WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Saturday he had called off a secret summit with the Taliban and Afghanistan’s leader, abruptly slamming the door on a year of diplomacy to end America’s longest war.
In a Saturday evening bombshell, Trump said that he had planned unprecedented, albeit separate, talks with the two sides Sunday in Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, but that the Taliban’s persistent, grisly campaign of violence made them untrustworthy partners.
“Unbeknownst to almost everyone, the major Taliban leaders and, separately, the President of Afghanistan, were going to secretly meet with me at Camp David on Sunday,” Trump said in a tweet.
“Unfortunately, in order to build false leverage, they admitted to an attack in Kabul that killed one of our great great soldiers, and 11 other people. I immediately canceled the meeting and called off peace negotiations.”
“What kind of people would kill so many in order to seemingly strengthen their bargaining position? They didn’t, they only made it worse!” Trump said.
A US soldier and another service member from Romania were killed in the car bombing Thursday in Kabul — the latest major attack claimed by the Taliban even as they negotiated with a US envoy on the withdrawal of thousands of troops.
Trump would have met the Taliban at Camp David — scene of secret 1978 talks as Jimmy Carter brokered peace between Israel and Egypt — days before the 18th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, which triggered the US invasion that toppled the militants’ regime.
Washington was jolted by the announcement from Trump, who is fond of dramatic gestures but whose Twitter pronouncements have often come into question later.
“The idea that Trump was planning to host Taliban leaders at Camp David is a rather big surprise,” said Laurel Miller, who served as the US special representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan until early in the Trump administration.
“Why a lethal attack in Kabul on Thursday would be the reason for calling it off, considering the multiple recent Taliban attacks, is unclear,” Miller, now the Asia director of the International Crisis Group, told AFP.
Congressman Tom Malinowski, a Democrat who has been pressing for clarity on the US strategy in Afghanistan, called the idea of Taliban leaders at Camp David “weird.”
“And everyone knew they’ve been continuously committing terrorist attacks. But I’m glad the president called off this farce, and hope this good decision sticks,” Malinowski tweeted.
The announcement by tweet appears abruptly to end, at least for now, a painstaking diplomatic process led for nearly a year by Zalmay Khalilzad, the Afghan-born veteran US diplomat who held nine rounds of talks with the Taliban, usually in Qatar.
Afghanistan’s internationally recognized president, Ashraf Ghani, had been outspoken in his criticism of the emerging shape of the withdrawal agreement with the Taliban, who have refused to negotiate with his government.
Selling the plan in Kabul, Khalilzad said that he had reached an agreement “in principle” with the Taliban — who ruled much of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 during which they imposed a draconian version of Islam.
According to parts of the draft deal that had been made public, the Pentagon would pull about 5,000 of the roughly 13,000 US troops from five bases across Afghanistan by early next year.
The insurgents in turn would renounce Al-Qaeda, promise to fight the Daesh group and stop jihadists using Afghanistan as a safe haven — the primary reason for the 2001 invasion.
US public opinion has soured on nearly two decades of war and Trump, after initially being persuaded to reinforce US troops, has said that the United States should not pursue “endless” war.
Trump’s announcement draws a fresh question mark on whether the United States will leave Afghanistan anytime soon.
The decision comes weeks before Afghanistan is set to hold elections, an unwieldy exercise even in more stable times.
Trump had been uncharacteristically reticent about Afghanistan in recent weeks, with all eyes on whether he would approve a final deal.
Washington had hoped that a withdrawal of US troops would lead to negotiations between the Taliban and Kabul on a more permanent peace.
The Taliban have shown no signs of letting up on violence. Claiming responsibility for Thursday’s bombing, which shook a fortified central area of Kabul, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that a “martyrdom seeker” — or suicide bomber — had killed “foreign invaders.”
Trump has walked away from high-stakes talks before. In February, his aides pressed him not to accept a deal in Hanoi with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — another individual whom it would have long been unthinkable for a US president to meet.
But Trump soon made clear that he wanted to keep talking, calling Kim a friend, and arranged to meet him in June as the US leader visited the Korean peninsula.
In bombshell, Trump calls off secret summit, talks with Taliban
In bombshell, Trump calls off secret summit, talks with Taliban
- US president wanted to host Taliban delegation at Camp David but changed his mind after attack in Kabul
- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had been outspoken in his criticism of America’s withdrawal agreement with Taliban
Punjab braces for more rain as monsoon spell expected to continue until July 13
- Provincial Disaster Management Authority advises citizens to avoid swimming in rivers, canals and streams
- It asks people to stay in safe areas as intense rainfall is expected in several regions during the next 24 hours
ISLAMABAD: The ongoing spell of monsoon rains is expected to continue across most districts of Pakistan’s Punjab province until July 13, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Wednesday, urging residents to take precautionary measures amid forecasts of intense downpours in the next 24 hours.
In the last 24 hours, significant rainfall was recorded in several cities, including Khanewal (51mm), Rawalpindi (42mm), Sahiwal (44mm) and Murree (41mm), according to the PDMA spokesperson. Lahore received 23mm of rain, while Okara recorded 30mm, Mandi Bahauddin 27mm, Mangla 24mm and Toba Tek Singh 13mm.
“The monsoon spell is likely to persist across the province until July 13,” said Irfan Ali Kathia, Director General of Punjab PDMA, in a statement.
“Severe rainfall is expected in several regions during the next 24 hours,” he added.
Kathia advised citizens to avoid swimming in rivers, canals and streams, warning that Punjab’s government has imposed Section 144 to restrict public access to water bodies due to the risk of flooding and drowning.
“People should stay in safe areas during thunderstorms and avoid taking shelter in mud houses or dilapidated buildings,” he said. “Drivers are urged to reduce speed during rainfall and maintain safe distances to avoid accidents.”
Turkish ministers arrive in Pakistan amid expectations of defense, counterterrorism talks
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler reached Pakistan late Tuesday night
- The visit follows Türkiye’s public condemnation of Indian strikes in Pakistan during a brief military conflict in May
ISLAMABAD: Türkiye’s defense and foreign ministers arrived in Pakistan on late Tuesday night for a series of high-level meetings expected to focus on counterterrorism, defense cooperation and broader strategic ties, according to the foreign office in Islamabad.
The visit comes amid deepening relations between the two countries and follows Türkiye’s public condemnation of Indian cross-border strikes in Pakistan during a brief conflict between the two South Asian neighbors in May.
The Pakistani administration announced the arrival of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Defense Minister Yaşar Güler in two separate official statements.
“During [their] official visit to Pakistan, key matters of mutual interest will be discussed,” the foreign office said. “The visit highlights the close brotherly ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, founded on shared values, mutual respect, and a long history of friendship.”
The Turkish state broadcaster TRT International said the visit “is expected to advance bilateral cooperation in the fields of security and counter-terrorism,” adding the “delegation is also expected to discuss measures to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.”
Pakistan and Türkiye have maintained close military ties in recent years.
Under a 2018 agreement, Türkiye is delivering four MILGEM-class corvettes to the Pakistan Navy, with two built in Istanbul and two at Karachi Shipyard under a technology transfer arrangement.
The first vessel, PNS Babur, was delivered in 2023.
IMF’s $2.5 billion inflows this fiscal year to back Pakistan’s return to global bonds — analysts
- The IMF country representative to Pakistan says the government’s program implementation remains strong
- Analysts say IMF support was crucial during default scare and will remain vital until economic stabilization
KARACHI: Pakistan is expected to receive about $2.5 billion in financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the current fiscal year (FY26), which analysts say will support the country’s bid to re-enter the international bonds market through instruments such as sukuk or Panda bonds.
The funding will be part of the IMF’s $7 billion commitment to Pakistan over the next two years, comprising $5.2 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and $1.4 billion through the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), aimed at strengthening the country’s foreign exchange reserves, according to the IMF’s latest country report.
“The first review under the RSF, if on schedule, would go to the Executive Board for approval sometime in late 2025, along with the second EFF review,” IMF’s resident representative Mahir Binici told Arab News in a text message.
The Fund’s second review of Pakistan’s economy and end-June 2025 performance criteria is scheduled for September 15. If completed successfully, it would lead to the release of approximately $1.04 billion under the EFF and $211 million through the RSF. A third review is scheduled for March 2026 and would entitle Pakistan to the same amount of funding, if cleared.
“This would be the earliest time at which Pakistan could access RSF-related financing,” said Mahir, referring to the $1.4 billion climate resilience loan the lender approved earlier this year in May. The RSF will be disbursed in equal tranches of about $211 million over the next 28 months.
Pakistan is consistently ranked among the nations most vulnerable to climate change. The country suffered its worst floods in 2022, which killed over 1,700 people, displaced millions and caused infrastructure damage worth an estimated $30 billion. Even this monsoon season, flash floods have already killed more than 60 people, mostly in the country’s northwest and central regions.
The climate funding will be disbursed “with each joint EFF and RSF review,” Mahir said.
“The first EFF review and RSF request were recently concluded, and the program implementation has been strong,” he said in response to a question about Pakistan’s performance in terms of compliance with the loan’s conditions.
Sana Tawfik, a Karachi-based economist and head of research at Arif Habib Ltd., said the IMF’s financial support was a key factor behind Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic indicators and would keep the government on track to secure funding from both bilateral and commercial lenders.
“The bilateral lenders like China, Saudi Arabia and other countries, as well as Pakistan’s commercial lenders closely observe whether or not the IMF is onboard,” she said.
Tawfik maintained Pakistan was aiming to return to the international bonds market, potentially through a sukuk issue or Panda bonds.
In March, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said his government aimed to raise about $200 million through Panda bonds by December 2025 to diversify funding sources, reduce dependence on Western markets, and boost foreign exchange reserves.
The move came after an improvement in Pakistan’s sovereign credit rating by three major agencies, with the government targeting a “single-B” rating to regain access to global debt markets.
“The IMF staying on board is very important for this,” Tawfik said, adding that continued dollar inflows were also critical to repaying Pakistan’s external debt.
In FY26 alone, the country is expected to repay around $17 billion in foreign loans, excluding the current account deficit, according to IMF data.
“The significance of this 37-month loan program is that it came as a medium-term support for Pakistan and that’s why we are seeing improvement in our macroeconomic indicators,” she told Arab News.
Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., said participation in the IMF program served as a crucial policy anchor, supporting structural reforms aimed at stabilizing Pakistan’s fragile economy.
While the country looks to tap global capital markets, Ghani said “association with the Fund is essential for enhancing confidence among both local and international investors.”
He added that continued IMF backing was key to unlocking further multilateral and bilateral support.
Tawfik agreed.
“The IMF support was important for Pakistan at the time [it came close to] default [in 2023] and it will remain important until we properly stabilize as an economy,” she said.
250,000 Pakistanis register for Hajj 2026 as deadline ends today
- Applicants can choose between government and private Hajj schemes after registering
- Registration is mandatory for all intending pilgrims, though no fee is required at this stage
ISLAMABAD: Some 250,000 Pakistanis have signed up to perform Hajj in 2026 as the deadline for mandatory registration ends today, Wednesday, state media reported.
Last month, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the launch of the Hajj registration process, which would remain open until July 9. After the deadline, applicants will be able to choose between the government and private Hajj schemes.
Intending pilgrims can register through 15 designated banks, and only those who complete the process will be eligible to perform Hajj next year. No fee is required at the registration stage.
“With just one day remaining for the mandatory registration of Hajj 2026, as many as 250,000 Pakistanis have completed the process,” the Associated Press of Pakistan said in a report on Tuesday.
“It is noteworthy to mention that Wednesday, July 9, is the final date for intending pilgrims to register for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage.”
People may also submit their applications online, it said, adding that the expenses and other terms and conditions of Hajj 2026 will be issued separately as per the Hajj policy.
Registration is mandatory for pilgrims who were left out of the private scheme this year, as well as for Pakistanis residing abroad.
Pakistan had received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025, evenly divided between the government and private Hajj operators.
However, a major portion of the private quota remained unutilized due to delays by companies in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government filled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.
Private operators blamed the situation on technical glitches such as payment issues and communication breakdowns.
Pakistan actress Humaira Asghar Ali found dead at Karachi home — police
- Ali’s body was discovered when a court bailiff arrived at her rented flat to get it vacated
- The actress appeared on ARY’s reality TV show ‘Tamasha’ as well as in a 2015 film ‘Jalaibee’
KARACHI: Humaira Asghar Ali, a Pakistani actor and model, was found dead at an apartment in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, police said late Tuesday.
Ali’s body was discovered when a court bailiff arrived at the rented apartment to get it vacated on court orders on a complaint filed by the landlord, according to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mehroz Ali.
“The landlord had filed a court case to have the premises vacated. Today, when the bailiff arrived with a court-issued break-and-enter order and forced open the door, the woman’s body was found inside,” SSP Ali told Arab News.
“The woman has been identified as Humaira Asghar Ali who was a TV actress. It has been learned that she was originally from Lahore.”
The deceased actor was best known for her appearances on ARY’s reality TV show ‘Tamasha’ as well as a 2015 action thriller, ‘Jalaibee.’
Following post-mortem, Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said, the deceased’s body was in a “very advanced stage of decomposition,” which suggested that she died around a month ago.
“We have collected all relevant samples for analysis. Cause of death reserved,” Syed said.
Ali’s death comes just weeks after renowned actress Ayesha Khan was found dead in her apartment in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, according to police.
Her neighbors reported a foul smell emitting out of her apartment that led to the discovery of the 84-year-old’s body.
