ISLAMABAD: Pakistan authorities were on Sunday preparing to shut down the capital ahead of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, overshadowed by recent militant violence and political unrest.
The Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang will be among senior regional government officials attending the two-day conference on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In the weeks leading up to the summit, Pakistan’s authorities have cracked down hard on dissent, banning an ethnic nationalist movement and introducing new laws that restrict protest in the capital.
They have also arrested hundreds of supporters of jailed opposition leader Imran Khan who attempted to march in Islamabad earlier this month.
A deadly attack on a convoy of Chinese engineers in the mega port city of Karachi last week has also deepened security fears in a country where separatist groups routinely target Chinese nationals.
Islamabad has authorized the deployment of troops on the streets for the duration of the summit.
Imtiaz Gul, a security analyst and executive director of the Center for Research and Security Studies, said the meeting holds great significance for a country that’s “not seen as safe.”
“The government claims to have made elaborate security arrangements and understandably so because it has to make sure that the event passes off peacefully without any untoward incident,” he told AFP.
The SCO comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus — with 16 more countries affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners.”
All visiting member nations are expected to send government heads apart from Pakistan’s arch-rival India, who will dispatch its foreign minister in a rare visit to its neighbor.
The SCO is sometimes touted as an alternative to the Western-dominated NATO military alliance.
As China’s claim over Taiwan and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have seen them clash with the US and Europe, analysts say the SCO is one forum where they are trying to curry regional influence.
While the SCO has a mandate to discuss security, the Islamabad summit is due to focus on trade, humanitarian and cultural issues.
Pakistan’s domestic concerns are likely to dominate the sidelines of the summit, however.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has threatened to stage protests, a week after scattered demonstrations by supporters saw the capital locked down for three days with mobile phone signal cut and exit and entry points blocked.
“The PTI doesn’t want to showcase the positive side of Pakistan to the world,” accused Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, minister for planning, during a press conference Saturday.
“Instead, they aim to present a picture of the country filled with tear gas and unrest.”
Authorities have declared a three-day public holiday for Islamabad and the neighboring city of Rawalpindi starting Monday, along with road closures to reduce movement around the area.
The “red zone” government quarter hosting the summit meanwhile has been spruced up with manicured lawns ringed by razor wire.
Cash-strapped Pakistan is particularly at pains to protect citizens from China because it is a major investor, sending funds and staff for million-dollar infrastructure projects.
Pakistan is grappling with a broad uptick in militancy coinciding with the Taliban’s 2021 return to power in neighboring Afghanistan, where Islamabad claims attackers are now taking shelter.
Pakistan frets over security ahead of SCO summit
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Pakistan frets over security ahead of SCO summit
- Prime ministers of Russia, China among senior regional government officials attending SCO summit
- Pakistan’s authorities have cracked down hard on dissent in the weeks leading up to the event
Pakistan, Egypt discuss trade and investment on sidelines of Sir Bani Yas Forum
- Both countries have strengthen bilateral ties in recent years, with Pakistan mostly focusing on Gulf states
- Egypt and Pakistan commemorated 75 years of diplomatic ties last year by issuing a joint postage stamp
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Egypt on Friday discussed enhanced economic cooperation in various areas as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on the sidelines of the 15th Sir Bani Yas Forum held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The three-day annual retreat, running from November 15 to 17, has brought together top decision-makers and experts from around the world to debate pressing Middle Eastern issues, including regional peace, security and economic transformation.
Dar was invited to the forum by his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Pakistan’s foreign office.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister’s meeting with the Egyptian foreign minister was reported by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.
“During the meeting, they discussed Pakistan-Egypt cooperation and dialogue to promote bilateral trade, investment, and tourism,” it said.
Pakistan and Egypt have actively sought to strengthen their bilateral relations in recent years, though Islamabad has mostly focused on strengthening its economic relations with the Gulf countries.
Last year in August 2024, both nations commemorated 75 years of diplomatic ties by issuing a joint postage stamp, symbolizing their enduring partnership and mutual commitment to future collaboration.
Riyadh to host first fashion exhibition for Pakistani designers, raising hopes for collaboration
- The fashion exhibition will kick off on Saturday, featuring renowned names like Deepak Perwani and HSY
- Organizers say 80 percent of designers are from Pakistan, while the rest will participate from India and UAE
KARACHI: Riyadh will host its first-ever fashion exhibition spotlighting Pakistani designers on Saturday, with organizers saying the event will pave the way for stronger cultural and creative ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
The inaugural Riyadh Fashion Couture 2024, scheduled for November 16, is the brainchild of co-founders Sharmeen Ehsan, Ayesha Mohsin and Adnan Bashir Khan, who bring decades of experience in event management.
The exhibition will showcase emerging and established designers, with 80 percent of participants from Pakistan and the remainder from India, the United States, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Organizers hope the initiative will foster greater collaboration between the Pakistani and Saudi fashion industries.
“The purpose of hosting a Pakistani designers’ exhibition in Riyadh is to foster cultural exchange, promote the rich heritage of Pakistan, and create a platform for collaboration between the fashion and design industries of both nations,” Ehsan said while speaking to Arab News on Friday.
“For the first time, Riyadh will host a curated exhibition majorly featuring Pakistani designers, offering a fresh perspective on fashion and design from a region that has traditionally been underrepresented in the Saudi fashion scene,” she said, adding a majority of designers will be from Pakistan.
The designer lineup from Pakistan features renowned names such as Deepak Perwani, HSY, Agha Noor, Sadaf Amir, Maliha Studio, Anam Akhlaq and Komal Lakhani, among others.
Indian designers include Pam Mehta, Asma Gulzar, and Vibha Jewel, specializing in bridal couture and semi-formals.
“This exhibition will provide employment opportunities for local models, makeup artists and local designers,” Ehsan said.
“It will be a groundbreaking event for Riyadh, as it marks the first-ever showcasing of contemporary Pakistani design talent in the city,” she continued. “It will set the stage for future collaborations and growth in an emerging Middle Eastern fashion scene which has huge potential to grow.”
One of Pakistan’s most prominent designers, Deepak Perwani, who is already in Saudi Arabia for the exhibition, said this was the first time he was taking his collection to Riyadh.
“We have been showing in Dubai, Doha and Bahrain all the time but this is the first time we are doing it in Riyadh,” he told Arab News.
“I am sure there will be a market,” he added. “There is always a first time to try. There is a massive Pakistani and Indian population there. We are open to all diasporas but primarily I’m assuming it will be Pakistani diaspora who will come to us because they already know us.”
Perwani informed he will be exhibiting the winter collection, evening wear and semi-formal wear for the upcoming shadi and festive season.
Pakistani actress Sajal Aly, known for her role in the recently concluded and critically acclaimed drama serial “Zard Patton Ka Bunn,” will serve as the guest of honor at Riyadh Fashion Couture 2024.
“Riyadh is an emerging market and a burgeoning fashion hub with immense growth potential,” the event’s co-founder Ehsan said. “This exhibition will serve as a unique opportunity to showcase creativity, craftsmanship and innovation of Pakistani designers in various fields, including fashion, textiles, jewelry, interior design and accessories.”
Pakistan’s army chief flags non-state actors, disinformation as threats to global peace
- General Asim Munir says Pakistan expects Kabul not to allow its soil to be used for militancy
- He says absence of regulation over freedom of expression is deteriorating moral values
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir on Friday identified violent non-state actors and the spread of disinformation as significant challenges to global peace while addressing a gathering in the federal capital, where he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting international stability.
The army chief made the remarks during a special session of the Margalla Dialogue, an annual conference that convenes policymakers, scholars and experts to discuss critical national, regional and global issues, where he highlighted Pakistan’s role in fostering global peace.
Organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), a local think tank, the conference provided a platform for the army chief to emphasize Pakistan’s contributions and express concerns about the issue of cross-border militancy.
“Terrorism by violent non-state actors and state-sponsored entities remains a significant global challenge,” the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported him as saying.
“We expect the Afghan interim government to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan and to take strict measures in this regard,” he added.
The army chief’s statement comes against the backdrop of a surge in militant violence in Pakistan’s western provinces bordering Afghanistan.
Officials in Islamabad have frequently accused Afghan authorities of “facilitating” cross-border attacks by armed factions, such as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which target civilians and security personnel— an allegation Kabul denies.
APP reported the army chief stated that Pakistan would not become part of any global conflict and would continue to play its role in promoting international peace and stability.
General Munir acknowledged the role of technology in disseminating information, though he cautioned that it also facilitated the rapid spread of disinformation.
He asserted that without comprehensive laws and regulations, disinformation and hate speech could destabilize political and social structures.
“Absence of proper regulations for freedom of expression is leading to the deterioration of moral values in societies worldwide,” he added.
The army chief expressed optimism about the country’s future, noting that about 63 percent of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30, adding that the country was endowed with immense natural resources and had emerged as a major global agricultural producer.
He highlighted Pakistan’s significant role in the global freelancing industry and noted that its geographical location and seaports could position it as a vital trade hub for countries around the world.
Pakistan suspends mobile internet in Balochistan, citing ‘public safety’ amid rising violence
- People in Balochistan say mobile Internet has been down for about three days in different areas
- PTA announcement comes days after a suicide bombing at a crowded railway station in Quetta
QUETTA: The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) announced the suspension of mobile Internet services in various parts of the restive southwestern Balochistan province on Friday, saying the decision was taken to “ensure public safety” amid a surge in militant violence over the past several months.
The announcement follows a deadly suicide bombing at a crowded railway station in Quetta, the provincial capital, which killed at least 28 people, including Pakistani soldiers, and injured dozens of others.
The attack was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an outlawed separatist group that has targeted Chinese nationals in an effort to undermine the multibillion-dollar Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
The BLA, the largest of several ethnic insurgent groups battling the Pakistani state, alleges that the province’s rich gas and mineral resources are unfairly exploited, a claim the government denies.
“The general public is hereby informed that, under the directives of authorized departments, mobile Internet services have been temporarily suspended in certain areas of Balochistan,” the PTA said in an official statement.
“This measure has been taken to ensure public safety, given the security situation in these areas,” it added.
The PTA statement did not specify the areas where mobile Internet services have been suspended, nor was there any clarification from other departments on whether the government was planning an operation against militants in these regions.
However, mobile Internet has already been down in the province’s Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Loralai, Dukki, Ziarat, Harnai and Zhob districts for the last three days, causing significant hardships for students and the business community in these areas.
“Hundreds of students and businesses have been affected by the mobile Internet suspension,” Abdul Majid Dashti, a lawyer based in Turbat, told Arab News, adding that cellphone Internet had been down for nearly three days in the area.
Sadaqat Baloch, a journalist in Pakistan’s coastal town of Gwadar, which is central to CPEC, said authorities suspended mobile Internet in the area a day after the Quetta railway station bombing.
“People of the Makran region, including Khuzdar, are now deprived of mobile Internet, which has been creating problems for them,” he added.
The provincial government’s spokesperson was unavailable for comment on the recent mobile Internet suspension.
Pakistan felicitates Palestinians on 36th independence anniversary, reaffirms support
- Palestinians proclaimed the Declaration of Independence on Nov. 15, 1988, in Algiers
- Pakistan calls support to the Palestinian cause a ‘consistent facet’ of its foreign policy
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday felicitated the people of Palestine on the 36th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, saying its support for the Palestinian cause has been the most consistent feature of the country’s foreign policy.
Proclaimed on November 15, 1988, during a meeting of the Palestine National Council in Algiers, the Declaration of Independence envisioned a sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with Jerusalem as its capital.
It marked an important movement in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and has since been a symbol of their aspirations for statehood.
“On the occasion of Declaration of Independence Day of the State of #Palestine, we extend our heartiest felicitations to its people and the Government,” the foreign office said in a social media post.
“Pakistan’s unflinching support to the Palestinian cause has been a consistent facet of our foreign policy,” it added. “We reaffirm our strong commitment to the Palestinian right to self-determination and our unwavering support for the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous state of Palestine, with Al-Quds-Al-Sharif as its Capital.”
The anniversary comes as the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 43,700 since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign more than a year ago, displacing nearly the entire population of the Palestinian territory.
Most of those killed in Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives are reported to be women and children, while the international community fears that the conflict could spread to the rest of the Middle East.
The situation has also exacerbated humanitarian concerns, with the United Nations warning of an impending famine in the besieged territory, where residents face acute shortages of food, water and medical supplies.
