In bombshell, Trump calls off secret summit, talks with Taliban

In this file photo taken on April 27, 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (R) takes the stage after being introduced by former US Ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. US President Donald Trump said Saturday August 7 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. (AFP)
Updated 08 September 2019
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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

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.


Pakistan PM directs inclusion of business sector input in budget preparation

Updated 9 sec ago
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Pakistan PM directs inclusion of business sector input in budget preparation

  • Shehbaz Sharif chaired a review meeting of the Export Facilitation Scheme to determine how to improve its effectiveness
  • The incumbent government will be presenting its second federal budget in June after assuming political power last year

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday instructed the government to include suggestions from the industrial and business sectors in the upcoming budget preparation while chairing a meeting to review the country’s exports, his office announced.
The move signals the government’s intent to adopt a more inclusive approach in shaping fiscal policy for the next financial year, as it faces pressure to revive economic growth, attract investment and address concerns from the private sector.
The incumbent government will be presenting its second federal budget in June after assuming power last year.
“Consultation with industries and business organizations should be included in the preparation of the upcoming budget and their suggestions should be incorporated into it,” the PM Office quoted Sharif as saying following the meeting on the Export Facilitation Scheme, a policy initiative by the Federal Board of Revenue simplifying the import of raw materials, machinery and input goods for exporters, with minimal duties and taxes.
“Increasing revenue from exports is a top priority of the government,” he added.
He highlighted the importance of consulting sector experts on the committee’s recommendations to improve the scheme, particularly regarding the import of raw materials and machinery for export industries.
Sharif directed authorities to present a level playing field for local industries, adding that the scheme was launched to reduce production costs and enhance Pakistan’s competitiveness in domestic exports.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers, an adviser to the PM, Pakistan’s tax authority chief and businessmen from the export industry.


Pakistan calls for global action over Israel’s killing of Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza

Updated 23 min 3 sec ago
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Pakistan calls for global action over Israel’s killing of Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza

  • Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan urges the world to put end to Israeli violations of international law
  • Israel deliberately killed 15 Palestinian emergency workers last month in a shooting incident captured on video

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan urged the international community on Thursday to take notice of Israel’s latest “barbarity” in the Gaza Strip while referring to the killing of 15 Palestinian emergency workers in a shooting incident captured on video.
The emergency workers were shot dead on March 23 and buried in shallow graves. Initially, the Israeli military claimed it opened fire after unmarked vehicles approached its soldiers in the dark, but later changed the statement after video footage emerged showing clearly marked ambulances and fire trucks with their lights on coming under fire.
The war in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has continued despite repeated international appeals for a ceasefire. The Palestinian death toll has reportedly surpassed 50,000, with women and children making up a significant portion of the casualties.
“Pakistan in the strongest possible terms condemns the continued aggression and atrocities committed by Israeli occupation forces in occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Gaza,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during his weekly media briefing.
“In the latest incidents of brutality, Israel has mercilessly killed 15 Palestinian emergency and civil defense workers,” he continued. “Pakistan demand that the international community should take immediate notice of this barbarity and stop this blatant violation of international law and charter of the United Nations.”

 
Khan highlighted his country’s condemnation of the continued aggression by Israeli forces in Gaza.
Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has consistently supported the Palestinian demand for an independent state based on pre-1967 borders.
It has repeatedly raised concerns over the Gaza conflict at various global forums, including the UN Security Council, and has called for a ceasefire and accountability for Israel’s actions.


World Bank investment arm commits $300 million loan to Pakistan’s Reko Diq mining project

Updated 10 April 2025
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World Bank investment arm commits $300 million loan to Pakistan’s Reko Diq mining project

  • Located in Balochistan, Reko Diq is among the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold reserves
  • IFC says its involvement will mitigate project risks and support sustainable mining practices in Pakistan

KARACHI: The World Bank’s private investment arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will extend $300 million in debt financing for Pakistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mining project, according to an IFC project disclosure published on Wednesday.
Reko Diq, located in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, is among the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold reserves. Once operational, it is expected to significantly boost Pakistan’s exports, generate substantial tax and royalty revenues and contribute to economic growth and job creation.
IFC said its involvement will mitigate project risks in the restive Balochistan region and support sustainable mining practices.
“The estimated total Project cost is $6.6bn, and it will be financed using a combination of debt and equity,” IFC announced while sharing a summary of its investment.
“IFC’s proposed investment consists of an A-loan of up to $300 million,” it added. “Other parallel lenders will provide the remaining debt financing.”
An A-loan is a direct loan provided by the IFC from its own funds, typically with long-term repayments. It is a form of debt financing, requiring the borrower to repay the loan with interest, unlike equity financing where the investor takes ownership stakes in the project.
The Reko Diq project is being supported by IFC’s technical and financial expertise. The institution will act as Environmental and Social (E&S) coordinator, ensuring adherence to its performance standards and helping implement best practices in sustainability.
IFC will also provide advisory support on mining operations, transport infrastructure and risk mitigation.
According to the investment summary document, the project will strengthen domestic supply chains and contribute to community development in Balochistan.
It is also expected to deepen domestic market integration by linking Balochistan to national and global markets and encouraging further investment in Pakistan’s mineral sector.
The IFC has actively engaged with Pakistan recently through several high-level visits and financial commitments. Earlier this year, its Managing Director Makhtar Diop visited the country in February and met with public and private sector stakeholders to expand IFC’s investment footprint and reaffirm its commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth.
Subsequently, the IFC announced plans to significantly increase its investment in Pakistan, with a target of up to $2 billion annually over the next decade, potentially amounting to $20 billion.
The initiative aligns with the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework, which envisions a combined investment of around $40 billion in Pakistan over ten years.

With input from Reuters
 


Pakistan PM departs for Belarus on two-day visit to boost bilateral cooperation

Updated 10 April 2025
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Pakistan PM departs for Belarus on two-day visit to boost bilateral cooperation

  • The two sides plan to sign several agreements during Sharif’s two-day visit, says Pakistan’s foreign office
  • Visit can also help Pakistan diversify trade partnerships since Belarus can be a gateway to Eurasian markets

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left for a two-day visit to the Eastern European country of Belarus on Thursday, his office said, as the two sides prepare to sign several agreements to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Belarus after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and has maintained diplomatic relations with it since 1994.

However, bilateral trade has remained modest, with annual volumes ranging between $50 and $65 million, according to the Belarusian embassy in Islamabad.

Belarus mainly exports tractors, trucks, potash fertilizers, synthetic yarns and tires to Pakistan, while Pakistani exports include rice, textiles, leather goods and surgical instruments.

“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has departed for a two-day official visit to Belarus,” the PM Office said in a statement. “At the invitation of His Excellency President Aleksandr Lukashenko, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to Belarus from April 10 to 11, 2025.”

According to another statement released by the foreign office earlier today, Sharif will hold talks with Lukashenko to review progress in areas of mutual interest.
“The two sides are expected to sign several agreements to further strengthen cooperation,” it added.
The prime minister’s visit follows a series of bilateral engagements in recent months. The Belarusian president visited Pakistan last November for his third official trip to the country, during which both sides signed a “Roadmap for Comprehensive Cooperation for 2025-2027” to expand economic ties and institutional linkages.
Fourteen other agreements and memorandums of understanding were also inked, covering cooperation in environmental protection, disaster management, halal trade and science and technology.
For Pakistan, closer ties with Belarus offer several strategic advantages that include diversifying trade partnerships beyond traditional markets, enhancing defense collaboration through access to Belarusian technology and tapping into regional connectivity opportunities, with Belarus serving as a potential gateway to Eurasian markets.
The partnership also complements Pakistan’s broader goals, such as the development of an export-oriented economy.


UAE to grant 100,000 Pakistanis five-year visas this year – Sindh governor’s office

Updated 10 April 2025
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UAE to grant 100,000 Pakistanis five-year visas this year – Sindh governor’s office

  • Official statement quotes the UAE envoy mentioning the number of these visas his country plans to issue
  • UAE consulate confirmed this week Pakistani citizens can apply for work, medical and other types of visas

KARACHI: The United Arab Emirates plans to issue five-year visas to 100,000 Pakistanis this year, according to an official statement released by authorities in Pakistan’s Sindh province on Wednesday, following a visit by Governor Kamran Khan Tessori to the UAE consulate in Karachi.
The governor’s office and UAE authorities in Pakistan said this week all visa-related issues between the two countries had been resolved, and Pakistani nationals could now apply for five-year visas to the Emirates.
The development came amid widespread reports in recent months of a decline in visa approvals for Pakistanis, allegedly due to violations of local laws and customs, as well as political sloganeering while abroad.
Tessori visited the UAE consulate in Karachi on the invitation of UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi following a meeting between the two officials in Karachi on Monday.
“The governor of Sindh, Kamran Khan Tessori, was warmly welcomed by the UAE ambassador and consul general during his visit to the UAE consulate,” the Governor House said in a statement.
“The governor toured the visa center at the consulate, where the ambassador briefed him on the facility,” it added. “Ambassador Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi said 100,000 Pakistanis would be granted five-year visas. The consul general added that applicants would be treated with great respect at the visa center and receive full cooperation.”
Earlier this week on Tuesday, the UAE consulate in Karachi issued a statement on the meeting between Tessori and Al-Zaabi.
“We love Pakistanis very much,” the statement quoted Consul General Bakheet Ateeq Al-Rumaithi as saying. “Every person can apply for a UAE visa … Pakistani citizens can also apply for a UAE visa for work, medical treatment and other needs.”
The UAE is home to more than a million Pakistani expatriates, making it the second-largest overseas Pakistani community globally and a major contributor to remittance inflows to Pakistan.
Policymakers in Pakistan also view the UAE as an ideal export market due to its proximity, which reduces transportation and freight costs and facilitates smoother trade.