Pakistan and India blame each other for frosty relations after regional conference

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, left, welcomes Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Indian Ministry of External Affairs via AFP)
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Updated 05 May 2023
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Pakistan and India blame each other for frosty relations after regional conference

  • Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reiterates his country’s ‘principled stance’ on Kashmir as India accuses Pakistan of ‘terrorism’
  • The Pakistani foreign minister blames India for spreading false narrative about Muslims and people of his country

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India blamed each other for frosty relations on Friday while reiterating their entrenched diplomatic positions on issues such as Kashmir and terrorism, suggesting no thaw in ties was expected between them anytime soon.

The foreign ministers of the nuclear-armed rivals spoke bitterly at separate press conferences after a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Indian coastal state of Goa.

Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari told reporters India’s decision to scrap the special status of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir in 2019 had undermined the environment for holding talks between the two countries.

“Pakistan’s principled stance [on Kashmir] remains the same,” Bhutto-Zardari said while addressing a news conference after returning to his country. “As long as India doesn’t reverse its illegal and unilateral action of August 5, 2019, in Kashmir, we cannot engage in a meaningful dialogue [with it].”

The Pakistani minister stated India’s move in Kashmir was in violation of international law.

“The onus is on India to create a conducive environment for talks,” he added.

Bhutto-Zardari was also asked about the statement of India’s foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar who said Kashmir’s special status was “history” and blamed Pakistan for backing “terrorists” in region.

New Delhi has for years accused Islamabad of helping militant outfits who have battled security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir since the late 1980s.

Pakistan denies the accusation, saying it only provides diplomatic and moral support to Kashmiris fighting for their right to self-determination.

The Indian foreign minister told reporters that “victims of terrorism do not sit together with perpetrators” while responding to Pakistani minister’s comments during the conference.

“Victims of terrorism defend themselves, counter acts of terrorism, they call it out, they delegitimize it, and that is exactly what is happening,” he added.

However, Bhutto-Zardari told reporters in Pakistan there was “an insecurity behind [India’s] insecurity.”

He said New Delhi was peddling “false narrative, propaganda and lies” about Muslims and the people of Pakistan.

“By going there and speaking and presenting our stance, we break that myth and propaganda,” he added. “They try to prove that every Pakistani is a terrorist, but when Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari sits before them, their false narrative and propaganda are negated even if I say nothing.”

The foreign minister’s visit to India is the first by a high-profile Pakistani official since former prime minister Nawaz Sharif attended Indian premier 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.


Pakistan PM congratulates Joseph Aoun on election as new Lebanon president

Updated 4 sec ago
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Pakistan PM congratulates Joseph Aoun on election as new Lebanon president

  • Aoun’s election came weeks after a ceasefire deal halted a 14-month conflict between Israel, Lebanese group Hezbollah
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan values its ties with Lebanon and looks forward to strengthen bilateral cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday congratulated Joseph Aoun for being elected as the new president of Lebanon, expressing Pakistan’s interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation between both countries.
Aoun’s election came weeks after a tenuous ceasefire agreement halted a 14-month conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and at a time when Lebanon’s leaders are seeking international assistance for reconstruction.
Aoun, no relation to former President Michel, was widely seen as the preferred candidate of the United States, whose assistance Lebanon will need as it seeks to rebuild.
In his message on X, Sharif wished Aoun success in his endeavors to lead Lebanon toward peace, stability and prosperity.
“Pakistan values its ties with Lebanon and looks forward to strengthen our bilateral cooperation,” the Pakistan prime minister said.
Pakistan and Lebanon share close relations. In December, Lebanon helped Islamabad safely evacuate around 300 Pakistani nationals stranded in Syria and transport them back home via chartered flights from Beirut.
Pakistan has also sent several relief consignments for the people of Lebanon during Israel’s bombardment of the Middle Eastern country.


Pakistan records 5.6% increase in remittances month on month

Updated 8 min 57 sec ago
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Pakistan records 5.6% increase in remittances month on month

  • Overseas workers remittances stood at $3.1 billion in the month of December
  • The inflows rose by 29.3 percent in 2024 as compared to the previous year

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recorded a 5.6 percent increase in remittances in December on a month-on-month basis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday, congratulating the nation on the record inflows.
Remittances bring billions of dollars annually from overseas Pakistanis and are vital to Pakistan’s economy. These inflows bolster foreign exchange reserves, stabilize the balance of payments, and support the Pakistani currency.
Overseas workers remittances stood at $3.1 billion in the month of December, according to a statement issued from Sharif’s office. The inflows rose by 29.3 percent in 2024 as compared to the previous year.
Sharif said the record increase in remittances was a testament to the determination of overseas Pakistanis to play their role in the development of the South Asian country.
“After economic stability, Pakistan has embarked on the path of economic development,” he said.
Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign default in 2023 by clinching a last-gasp $3 billion loan program from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The South Asian country has since made some economic gains, most notably slowing the annual consumer inflation to 4.1 percent in December. This was down from 38 percent in May 2023.
Pakistan’s government has vowed to undertake economic reforms mandated by the IMF which include tightening fiscal policies, privatizing loss-making state-owned enterprises and enhancing tax revenues.
“The government of Pakistan is committed to the country’s development and public welfare,” Sharif reassured in his statement.


Pakistan to launch pilot motorbike patrol for security of motorways

Updated 10 January 2025
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Pakistan to launch pilot motorbike patrol for security of motorways

  • Motorways in Pakistan have a dedicated police force, but various crimes, including rapes, have been reported in the past
  • Communications minister says 30-35 motorbikes will boost motorway security and improve response time in the first phase

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has ordered the launch of a pilot motorbike patrol to enhance security of motorways in the country, Pakistani state media reported on Thursday.
Pakistan’s motorway network has improved road connectivity for the people and the government has deployed a dedicated motorway police force, installed CCTV cameras and established emergency response systems, but security concerns have persisted for travelers.
In 2020, the gangrape of a woman traveling from Lahore to Gujranwala via the M-11 motorway in front of her children sparked widespread outrage in the country, leading to calls for enhanced security measures. In 2023, a motorway police officer was also arrested on allegations of raping a woman on the highway, according to a report in Dawn newspaper.
“Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has directed the motorways authority to launch a pilot motorbike service aimed at enhancing security and surveillance on motorways,” the Pakistan Television (PTV) broadcaster reported.
“The motorway police have been instructed to utilize existing resources to kick-start the service with plans for expansion in the future.”
Khan directed the motorway police to include 30-35 motorbikes for patrolling in the first phase to boost security measures and improve response times, according to the report.
The communications minister urged the National Highway Authority, Motorway Police, Frontier Works Organization, and local police to collaborate in securing the motorways.
“Motorway police must take maximum responsibility for ensuring the safety of citizens while a robust mechanism should be developed to make motorway travel as secure as possible,” he added.


OIC secretary-general arrives in Pakistan to attend summit on girls’ education in Muslim countries

Updated 10 January 2025
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OIC secretary-general arrives in Pakistan to attend summit on girls’ education in Muslim countries

  • Pakistan’s education ministry will host the global conference in Islamabad on January 11 and 12
  • The conference’s aim is to stress Islam’s message that both men, women have right to education

ISLAMABAD: Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha has arrived in Pakistan to attend a global conference on girls’ education in Muslim countries, according to the Pakistani education ministry.
Pakistan’s education ministry will host the global conference titled, “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities,” in Islamabad on Jan. 11-12.
Around 150 representatives from 47 countries, including education experts, religious scholars, diplomats, and politicians are expected to partake in the summit.
Pakistani Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui received the OIC secretary-general upon arrival in the South Asian country.
“Bringing together global leaders, educators, and changemakers to discuss innovative solutions and inspire progress for #GirlsEducation in Muslim communities,” the Pakistani education ministry said on Friday.
“This landmark event is a step toward creating opportunities, breaking barriers, and empowering future generations. Let’s ensure #EducationForAll and drive meaningful #GlobalConversations that transform lives!“
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate the conference and deliver a keynote address at the opening session on Saturday. Pakistan’s foreign office said Sharif will reaffirm the nation’s commitment to promoting girls’ education and gender equality.
An “Islamabad Declaration” will be announced at the end of the conference on Sunday that would outline decisive steps to transform girls’ education in Islamic countries, according to Siddiqui.
On Thursday, Siddiqui said the primary aim of the conference is to stress the implementation of the Islamic message, which clearly states that both men and women have the right to education.
“By promoting girls’ education, we can build better homes, a better society and a stronger nation,” he said.
The Pakistani education minister hoped that Afghanistan would also join representatives from other Islamic countries and attend the conference in Islamabad.
“We have extended an invitation to Afghanistan to participate in this conference and hope that their delegation will attend as it is a very important neighboring country,” he told reporters at a media briefing in Islamabad.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, at least 1.4 million Afghan girls have been denied access to secondary education, according to a report by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) released in August last year.
Siddiqui said everyone respects tribal customs and cultures, but all such practices must align with Islamic values in Muslim countries, adding that nothing holds precedence over them.
“In Islam, there is no justification for restricting women’s education,” he added.


PIA to resume European operations today with Paris flight after four-year suspension

Updated 53 min 45 sec ago
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PIA to resume European operations today with Paris flight after four-year suspension

  • PIA flights to Europe were suspended after an air crash in Karachi that killed 97 people in 2020
  • The resumption of flights to Europe will boost PIA’s revenue and improve privatization prospects

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set to resume flights to Europe today, Friday, with the first flight scheduled to depart from Islamabad to Paris, the Pakistani national air carrier announced, following the removal of a four-year ban on its European operations.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspended PIA’s authorization to operate in the EU in June 2020 over concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to ensure compliance with international aviation standards.

Passengers wait at the immigration counter before boarding their first flight to Paris at the Islamabad International Airport on January 10, 2025, as EU authorities lift a four-year ban. (AFP)

EASA and UK authorities suspended permission for PIA to operate in the region after Pakistan began investigating the validity of pilots’ licenses following a deadly plane crash that killed 97 people.
PIA said it was resuming two direct weekly flights to Paris and booking for the first two flights coming from and going to Paris had already been completed.
“The first flight will leave for Paris from Islamabad at 12:10pm today on January 10,” the airline said on Friday.

Passengers wait at the immigration counter before boarding their first flight to Paris at the Islamabad International Airport on January 10, 2025, as EU authorities lift a four-year ban. (AFP)

“PIA has also made special arrangements for in-flight entertainment through the Intranet Wireless Entertainment System.”
The suspension of European operations had exacerbated PIA’s financial woes, as the debt-ridden carrier struggled to recover from a tarnished reputation.

Passengers wait at the immigration counter before boarding their first flight to Paris at the Islamabad International Airport on January 10, 2025, as EU authorities lift a four-year ban. (AFP)

Last year, the government’s attempt to privatize the airline, part of a condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $7 billion loan, fell flat when it received only a single offer, well below its asking price.
The resumption of European flights is expected to boost PIA’s revenue stream and improve its appeal to potential investors, strengthening the government’s privatization efforts.