions Trophy campaign by facing England in Lahore on Feb. 22
- Injuries have ruled out matchwinners Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Marsh from event
ISLAMABAD: Led by their captain Steve Smith, the Australian cricket team arrived in Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy tournament on Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said days before they are scheduled to take on England in the 50-over event.
The Australian cricket team will arrive in Pakistan in two batches, the PCB said. A 14-member squad comprising Australian coaches, captain Smith and the sports staff reached Lahore from Colombo via Dubai while a 17-member squad, including 15 players of the Australian cricket team, will arrive in Lahore at 8 am on Monday, the board said.
“Australia will play their first match in the ICC Champions Trophy against arch-rivals England on Feb. 22 at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore,” the PCB said.
The Australian cricket team has arrived in Pakistan after suffering a 2-0 away ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka. Smith’s squad lost the first ODI to Sri Lanka by 49 runs on Feb. 12 before losing the second one as well on Feb. 14 by a huge 174 runs.
Before that, the 2023 World Cup winners lost a home ODI series to Pakistan 2-1 in November last year, with Pakistan’s pace attack and opening batter Saim Ayub demolishing the Australians to take home their first away series in the country in 22 years.
Injuries have also impacted the Australian cricket team ahead of the key Champions Trophy tournament. Smith’s squad will be without matchwinners Mitchell Starc, regular skipper Pat Cummins and key seamer Josh Hazlewood, and all-rounder Mitch Marsh. Cummins, Hazlewood and Marsh have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries while Starc has pulled away due to personal reasons. The surprise retirement of Marcus Stoinis has forced Australia to call-up back-up players.
After facing England in Lahore on Feb. 22, Australia are set to clash against South Africa in Rawalpindi on Feb. 25 before heading back to Lahore to face Afghanistan on Feb. 28.
Squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Traveling reserve: Cooper Connolly
Pakistan’s deputy PM arrives in New York to attend Security Council meeting on multilateralism
- Pakistan to reaffirm strong commitment to multilateralism in meeting scheduled to be held on Feb. 18
- Summit comes at a time of growing concerns about multilateralism amid increasing conflicts worldwide
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in New York to attend a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on multilateralism and global governance, state-run media reported on Monday.
The meeting will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Feb. 18, as China holds the council’s rotating presidency for the month. The deliberations come at a time of growing concerns about multilateralism, particularly after United States President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, and a growing number of conflicts around the world.
“Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister (FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, flew into New York on Sunday afternoon to participate in the high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on multilateralism and global governance set for Tuesday,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Monday.
APP said Pakistan welcomes the “timely initiative” by China to hold the meeting, saying that it underscores the critical importance of multilateralism in addressing today’s global challenges.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s strong commitment to the principles of multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations in promoting international peace, security, and sustainable development, the state-run media said. He will also highlight Pakistan’s priorities as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, emphasizing the importance of dialogue, cooperation, and inclusive global governance.
Pakistan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2025-2026 term in June 2024 with 182 out of 193 votes and officially began its two-year tenure on January 1, 2025.
“On the sidelines of the UNSC meeting, the DPM/FM is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts, as well as senior UN officials,” APP said.
Dar is also expected to give interviews to media and hold a press conference for US-based Pakistani journalists.
Champions Trophy set for liftoff after India-Pakistan row, boycott calls
- This is the first global cricket tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly three decades
- India’s matches will be played in Dubai after they refused to visit neighbor Pakistan
KARACHI: The Champions Trophy begins Wednesday after a turbulent build-up that saw the tournament split between Pakistan and Dubai, and with England facing calls to boycott their match against Afghanistan.
The event, regarded as second only to the World Cup in the one-day game, runs until March 9 and is the first global cricket tournament hosted by Pakistan in nearly three decades.
India’s matches will however be played in the United Arab Emirates after the sport’s financial superpower refused to visit their neighbor over long-standing political tensions.
A month-long impasse ended in December when the International Cricket Council said that India would play their games in Dubai.
It raises the prospect of the final of the eight-nation showpiece taking place there, rather than in Pakistan, if India get that far — a good chance given they are favorites to lift the trophy.
Arch-rivals India and Pakistan, who only face off in international competitions because of the politics, clash in Dubai on February 23 in the group phase.
England play Afghanistan three days later in Lahore in a match that has been met with a backlash in some quarters in Britain.
More than 160 British politicians called for a boycott in response to the Taliban government’s ban on women in sport.
England Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson vowed the match would go ahead, saying a “coordinated international response” by the cricket community would achieve more than unilateral action.
The Champions Trophy will be Pakistan’s first ICC event since co-hosting the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.
Karachi and Rawalpindi are the other Pakistani cities that will stage games.
Pakistan became a no-go area for foreign teams after the visiting Sri Lankan squad were attacked by gunmen in 2009, leaving eight people dead and wounding several touring players.
But with improved security across most of the country, international cricket returned to Pakistan in 2020.
India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh form Group A while Australia, England, Afghanistan and South Africa are in Group B.
Two teams from each group qualify for the semifinals in Dubai and Lahore.
Pakistan are reigning champions, having defeated India in the final in 2017 at The Oval in London.
But it is two-time winners India who are favorites, with superstar batsman Virat Kohli hoping to overcome a poor run of form by his sky-high standards.
It could be the 36-year-old’s last hurrah on the international stage, with captain Rohit Sharma also likely to retire after the tournament.
“India is playing superb all-round cricket and so are among the favorites for the Champions Trophy,” former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar told AFP.
“The other teams, in my opinion, to watch out for are defending champions Pakistan, New Zealand and South Africa.”
India will however be missing ace pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia beat hosts India to win the one-day World Cup in 2023 but they are missing several key players.
Their formidable pace attack of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are all out.
Coupled with the sudden retirement from ODIs of Marcus Stoinis and injury to Mitchell Marsh — both key all-rounders — and Australia suddenly look vulnerable.
They were well beaten 2-0 in Sri Lanka in a two-match series last week. Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan will open the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy with a match against New Zealand in Karachi on Wednesday.
The co-hosts are unpredictable, as they showed in the last edition of the tournament, losing to India by 124 runs in the opening match before winning the final against them by 180 runs.
England go into the competition under a cloud, having been outclassed by India in both a T20 and one-day series in the lead-up.
With quality spinners led by Rashid Khan, Afghanistan are dangerous.
They shocked England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the 2023 ODI World Cup and reached the semifinals of the Twenty20 World Cup last year.
Islamabad condemns attack on UN peacekeepers in Beirut, calls it violation of international law
- Lebanon has faced unrest this week after a government decision to block Iranian flights from landing in Beirut
- The UN convoy was attacked during protests by supporters of Hezbollah, which urged government to reverse move
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday condemned an attack on a United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy in Beirut, calling it a “flagrant” violation of international law.
Lebanon has faced unrest this week after a government decision to block Iranian flights from landing in Beirut, with the UN peacekeeper convoy attacked during protests by supporters of Hezbollah, which on Sunday urged the government to reverse the move.
Pakistan has been one of the main troops and police contributors to the UN peace operations since 1960, with more than 200,000 Pakistani men and women sent to 46 UN missions. As of 2024, the South Asian country was contributing over 4,000 troops to various international operations carried out by the UN and has lost 172 soldiers in total to UN peace missions.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the attack on a UNIFIL convoy in Beirut that injured several peacekeepers. Such attacks on blue helmets are flagrant violations of international law for which there must be accountability,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“Pakistan stands in solidarity with UNIFIL and affirms its unwavering support for UN peacekeeping operations.”
The development came amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah group, which has been in effect since Nov. 27 after more than a year of hostilities including two months of all-out war.
Under the ceasefire deal, Lebanon’s military was to deploy in the south alongside United Nations peacekeepers as the Israeli army withdrew over a 60-day period.
Hezbollah was also to pull back north of the Litani River — about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border — and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south. The withdrawal period was extended to February 18.
On Sunday, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli forces opened fire toward the southern border town of Hula “after residents entered,” killing a woman. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the incident.
