Pakistan’s foreign minister says ‘happy’ to reach India to participate in regional moot

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Updated 04 May 2023
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Pakistan’s foreign minister says ‘happy’ to reach India to participate in regional moot

  • Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari hopes the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Goa is ‘very successful’
  • The conference comes over three years after Pakistan downgraded ties with India due to situation in Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday said he was “happy” to be in India to participate in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) while expressing hope that the regional gathering would be “very successful.”

The Pakistani minister, along with his delegation, arrived in India on Thursday morning to attend the two-day meeting.

The development is thought to be significant since Pakistan downgraded its relations with the rival South Asian nuclear-armed nation after New Delhi revoked the special constitutional status of Indian-administered Kashmir in August 2019 to integrate the Muslim-majority disputed Himalayan territory with the rest of the Indian union.

Bhutto-Zardari’s visit is the first one by a high-profile Pakistani official since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended Indian PM Narendra Modi’s swearing-in in 2014 and de facto Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz went to Amritsar in December 2016 to attend the Heart of Asia conference.

“I am very happy to reach Goa today to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) [meeting] and to lead the Pakistani delegation,” he said in a video message from India.

“I hope that the SCO’s CFM meeting will be very successful,” he added.

Prior to his departure, the Pakistani minister said his participation in the moot sent out a “clear message that Pakistan attributed tremendous significance to the SCO and seriously took its membership [responsibilities].”

He added that during the two-day trip, he would engage bilaterally with other countries which were part of the organization.

The foreign minister is attending the SCO’s CFM meeting at the invitation of the current SCO chair, Dr. S. Jaishankar, who is also India’s minister for external affairs.

The foreign office said Pakistan had been actively and constructively contributing to all SCO activities to realize its multi-sectoral aims and objectives in a mutually beneficial manner since becoming a member in 2017.

“The Foreign Minister will also meet with his counterparts of friendly countries on the sidelines of the CFM,” said the statement.

Speaking to Arab News after the announcement of the foreign minister’s visit, international affairs analyst Dr. Huma Baqai referred to the development as a “positive” one and urged political parties to refrain from indulging in politics since it was a national issue.

“We have been hostage to the Kashmir conflict for decades now, and people on both sides [Pakistan and India] remain at the losing end,” she said.

“Both countries should move on to normalize their relations for the benefit of their people,” she added.


Four dead, 19 injured as monsoon rains trigger building collapses, drownings in Punjab

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Four dead, 19 injured as monsoon rains trigger building collapses, drownings in Punjab

  • The provincial disaster agency has urged citizens to take precautionary measures as rains continue
  • Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also warned of torrential rains, hailstorms in several districts

ISLAMABAD: At least four people were killed and 19 injured in rain-related incidents across Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province over the past 24 hours, the provincial disaster management authority said on Thursday, as monsoon downpours triggered building collapses and drownings in several districts.

The statement came as authorities in both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned of continued rainfall through July 1, with Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issuing a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) alert for the country’s northern regions a day earlier.

“Two people died when weak, dilapidated structures collapsed in Okara and Bahawalnagar,” the Punjab PDMA said in a statement. “Two others drowned in separate incidents in Jhelum.”

Thirteen houses were also damaged in the province, mostly in rural or structurally vulnerable areas, the statement added.

Punjab’s disaster agency urged citizens to take precautionary measures and said financial compensation for the victims’ families would be provided under government policy.

Separately, the PDMA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa warned of torrential rains and hailstorms in several districts from Thursday evening through July 1, with a risk of glacier bursts in the north.

It issued alerts to local administrations in Chitral, Swat, Upper and Lower Dir and Kohistan to initiate preemptive measures and inform nearby communities.

Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with a history of extreme weather events linked to erratic monsoon patterns, glacial melt and heatwaves.

In 2022, record floods killed over 1,700 people and caused more than $30 billion in damages.

On Wednesday, the NDMA said continued high temperatures and intense monsoon activity were putting stress on glacial lakes in Pakistan’s mountainous north, raising the risk of flash floods.

Valleys in Chitral and Ghizer are among the most vulnerable, with warnings issued to avoid travel near glaciers and riverbanks.


Iran expressed rare gratitude to Pakistan amid recent Israel war — PM Sharif

Updated 42 min 44 sec ago
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Iran expressed rare gratitude to Pakistan amid recent Israel war — PM Sharif

  • Shehbaz Sharif acknowledges Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ‘significant role’ in defusing tensions
  • He also highlights Field Marshal Asim Munir’s lengthy meetings with the top American and Iranian officials

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the ceasefire that brought an end to the recent Israel-Iran conflict, saying Tehran had thanked Pakistan’s political and military leadership for playing a constructive role during the war after Field Marshal Asim Munir’s meetings with both American and Iranian officials.

The 12-day war began after Israel carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, killing several senior military commanders and scientists, while officials in Tehran were engaged in nuclear negotiations with the United States.

Shortly before the ceasefire was announced, US forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites and claimed to have set back Iran’s nuclear program by years.

“For the first time in history — and I am not just talking about the war itself, but on several fronts — Iran openly thanked Pakistan’s political and military leadership in a way that, in my view, has no precedent in recent times,” Sharif told the federal cabinet.

“Our Field Marshal had a luncheon meeting in Washington with President [Donald] Trump,” he continued. “Then in Istanbul, the army chief had a one-and-a-half-hour meeting with [Iranian Foreign Minister] Abbas Araghchi.

During that meeting, he specified Pakistan’s efforts. In response, he [Araghchi] said … ‘We [Iranians] were not the ones who attacked… If Israel stops, then we are ready for dialogue.’”

The prime minister said Pakistan also condemned the missile attacks on US bases in Qatar and had conveyed its position clearly to all sides.

He described Iran’s posture during the war as one of “dignity and restraint,” praising the Iranian people for refusing to capitulate under pressure.

Sharif said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also played a significant role in defusing tensions.

“I had a phone conversation with the Crown Prince,” he said. “We spoke in great detail. And I say this to you with full sincerity: he played a significant role in helping to stop this war.”

“As soon as Israel launched its attack, Saudi Arabia issued a strong statement of condemnation,” he added. “After that, the Crown Prince personally spoke to the President of Iran [Masoud Pezeshkian].”

As the ceasefire continues to hold between the two Middle Eastern rivals, President Trump has said American and Iranian officials could engage in talks next week, though Tehran has not confirmed any such plans.

Trump, speaking at a NATO summit, said he was not keen to resume formal negotiations but declared the war was over and insisted Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Iran’s parliament, meanwhile, voted to fast-track legislation suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, following US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

With input from AP


Pakistan decries use of torture in Palestine, Kashmir on UN anti-torture day

Updated 26 June 2025
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Pakistan decries use of torture in Palestine, Kashmir on UN anti-torture day

  • Rights groups have long reported widespread abuse in both areas, including arbitrary detentions
  • Pakistan calls for strong oversight mechanisms to prevent torture and promote accountability

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed grave concern over the use of torture as a tool of repression in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Indian-administered Kashmir, accusing the “occupying powers” of systematically inflicting abuse to suppress demands for self-determination.

The statement came on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, marked each year on June 26 to promote the eradication of torture and support survivors. The UN General Assembly designated the day in 1997, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1987 entry into force of the UN Convention Against Torture.

Human rights groups have long reported widespread abuse in both Palestine and Kashmir, including arbitrary detentions, custodial beatings and torture, particularly of young men and boys.

“The people of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue to be subjected to the worst forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the occupying powers to suppress their right to self-determination,” the foreign office said in a statement.

Reaffirming its commitment to human dignity and justice, Pakistan said it was strengthening legal reforms, institutional safeguards and oversight mechanisms to prevent torture and promote accountability.

It also underscored its provision of medical, legal, and psycho-social support to victims.

Citing the values of justice and compassion in religious teachings, the foreign ministry said any act of torture was incompatible with Islam and international law.

Pakistan called on the international community to condemn what it described as systematic crimes by occupying forces and to take steps to hold them accountable.


Balochistan youth swap trees for tech as Internet lab bridges digital divide

Updated 26 June 2025
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Balochistan youth swap trees for tech as Internet lab bridges digital divide

  • Rural innovation lab offers free Internet and digital skills to youth in underserved Bela district
  • Balochistan remains Pakistan’s least connected province despite its size and mineral wealth

LASBELA, Pakistan: When Abrar Roonjha returned to his hometown near Bela in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province during the COVID-19 lockdown, he was faced with a major dilemma: how would he attend online classes without reliable Internet connectivity. 

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, accounts for nearly 44% of the country’s landmass but only around 6% of its population. Despite its mineral wealth and geostrategic location, the militancy-plagued region remains the country’s most underserved in infrastructure and connectivity.

Combine that with the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a devastating impact on education across Pakistan, with prolonged school closures affecting more than 40 million students nationwide. According to a 2021 UNICEF report, around 23 million school-going children were unable to access remote learning during the pandemic due to limited or no Internet connectivity and a lack of digital devices.

The situation was especially dire in rural and underserved areas like Balochistan, where infrastructure gaps meant many students were entirely cut off from their lessons. 

“I used to hang my mobile phone on a tree and try to connect to its hotspot to continue my studies but it was very difficult,” Roonjha, now 21, told Arab News.

The picture posted on August 30, 2024, by Qaiser Ronjha shows Wang Lab of Innovation in Lasbela in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan. (Qaiser Ronjha)

That changed in 2021 with the launch of the Wang Lab of Innovation (WALI), a free Internet and digital skills center in Roonjha’s village, supported by the Internet Society and run by the Welfare Association for New Generation (WANG), a grassroots organization in Lasbela district.

Since then, nearly 650 youth in the region, many from low-income families, have gained access to high-speed Internet and basic tech education.

For young people like Roonjha, the lab has become a portal to the wider world.

“When the Wang Lab of Innovation was established here, I was able to access high-speed Internet. This brought a major positive change in my life,” said Roonjha, who now leads creative programs at the lab. 

The connectivity also enabled him to attend international forums, including the World Youth Festival in Russia in 2024 and a UN regional conference on sustainable development in Bangkok earlier this year.

DIGITAL DIVIDE IN PAKISTAN’S LARGEST PROVINCE

Despite its vast size, Balochistan remains Pakistan’s least connected province when it comes to Internet access.

According to Freedom House, around 60 percent of the region lacks any Internet coverage, and in areas with service, mobile speeds are often well below the national average of 6.2 Mbps. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority reports broadband penetration in the province sits at just 15 percent, compared with the national average of 45.7 percent.

Infrastructure challenges, like mountainous terrain, sparse population, and frequent security-related shutdowns, have consistently deterred investment in fiber and mobile networks . While government-backed initiatives like the Universal Service Fund have begun extending 4G and broadband over limited areas of Balochistan, the majority of rural communities still struggle to connect, reinforcing the importance of local projects like the WALI lab.

“WALI has created a vital space, especially for girls, to access knowledge and skills they would otherwise have no means to acquire,” said Aftab Ahmed, 26, a co-founder of the lab.

The picture posted on January 3, 2023, by WALI shows girls using computters at WALI lab in Lasbela in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan. (WALI)

The initiative is also one of the few local digital literacy efforts led by young people from the region. While national programs like Pakistan’s “Digital Pakistan” campaign have focused on major urban centers, grassroots projects in remote provinces are rare and often underfunded.

The lab is housed in a modest building in the village and is now a daily destination for schoolchildren, university students, and aspiring content creators. Its impact is visible in the confidence and creativity of its youngest users.

Fawaz Qadir, 16, began coming to the lab a year ago. 

“I would come here and learn about different AI tools,” he said, describing how he creates music and short films using Suno AI and Meta’s animation tools. 

“I talk about climate change and how humans have damaged our environment.”

Abdul Hadi, 14, walks two kilometers each day to reach the lab. In just a year, he’s learned to design YouTube banners and navigate the Internet. 

“Things are no longer the way they used to be,” he said.

For Rifat Wasim, 13, a student at the local girls’ school, the lab is her only access to a computer. 

“There’s no laptop or such devices at my home, so I come to the lab, and I enjoy it,” she said. “I’ve learned to browse the Internet, use a computer, and create videos.”

RETHINKING THE FUTURE

Roonjha, the sociology student who once studied under a tree, now teaches children to use artificial intelligence tools. 

“I see that children as young as ten or twelve are creating music using AI, they are making films,” he said.

“They’ve started to understand the possibilities the Internet offers, and how, through AI, they can showcase their work to the world and make their presence felt.”

The WANG initiative remains one of few rural digital labs in the province. Other recent government-supported efforts include the USF, which has launched projects to expand 4G coverage in parts of Balochistan. But for many villages in districts like Lasbela, such access remains a distant promise.

Ahmed, the WALI co-founder, hopes the model can be replicated. 

“Digital inclusion is not just about connectivity, it’s about opportunity,” he said. 

“When children in remote areas have access to the same tools as anyone else, it transforms how they see their future.”


China hosts SCO defense ministers from Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan amid global unrest

Updated 26 June 2025
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China hosts SCO defense ministers from Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan amid global unrest

  • Chinese defense minister calls for ‘robust actions to jointly safeguard the environment for peaceful development’
  • Dong Jun warns ‘hegemonic, domineering and bullying acts’ have been severely undermining the global order

QINGDAO, China: China hosted defense ministers from Iran and Russia for a meeting in its eastern seaside city of Qingdao on Thursday against the backdrop of war in the Middle East and a summit of NATO countries in Europe that agreed to boost military spending.

Beijing has long sought to present the 10-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a counterweight to Western-led power blocs and has pushed to strengthen collaboration between its member countries in politics, security, trade and science.

The Qingdao meeting of the organization’s top defense officials comes as a fledgling ceasefire between Israel and Iran holds after 12 days of fighting between the arch-foes.

It is also being held the day after a summit of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders in The Hague, where members agreed to ramp up their defense spending to satisfy US President Donald Trump.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun framed Thursday’s meeting of officials in Qingdao, home to a major Chinese naval base, as a counterweight to a world in “chaos and instability.”

“As momentous changes of the century accelerate, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise,” Dong said as he welcomed defense chiefs from Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus and elsewhere on Wednesday, according to state news agency Xinhua.

“Hegemonic, domineering and bullying acts severely undermine the international order,” he warned.

He urged his counterparts to “take more robust actions to jointly safeguard the environment for peaceful development.”

India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, also in attendance in Qingdao, said SCO members should “collectively aspire to fulfil the aspirations and expectations of our people as well as tackle today’s challenges.”

“The world we live in is undergoing a drastic transformation. Globalization, which once brought us closer together, has been losing momentum,” he said in comments posted by his office on X.

And meeting Dong on the sidelines of the summit, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov hailed ties between the two countries as being “at an unprecedentedly high level.”

“Friendly relations between our countries maintain upward dynamics of development in all directions,” he said.

China has portrayed itself as a neutral party in Russia’s war with Ukraine, although Western governments say its close ties have given Moscow crucial economic and diplomatic support.