British royal couple meets Pakistani leadership

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Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attend a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Oct. 15, 2019. (Reuters)
Updated 15 October 2019
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British royal couple meets Pakistani leadership

  • The royal visit signifies Pakistan has come out of international isolation, says the ruling PTI party
  • This is first UK royal trip since 2006

ISLAMABAD: Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton on Tuesday met President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan at the outset of their five-day tour of Pakistan amid tight security.
Khan received the royal couple at the doorstep of his official residence in Islamabad shortly after they were greeted by President Alvi and his wife at the Presidency. The country’s foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and his wife were also in attendance.
“While welcoming the Royal couple, Prime Minister Imran Khan recalled the love and affection among the people of Pakistan for Princess Diana because of her compassion as well as commitment to support charitable causes,” read an official handout circulated by the PM House later in the day.
“The Prime Minister apprised the Royal couple of domestic priorities and Pakistan’s perspective on external environment, including relations with India post 5 August and support for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” it continued.
In response, The Duke of Cambridge thanked the government for its warm welcome and hospitality and described Pakistan as “a very important country for the UK.”




In this photo released by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, visiting British royal couple, Prince William, second left, and his wife, Kate Middleton, second right, meet with Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi, center left, and his wife, Samina Alvi, in Islamabad on Oct. 15, 2019. (Photo courtesy: PTI)

The country’s ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party also tweeted about the meetings with great pride, branding the British royal visit as “historic.”
“Pakistan has come out of international isolation due to engaging foreign policy under PTI Government,” the party said in one of its Twitter posts. “The current foreign policy to engage with all countries have enabled Royal couple to visit Pakistan on their maiden trip, this is first Royal trip since 2006.”
Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, also used the social media platform while expressing hope that the royal couple would take back good memories of Pakistan at the end of their visit.
She added that the visit was taking place only a few months after the British Airways resumed flights to Pakistan.
Earlier in the day, the royal couple also visited the government-run Islamabad Model College for Girls to “champion the importance of quality education, particularly for girls,” the British High Commission in Islamabad said in a statement.
They met pupils from kindergarten to sixth grade and saw how they were benefiting from Teach for Pakistan, a fast-track teacher training program modeled on the UK’s successful ‘Teach First’ scheme.
“49% of girls are out of school in Pakistan — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s engagement at Islamabad Model College is championing the importance of quality education, and how girls benefit from pursuing higher education and professional careers,” Kensington Palace, the official twitter account of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, wrote.




Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate interact with students during their visit to a school outside Islamabad on Oct. 15, 2019. (AP)

Prince William and Kate Middleton also visited the Margalla Hills to participate in a number of activities which highlighted Pakistan’s work to meet several of the sustainable development goals.
They joined children from four local schools to set up a leopard camera trap. “Environmental change and its impact is an increasingly serious issue in Pakistan, a country especially vulnerable to climate change. The Margalla Hills in particular face threats of encroachment, poaching, wildfires, invasive species and littering,” the British High Commission said.
Discussing the visit of the royal couple with Arab News, foreign policy experts called it important one for the country.
Rasul Bakhsh Rais, who teaches at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, said: “The royal visit serves a symbolic purpose highlighting the historic ties between Britain and Pakistan as a member of the Commonwealth. In the present context, the aim is to promote Pakistan’s positive image as a safe and secure country that is connected with the rest of the world community.”
He added that images of the visit would be splashed around the world, greatly contributing to the country’s image building exercise.
“The visit has certainly helped project a positive image of Pakistan. The high-profile visit of the royal couple will help remove the perception about Pakistan as being a dangerous country,” author Zahid Hussain told Arab News.
The couple received a red carpet welcome on Monday night when their plane touched down at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the garrison city adjacent to the country’s federal capital, Islamabad.
Pakistani authorities have deployed over 1,000 security personnel to ensure the royal couple’s protection.
Britain hopes the first royal visit to Pakistan in 13 years will further strengthen ties between two countries. “The UK’s links with Pakistan are extensive, and TRH (Their Royal Highnesses) are looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the people of Pakistan,” the British High Commission said in a statement.
The High Commission added that the royal couple would tour the country to see the dynamic, aspirational and modern Pakistan.
From the modern leafy capital Islamabad, to the vibrant city of Lahore, the mountainous countryside in the North, and the rugged border regions to the West, the visit will span over 1000km, and will take in Pakistan’s rich culture, its diverse communities, and its beautiful landscapes.


Suspected drone strike kills child, injures five in Pakistan’s South Waziristan

Updated 20 June 2025
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Suspected drone strike kills child, injures five in Pakistan’s South Waziristan

  • The incident mirrors a quadcopter strike last month that the military attributed to militant groups
  • The latest attack has sparked a sit-in, with residents demanding peace and protection in their homes

PESHAWAR: A suspected drone strike killed one child and injured five others in a remote village of Pakistan’s South Waziristan district on Friday, triggering protests by local residents who demanded greater security and clarity from the authorities.

The incident took place in the Dashka settlement near Makeen, a mountainous region that is part of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Local officials said the origin of the drone was still unknown, but the strike has renewed concerns following a similar attack last month in nearby North Waziristan that killed four children and sparked days of demonstrations.

“The attack took place at around 11:30 a.m.,” Abdul Qadir, a senior police officer in the district, told Arab News over the phone. “The children, aged between four and 11, were immediately rushed to Razmak Hospital for emergency medical treatment.”

Reacting to the development, Asif Khan Mehsud, a provincial lawmaker from the area, said his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) had consistently opposed drone strikes on Pakistani soil, labeling them a gross violation of human rights.

“This reckless attack on innocent civilians must be investigated,” he added.

Last month, a suspected quadcopter drone strike in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, killed four children and injured others, prompting mass protests and a statement from the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations.

The military said it had carried out an investigation into the incident, denied involvement and blamed the attack on militant groups, while residents demanded accountability and security guarantees.

On Friday, people in Makeen launched a protest sit-in, seeking protection rather than compensation, as local elders met with police and security officials to voice their outrage.

“We are not safe even in our own homes,” said Muhammad Jan, a tribal elder participating in the protest. “What we demand is not money or charity. We want protection and peace.”

He added that tribal elders would continue dialogue with local authorities to explore long-term security arrangements for the area.

Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt has witnessed militant violence, military operations and US drone attacks in the past.

While US-led international forces pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021, the issue of militancy continues, prompting security forces to launch intelligence-based operations in these areas.
 


Pakistan’s Shandur Polo Festival kicks off at world’s highest ground, draws global tourists

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistan’s Shandur Polo Festival kicks off at world’s highest ground, draws global tourists

  • The festival is held annually and brings together teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan for freestyle polo matches
  • Played at 12,000 feet, these matches attract spectators, tourists from across the world to witness the unique event

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s annual Shandur Polo Festival began Friday at an altitude of 12,000 feet in the country’s mountainous north, with officials calling it a celebration of culture, sportsmanship and peace that draws tourists from around the world.

Held each year at the Shandur Pass in Upper Chitral, the three-day festival features traditional freestyle polo matches between teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, alongside folk music, camping, paragliding and cultural exhibitions.

The event is considered a major tourist attraction and is played on what is often described as the highest polo ground in the world.

“Shandur Polo is one of our most important cultural sports, played at 12,000 feet,” said Syed Fakhar Jahan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, at the opening ceremony, according to an official statement.

“Spectators and tourists from around the world come to witness this unique event,” he added. “We welcome them all.”

The festival sees teams from Gilgit and Chitral compete in fast-paced, no-holds-barred matches played without umpires, a throwback to the region’s centuries-old polo traditions.

Officials say the event aims to foster unity and harmony between the two regions, which share historical ties and a friendly sporting rivalry.

“Such activities send a message of peace to the world,” the provincial minister said. “Pakistanis are a people who cherish their cultural heritage, and this festival reflects that spirit.”


Pakistan eases visa rules for Afghan transporters, drivers to improve trade amid deportation drive

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistan eases visa rules for Afghan transporters, drivers to improve trade amid deportation drive

  • Pakistan has deported around 979,486 Afghan nationals since the launch of an expulsion drive in 2023
  • Pakistan and Afghanistan have recently taken steps to restore diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will issue multiple-entry visas valid for one year to Afghan drivers and transporters to facilitate cross-border trade, its embassy in Kabul announced on Friday, amid an ongoing campaign to deport undocumented Afghan nationals.

Afghan drivers play a vital role in bilateral and transit trade between the two countries.

Under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), Afghan transporters are allowed to move goods between Pakistani ports and their countries major cities like Kandahar, Jalalabad and Kabul.

The Pakistan government’s decision to issue visas comes at a time when the government has repatriated 979,486 Afghan nationals since launching a deportation drive in 2023 over security concerns.

“The Government of Pakistan has decided to issue multiple-entry visas of one-year validity to Afghan drivers and transporters,” the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul said in a post on X. “The visa fee for this category would be $100.”

 

The new visa policy is likely to benefit ongoing trade flows, especially as Pakistan remains a primary corridor for Afghanistan’s access to international markets.

Afghan trucks are permitted to transport goods under the APTTA framework, including third-country imports destined for Afghanistan.

Applicants for the new visa will be required to upload a photograph, a scanned copy of their passport, Afghanistan’s national identity document, a valid temporary admission document, an employment letter from a registered transport company or an authority letter from a transport operator and a valid driving license.

Pakistan’s deportation policy in 2023 followed a spike in militant attacks, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan.

Islamabad has previously linked such attacks and other crimes to Afghan nationals, who make up the largest migrant population in the country, though Kabul has denied any nexus between the two.

Despite tensions, both countries have recently taken steps to restore diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level.


Pakistan, China, Bangladesh agree to enhance cooperation in trade, investment and maritime affairs

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistan, China, Bangladesh agree to enhance cooperation in trade, investment and maritime affairs

  • Pakistan and Bangladesh are both part of China’s multi-billion, ambitious Belt and Road Initiative project
  • All three sides hold trilateral vice foreign minister/foreign secretary meeting in Kunming, Yunnan on Thursday

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials of Pakistan, Bangladesh and China on Friday vowed to enhance trilateral cooperation in various sectors such as trade, investment, health, education, maritime affairs and others, the Chinese foreign ministry said. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh are both part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which aims to connect Asia, Africa and Europe. China envisions the BRI to be a global network of roads, railways, ports, energy pipelines and trade corridors that strengthens Beijing’s trade ties with other regions for the benefit of its economy. 

Pakistan and China are historic allies while strained ties between Islamabad and Dhaka have started to improve since the ouster of former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina last year. The China-Pakistan-Bangladesh Trilateral Vice Foreign Minister/Foreign Secretary meeting was held in Kunming, Yunnan on Thursday, to discuss cooperation in various sectors between the three countries. 

The meeting was attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladeshi Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique and Pakistani Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Imran Ahmed Siddiqui. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated in the first phase of the meeting via video link.

“The three sides agreed to explore and implement cooperation projects in such areas as industry, trade, maritime affairs, water resources, climate change, agriculture, human resources, think tanks, health, education, culture, and youth,” the Chinese foreign ministry said. 

The statement said Pakistan, Bangladesh and China will establish a working group to follow up and implement the understandings reached during the meeting on Thursday. The three sides emphasized that China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation adheres to true multilateralism and open regionalism, not directed at any third party, it added. 

Pakistan’s foreign office said Baloch conveyed Islamabad’s readiness to work with China and Bangladesh to enhance ties in trade and investment, agriculture, digital economy, environment protection, marine sciences, green infrastructure, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges. 

“The three sides agreed that trilateral cooperation would be guided by the principles of openness, inclusivity, good neighborliness, mutual respect and trust, while working toward win-win cooperation,” Pakistan’s foreign office said. 

Pakistan has recently eyed closer cooperation in trade and investment with regional allies as it grapples with a macroeconomic crisis that has drained its financial resources, significantly weakened its currency and triggered a balance of payments crisis for the South Asian country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly spoken about his government’s intention to enter “mutually beneficial” partnerships with allies as opposed to seeking loans from them.

In recent months Pakistan has signed memoranda of understanding with allies such as Saudi Arabia, China, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Turkiye and others worth billions of dollars.


Pakistani minister, FIFA president discuss football’s growing popularity in country

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistani minister, FIFA president discuss football’s growing popularity in country

  • Football has been growing popular over the years in Pakistan, particularly among young fans
  • Mohsin Naqvi invites Gianni Infantino to Pakistan, discusses potential of sports in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday to discuss football’s growing popularity in Pakistan and the potential that the sport has in the country, the minister said in a statement. 

Football in Pakistan has long existed in the shadow of cricket. However, the sport has been growing popular over the years, particularly among the youth, who form a passionate fan base in urban centers.

Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), met Infantino in Washington on Friday. 

“Had an excellent meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino,” Naqvi said in a post on X following his meeting with him during a trip to the US.

“We discussed the immense potential of sports in Pakistan — especially the growing popularity of football following cricket,” he added. 

Pakistan and FIFA share a complex yet evolving relationship, shaped by ongoing efforts to develop football infrastructure and promote the sport in the country.

Pakistan has faced repeated administrative challenges and international suspensions, largely due to government interference in football affairs.

In 2019, FIFA appointed a normalization committee to restore order within the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and facilitate the holding of democratic elections.

FIFA suspended the PFF earlier in February after its elected congress rejected the constitutional amendments proposed by the global football body but the ban was reversed in March after PFF accepted the proposed constitutional amendments.

However, Pakistan remains committed to elevating its football profile despite recurring setbacks such as suspensions.

The Pakistan national football team last played a match in March, losing 2–0 to Syria in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier.

The next FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.