ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s capital has become an unlikely pandemic transit route for Pakistanis desperate to reach the riches of Saudi Arabia despite deteriorating security and the threat of bomb blasts.
With most Gulf flights from Pakistan canceled as the country is added to a growing number of coronavirus travel blacklists, thousands of workers are hoping to reach the kingdom after first spending two weeks in Kabul.
“I’m a little bit worried,” said Sohaib Siddiqui, a 31-year-old electrical engineer from Lahore, in line at the Afghanistan embassy in Islamabad.
But he added that he was “willing to take risks,” explaining that a job in Saudi Arabia would allow him to send between 50,000 and 100,000 rupees ($325-$650) a month to his family of three.
The Gulf countries have long been a vital avenue of employment for Pakistanis, who send back billions of dollars in remittances every year, propping up the cash-strapped economy.
In the past month alone, tens of thousands of Pakistanis have applied for transit visas at the Afghan embassy in Islamabad, according to an official at the mission.
Over the past week, hundreds have camped overnight to submit their paperwork.
The plan is not foolproof, however, with the one direct flight between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia canceled in recent days, according to a travel agent in Kabul.
Special flights were available only to workers who already had Saudi residency — at a cost of around $1,300.
“We have no choice, what should we do?” said Tanweer Ahmad while waiting in line in Islamabad to file his application for an Afghan visa.
At a diagnostic center in Kabul, doctors have been mobbed with Pakistanis desperate for the Covid-19 tests needed to enter Saudi Arabia, doubling demand at the lab in recent weeks.
“Saudis and the Pakistanis trust Afghan laboratories,” beamed Sediqqullah Safi, a doctor at the testing center, saying he hoped the new batch of visitors would inject much-needed money into the capital’s slumping economy.
“They come here with benefits; they’re spending money on shopping, transportation, and of course on coronavirus tests.”
For Anwar Khan, who spent two weeks in the capital and is hoping to fly to Saudi Arabia soon, the unnerving trip has been worth it.
“One would of course worry about security,” said Khan. “Thank God there has been no problem (for) us so far.”
For those still hoping to make it to Afghanistan — where virus cases are also rising following the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Fitr — any future change in the rules might make the trip impossible, or leave them stranded in Kabul after exhausting their savings.
“I have small kids at home and no other source of income,” said Liaquat Ali. “We are taking a big risk going to Afghanistan. There are no guarantees.”
Afghanistan becomes unlikely coronavirus stopover for Pakistani workers traveling to Saudi Arabia
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Afghanistan becomes unlikely coronavirus stopover for Pakistani workers traveling to Saudi Arabia
- With most Gulf flights from Pakistan canceled, thousands of workers hope to reach kingdom after spending two weeks in Kabul
- In the past month, tens of thousands of Pakistanis have applied for transit visas at Afghan embassy in Islamabad
Pakistani PM seeks ‘immediate’ restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza following ceasefire accord
- Deal between Hamas and Israel outlines six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip
- In 15 months of war, Israel has laid to waste much of Gaza, pre-war population of 2.3 million people has been displaced multiple times
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called for humanitarian assistance to be restored “immediately” to Gaza and other war-torn areas, a day after a ceasefire accord was reached between Israel and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
The deal comes after months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the US and 15 months of war during which Israel has laid to waste much of Gaza and the pre-war population of 2.3 million people has been displaced multiple times. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave as “catastrophic.”
A six-week initial ceasefire phase includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. The deal requires 600 truckloads of humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza every day of the ceasefire, 50 of them carrying fuel, with 300 of the trucks allocated to the north.
“It is imperative that provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance is immediately restored to Gaza and other war-torn areas,” Sharif wrote on X, welcoming the ceasefire and thanking the US, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other nations who helped broker the deal.
“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and pays homage to the sacrifices of tens of thousands of innocent people who lost their lives as victims of Israeli atrocities over the past several decades.”
If successful, the ceasefire will halt fighting that has razed much of heavily urbanized Gaza and killed over 46,000 people, according to Gaza authorities. That in turn could defuse tensions across the wider Middle East, where the war has stoked conflict in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and raised fears of all-out war between arch regional foes Israel and Iran.
“It is hoped that the truce would lead to permanent ceasefire and help in scaling up humanitarian assistance,” Pakistani foreign office spokesman, Shafqat Ali Khan, said at a weekly press briefing, calling for the “immediate and full implementation” of the ceasefire accord.
Islamabad, which does not recognize nor have diplomatic ties with Israel, said “indiscriminate” use of force by Israeli forces had caused unprecedented loss of lives and property and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians while its “expansionist designs” had destabilized the entire Middle East region.
“Pakistan reiterates its support for a just, comprehensive, and durable solution to the Palestinian issue, leading to the establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” Khan added.
SALIENT FEATURES OF CEASEFIRE DEAL
Under the deal, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (soldiers and civilians), children, and men over 50. Hamas will release female hostages and under 19s first, followed by men over 50.
Meanwhile, Israel will release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli female soldier Hamas released. Israel will also release all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained since Oct. 7, 2023, by the end of the first phase. The total number of Palestinians released will depend on hostages released, and could be between 990 and 1,650 Palestinian detainees including men, women and children.
Hamas will release the hostages over a six-week period, with at least three hostages released each week and the remainder of the 33 before the end of the period. All living hostages will be released first, followed by remains of dead hostages.
The implementation of the agreement will be guaranteed by Qatar, Egypt and the United States.
Negotiations over a second phase of the agreement will begin by the 16th day of phase one and are expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli soldiers.
A third phase is expected to include the return of all remaining dead bodies and the start of Gaza’s reconstruction, supervised by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.
At a news conference in Doha on Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the ceasefire would take effect on Sunday. Negotiators were working with Israel and Hamas on steps to implement the agreement, he said.
“This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the [Israeli] hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” US President Joe Biden said in Washington.
Israel’s acceptance of the deal will not be official until it is approved by the country’s security cabinet and government, with votes slated for Thursday, an Israeli official said.
While people celebrated the pact in Gaza and Israel, Israel’s military escalated attacks after the announcement, the civil emergency service and residents said.
Heavy Israeli bombardment, especially in Gaza City, killed 32 people late on Wednesday, medics said. The strikes continued early on Thursday and destroyed houses in Rafah in southern Gaza, Nuseirat in central Gaza and in northern Gaza, residents said.
Israel’s military made no immediate comment and there were no reports of Hamas attacks on Israel after the ceasefire announcement.
A Palestinian official close to the ceasefire negotiations said mediators were seeking to persuade both sides to suspend hostilities ahead of the ceasefire going into effect, Reuters reported.
With inputs from Reuters
Pakistan denies speculation over Wakhan Corridor takeover amid tensions with Afghanistan
- Foreign office says Pakistan recognizes Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity
- It also mentions TTP ‘sanctuaries’ on Afghan soil as a key issue straining ties with Kabul
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan dismissed speculation on Thursday about taking over Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor, following complaints by officials in Islamabad of cross-border militant attacks, with the foreign office reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the neighboring country.
The Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land in northeastern Afghan region, connects Afghanistan to China and separates Tajikistan from Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Pakistan has experienced a surge in militant attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in recent years, with Islamabad accusing the Afghan administration in Kabul of “facilitating” such cross-border violence. Afghan officials, however, have consistently denied the claim.
Tensions escalated between the two countries following reports of Pakistani airstrikes targeting alleged militant camps in Afghanistan in December. Afghan officials reported the strikes resulted in civilian casualties, warning Pakistan of consequences.
“The Wakhan Corridor is a part of Afghan territory,” foreign office spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan said during the weekly news conference. “For us, Afghanistan is a neighbor of Pakistan. We recognize its sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is no question of Pakistan having designs on one of its neighbors.”
Stretching approximately 350 kilometers, the corridor also holds strategic significance as a potential trade and transit route, particularly within the frameworks of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Khan highlighted the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries and Pakistan’s commitment to fostering strong ties with Afghanistan.
“[Afghanistan] is an important neighbor,” he said. “Both countries understand the importance of this equation, the importance of good relations between two neighbors.”
“We wish Afghanistan the best,” he added. “And we want to nurture and develop strong, vibrant relations the way it should be between two neighbors.”
While addressing the broader bilateral relationship, he noted ongoing diplomatic efforts to address security concerns, particularly regarding the presence of the TTP on Afghan soil.
“One of the key problems right now is the sanctuaries that the terrorist group TTP enjoys on Afghan soil. The two sides are in contact on this,” he said, adding that diplomatic engagements between the countries were multi-layered and often go unreported.
Pakistan say aiming to finish ICC Test Championship 2023-25 on ‘winning note’
- West Indies will play a Test match in Pakistan for first time since December 2006
- They are currently positioned at bottom of the ICC World Test Championship table
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will aim to finish the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 on a winning note when they face West Indies in the two-match Test series commencing at the Multan Cricket Stadium from Jan. 17, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Thursday.
West Indies, who will play a Test match in Pakistan for the first time since December 2006, are currently positioned at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship table. In the last Test series between the two sides on Pakistan soil, PCB Hall of Famer Inzamam-ul-Haq led the home side to a 2-0 win in three-match Test series.
Pakistan and West Indies last faced each other in the red-ball format in 2021 in West Indies, where the two-match series was levelled 1-1.
Pakistan under the leadership of Shan Masood will be looking to win their second consecutive home series after they defeated England 2-1 in October last year.
“This is our last Test series in the current ICC World Test Championship cycle, and we would like to finish it on a winning note. Every match in this format holds great importance, and we are committed to giving it our all to end the campaign with a memorable series win,” Shan Masood, Pakistan’s Test captain, said.
“West Indies are a decent side with a lot of talented players. They bring a unique style to the game, and we know they will push us hard. Test cricket is about adapting to challenges, and as a team, we are prepared to respond to whatever comes our way.
“The series win against England at home has given us a lot of confidence and momentum. We are fully focused on putting in strong performances and carrying forward that winning attitude.”
West Indies’ Test Captain Kraigg Brathwaite said the team was a “very excited” to be in Pakistan.
“I personally had never come to Pakistan before and probably the majority of players are also touring for the first time and we are really looking forward to doing well in the series. Pakistan are a strong side at home, so we look forward to doing well in these conditions,” Brathwaite was quoted as saying in a statement shared by PCB.
“Our team’s performance will be quite crucial here, and obviously putting runs on the board is important but taking 20 wickets will be the key to win the Test match.
“Our preparations are going well, we had few days in Islamabad where we played a practice game which went quite good for us as a group and we had our sessions here in Multan which were helpful as well.”
Pakistan’s 15-member squad has undergone three days of extensive training, while the Brathwaite-led side practiced for two days at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The touring side also featured in a three-day warm-up game against Pakistan Shaheens at the Islamabad Club in Islamabad last week.
The home side squad comprises of three uncapped players – Kashif Ali (right-arm fast bowler), Mohammad Huraira (right-handed batter) and Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper-batter), while Abrar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ali and Sajid Khan have been recalled to the side.
Abrar and Sajid require 11 and six wickets, respectively to complete their 50 Test wickets each.
Pakistan squad:
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper/batter), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper/batter), Sajid Khan, and Salman Ali Agha.
West Indies 12 for the 1st Test:
Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Alick Athanaze, Amir Jangoo (wicket-keeper), Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Keacy Carty, Kevin Sinclair, Mikyle Louis and Tevin Imlach
Also, part of the squad but not considered for selection in the first Test:
Anderson Phillip, Joshua Da Silva (vice-captain) and Kemar Roach
Third round of talks start between Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan government
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party held first round of talks with government on Dec. 23, second on Jan. 2
- Party is demanding release of political prisoners, judicial probe into allegations it led violent protests
ISLAMABAD: The political party of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan is holding a third round of talks with the government today, Thursday, to demand the release of its leader and other political activists and the formation of judicial commissions to probe accusations the party led violent protests.
Khan’s ouster in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in 2022 has since plunged the country into long-term political crisis, particularly since the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was jailed in August last year on corruption and other charges and remains behind bars. Khan’s party and supporters regularly hold protests calling for his release, with some of the demonstrations turning violent, including one in November last year in which the government says four troops were killed and the PTI says 12 of its supporters died.
Khan’s brief arrest on May 9, 2023, in a land graft case had also sparked countrywide protests that saw his supporters attack and ransack military installations in an unprecedented backlash against Pakistan’s powerful army generals. Hundreds of PTI supporters and leaders were subsequently arrested and dozens remain in jail as they face trail before civilian and military courts.
While Khan had previously rejected talks with the government, saying his party would only speak to the ‘real powerbrokers’ in Pakistan, the all-powerful army, last month he set up a negotiating committee of top PTI leaders to open dialogue with the government on two main demands: the release of political prisoners and the establishment of judicial commissions to investigate the May 9, 2023, and Nov. 26, 2024 protests.
The first round of talks took place on Dec. 23 and the second on Jan. 2.
“This is the third meeting between the treasury and the opposition,” Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of parliament’s National Assembly, or lower house, who initiated efforts to open talks, said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
“We had some misunderstanding, there were delays and communication gaps but now we are ready [for a third round of talks].
“I hope today’s meeting will take this process forward, which all of Pakistan is watching, that gracefully and with honesty of purpose from both sides, we can carry out this process.”
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the party would submit its demands in writing to the government negotiating team during the third round of talks.
“We expect that the government will ponder over the demands with seriousness,” Gohar had said a day earlier. “We hope that if [the government] participates with seriousness, an open mind, and sincerity, a solution can be found to all the issues.”
The talks opened last month as Khan had threatened a civil disobedience movement and amid growing concerns he could face trial by a military court for allegedly inciting attacks on sensitive security installations during the May 9 protests.
The negotiations also began two days after 25 civilians were sentenced by a military court to periods of two to 10 years of “rigorous imprisonment” in connection with the attacks on military facilities on May 9. Just days later on Dec. 26, another 60 civilians were sentenced by a military court to jail time ranging from 2 to 10 years.
Khan, facing a slew of legal cases from jail, says all charges against him are politically motivated to keep him and his party out of power. Khan had to sit out February 2024 general elections as convicted felons cannot run for public office in Pakistan.
Pakistan PM boosts SME loans, plans special package for women entrepreneurs
- Shehbaz Sharif says empowering youth and women entrepreneurs will help create additional jobs in economy
- The government plans to conduct a comprehensive SME survey to improve the facilities provided to them
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed on Thursday to increase the loan limit for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) under a government program from Rs500,000 to Rs1.5 million, while also calling for a special package for women entrepreneurs to support their businesses.
Earlier this month, Sharif described SMEs as the “backbone” of Pakistan’s economy and directed officials to take measures to integrate them into the global supply chain.
Pakistan has been striving to attract foreign investment while recovering from a prolonged economic crisis marked by a balance of payments challenge, dwindling foreign reserves and a depreciating rupee.
Sharif recently underscored the need to first strengthen domestic investment to make the country more appealing to foreign businesses.
“Under the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, the loan amount for small businesses should be increased from Rs500,000 [$1,794] to Rs1.5 million [$5,381],” Sharif’s office said in an official statement after be chaired a meeting. “A special package for women entrepreneurs should be formulated and presented soon to support their small businesses.”
The government announced several initiatives, including the introduction of a new category for micro and home-based businesses, offering simplified loan procedures and enhanced support.
Sharif emphasized that empowering women and youth entrepreneurs would not only help generate self-employment but also create more job opportunities across the country.
“SMEs play a key role in economic development worldwide,” the prime minister said. “The government’s top priority is to promote them to boost the country’s exports.”
“The government is committed to empowering youth and women entrepreneurs to such an extent that they not only generate self-employment but also create additional job opportunities,” he added.
The PM Office also highlighted plans to conduct a comprehensive survey of SMEs nationwide to improve the facilities provided to them.
Additionally, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) is set to launch financial literacy and training programs by February, alongside initiatives to introduce SMEs to modern technology by mid-year.
