ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office said on Monday it had not been informed about a decision by the government in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province to hold direct talks with Kabul regarding a surge in militancy in the region, saying it would act accordingly once it is formally conveyed about the decision.
The development came a day after a KP government spokesman said the provincial government had decided to send two delegations, comprising tribal elders, religious scholars, and political leaders, to Kabul to engage in direct talks with the Afghan Taliban rulers for peace and stability in the province. It followed a statement by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in which he said the security situation in the region was directly linked to the “developments in neighboring Afghanistan,” following a consultative meeting of various religious and political parties in the province.
Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militancy in the country, particularly in KP that borders Afghanistan, since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Islamabad broke down in November 2022. The TTP and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
Shafqat Ali Khan, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office, told Arab News that Pakistan’s foreign relations with any country fall under the domain of the federal government as per the constitution, and in general, a provincial government takes part in a matter involving external affairs only through the federal authorities.
“Under the constitution, foreign relations remain the mandate of the federal government,” he said. “We have not received any communication from them [KP administration] so far and will act accordingly if the KP government contacts foreign ministry.”
Pakistan’s top military and political leadership has blamed the surge in violence on TTP militants launching cross-border attacks from Afghanistan, accusing Kabul of harboring and facilitating them. Afghanistan denies the allegation and says Pakistan’s security is an internal matter of Islamabad.
The TTP continues to get financial and logistical support from Kabul, a United Nations (UN) report said this month, amid Islamabad’s repeated calls for Afghanistan to rein in the group. The ambition and scale of the TTP’s attacks on Pakistan had significantly increased, with over 600 attacks from July to December 2024, the report said.
The KP information department said on Sunday that two separate delegations would soon engage in direct talks with the Afghan Taliban in Kabul to address key issues, including cross-border security, economic cooperation and trade. Provincial government spokesperson Muhammad Ali Saif would be the focal person and will also be part of all delegations in this regard, it added.
“Both delegations will visit Kabul soon as the government has finalized the Terms of Reference (TORs) for the tribal elders,” Saif told Arab News in a statement sent by his office on Monday.
The KP government will formally notify the federal government about the initiative and ensure it is aligned with Pakistan’s foreign and security policies, according to the TOR document seen by Arab News.
“No commitments will be made that override Pakistan’s national security framework or diplomatic stance and a detailed briefing document will be shared with federal authorities before the engagement,” the document said.
The KP government proposes sending a delegation of tribal elders, religious scholars, and political leaders to engage with their Afghan counterparts and address mutual concerns, particularly peace, security, cross-border trade and economic cooperation, through “tribal diplomacy,” according to the document.
“Objectives of the delegations included strengthening cross-border tribal diplomacy, confidence-building measures between tribal communities and authorities in both countries, and facilitating dialogue on regional peace and stability,” it read.
Another aim is to address cross-border security concerns by engaging tribal elders to “dissuade terrorist organizations from using Afghan territory for launching attacks in Pakistan and seek cooperation in monitoring and preventing TTP and other militant groups’ movement across the border,” according to the TORs.
“[The delegations will] discuss initiatives to enhance health care, education, and livelihood opportunities,” the document said, adding that the discussions would also focus on cross-border humanitarian and cultural initiatives for safe movement of people across the border for medical treatment, trade and social engagements.
Islamabad says unaware of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s decision to engage Kabul on militancy
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Islamabad says unaware of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s decision to engage Kabul on militancy
- The government in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday announced sending two delegations to Kabul to discuss a surge in militancy in the region
- Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militancy, mainly in KP province, since a fragile truce between Pakistani Taliban and Islamabad broke down in 2022
Pakistan army says 11 militants killed in four operations in northwest
- Pakistan is battling spike in attacks by indigenous chapter of Taliban movement, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
- Islamabad says militants use safe havens in Afghanistan to carry out cross-border attacks, a charge Kabul denies
ISLAMABAD: Eleven militants were killed in four operations in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan army said on Thursday night, amid a surge in attacks across the country.
Pakistan is battling a spike in attacks by an indigenous chapter of the Taliban movement, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, on police and military in areas near the Afghan border. The military has been conducting near-daily operations against militants, especially in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan provinces.
Islamabad says militants use safe havens in Afghanistan to carry out cross-border attacks, a charge Kabul denies.
“On 26-27 March 2025, eleven Khwarij [militants] were killed by the security forces in four separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province,” the army said in a statement.
Two intelligence-based operation was conducted in Mir Ali in North Waziristan District, with eight militants killed. Two more were killed in Miran Shah while one was killed in a fourth operation in Dera Ismail Khan District.
“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities,” the army said.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other kharji found in the area as the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country.”
PM Sharif says Huawei’s program to train 300,000 Pakistanis will boost exports, generate jobs
- Pakistan, Huawei last year signed agreement to train 300,000 Pakistanis in information and communication technologies
- Program, scheduled to conclude by the end of 2025, will see 60,000 Pakistanis receive high-tech training, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week said Chinese multinational technology company Huawei’s program to train 300,000 Pakistanis will generate employment in the country and boost its exports, state-run media reported.
Pakistan and Huawei last year signed an agreement to train 300,000 Pakistani youths in information and communication technology (ICT) skills to match international standards. Huawei is providing training to Pakistani youth in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, cloud computing and other advanced technologies under the initiative.
The Pakistani prime minister met a five-member delegation of the company, headed by its Chief Executive Officer Ethen Sun on Thursday, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
“Shehbaz Sharif said the government seeks a solid and long-term partnership with Huawei,” it said. “He highlighted that Huawei’s ICT training program will not only boost IT exports but will also help create employment opportunities for youth.”
Sharif’s office said earlier this month that Huawei has trained over 20,000 Pakistanis under the program. He was briefed by the delegation that 240,000 youths will receive basic training while 60,000 will undergo high-tech training under the initiative.
“The training is expected to be completed by the end of this year,” Radio Pakistan said.
The state media said Huawei has additionally, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission, introduced courses in AI, cloud computing, big data and cybersecurity in 15 Pakistani universities.
Pakistan views ICT as a driver of economic change and seeks to transform the sector into a cornerstone of its strategy for financial stability, courting foreign investment from countries like China and the Gulf states.
In its bid to generate more jobs countrywide, Sharif launched the Digital Youth Hub portal in Islamabad on Thursday.
The initiative will connect young people to jobs, educational opportunities and enhance skills development in the country.
Sharif’s government has repeatedly spoken of putting Pakistan on the track to economic recovery by increasing its exports. In its economic transformation plan issued this year, the government says it hopes to achieve $60 billion in exports in the next five years.
Pakistan PM launches ‘Digital Youth Hub’ to enhance employment, educational opportunities
- Digital Youth Hub platform connects young people to jobs, educational and skills development programs
- Estimates suggest approximately 64 percent of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30 years
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the “Digital Youth Hub” portal in Islamabad on Thursday, saying it would connect young people to jobs, education and enhance skills development in the country, state-run media reported.
Estimates suggest approximately 64 percent of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30, offering a significant opportunity to drive economic growth through a young workforce contributing to entrepreneurship, innovation and diversification.
A joint initiative of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and UNICEF, the PMYP’s website describes the Digital Youth Hub as a “comprehensive platform” to connect the younger generation with employment opportunities, educational scholarships, entrepreneurship programs and technical skills.
Speaking at the launching ceremony in Islamabad, Sharif stressed harnessing the true potential of the youth by imparting them with training in modern technologies such as information technology, artificial intelligence and vocational training.
“The Prime Minister said modern technology is the prerequisite in the current global world and the Digital Youth Hub is the beginning of a bright future of the youth of Pakistan,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said in a report.
He said the youth’s productive employment through this portal is this government’s top priority.
The Pakistani premier said he was committed to fighting for the rights of the youth, providing them educational opportunities and modern training in collaboration with the country’s provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan regions.
“Shehbaz Sharif said the youth of Pakistan are a great challenge and opportunity, and there is a need to polish this challenge and opportunity through the latest technology,” Radio Pakistan said.
“He said productive employment of youth is the main target of the government through this portal.”
Despite Pakistan’s massive young population, the youth bulge also poses challenges, including high unemployment rates, limited access to quality education and vocational training and the risk of social unrest due to underutilized potential.
More than 800,000 Pakistanis left the country of 220 million to take up jobs in 2022, according to regulatory and monitoring body the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, up from a pre-pandemic total of 625,876 in 2019, and 382,439 the year before that.
Pakistan says keen to buy more oil from Russia, build new steel mill
- Pakistan’s finance minister meets Russian Deputy PM Alexei Overchuk on sidelines of BFA conference in China
- Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have strengthened ties in recent years through increased trade
KARACHI: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday expressed Islamabad’s interest in importing more crude oil from Russia to fulfill its energy requirements and seeking Moscow’s collaboration to build a new steel mill in Pakistan, the finance ministry said.
Aurangzeb met Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Conference 2025, currently underway in China, to discuss bilateral ties, trade and investment between the two countries.
“The bilateral talks focused on strengthening energy cooperation, with Pakistan expressing interest in expanding the procurement of crude oil and investments in oil and gas exploration,” the finance ministry said.
Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have strengthened ties in recent years through increased dialogue and trade. In 2023, Islamabad began purchasing discounted Russian crude oil banned from European markets due to Russia’s war in Ukraine and also received its first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas from Moscow.
In December last year, Russia and Pakistan held intergovernmental meetings in Moscow and discussed cooperation on oil and gas offshore exploration and refining, according to a Reuters news agency report.
Cash-strapped Pakistan has long planned to import crude oil from Moscow at discounted rates. Its first shipment of Russian crude oil in June 2023 consisted of 45,000 tons of oil. Russia welcomed Pakistan’s decision to buy oil from it as it increased the search for new buyers in the wake of European sanctions.
Islamabad is trying to secure discounted oil from Russia in hopes it will cut down its sizable import bill, which comprises expensive energy imports.
Pakistan is also trying to strengthen its debt-ridden economy with the help of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) financial bailout packages. The lender wants Islamabad to increase its depleting foreign exchange reserves to a level that could finance three months of imports.
Pakistan currently holds $10.6 billion in foreign exchange reserves that cover about two months of imports.
Separately, the finance minister also discussed collaborating with Russia on building a new steel mill in Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s keen interest in establishing a new steel mill with Russian collaboration was also highlighted,” the finance ministry said. “The minister stressed the importance of feasibility studies and cost assessments to move the project forward.”
A team of technical experts from Russia arrived in Pakistan in January to assess Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), one of several firms Islamabad wants to sell to revive loss-making entities, as it strives to deliver reforms under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout.
Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert P. Khorev this year announced cooperation with Pakistan in the energy and industrial sectors, including the modernization of a state-owned steel mill.
Aurangzeb reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its economic and trade relations with Russia, saying he was excited about expanding bilateral cooperation in key areas of mutual interest, the ministry said.
Punjab says received 38 percent less rainfall in last four months, warns of drought
- Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, plays leading role in country’s agricultural production
- Pakistan’s Met Department this week warned of possible drought in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s eastern and most populated Punjab province on Thursday warned that it may face a drought in the near future as it has received 38 percent less rainfall in the last four months compared to the usual amount, a statement from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said.
Earlier this week, Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that the existing drought situation in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan provinces may “exacerbate and intensify” in the coming months due to below-normal rainfall, rising temperatures and acute shortage of stored water in the country’s dams.
The situation is particularly alarming for Punjab, which plays a leading role in Pakistan’s agricultural production. The province contributes about 68 percent to the annual food grain production in Pakistan and has 51 million acres of cultivated land, as per official figures.
“In the last four months, Punjab has received 38 percent less rainfall which is threatening a possible drought,” the PDMA said in a statement.
A meeting was held under the chairmanship of DG PDMA Punjab Irfan Ali Kathia to deal with the possible drought in Cholistan in southern Punjab.
“Additional funds will be provided to the relevant districts to deal with the possible drought,” the PDMA said.
Participants of the meeting were informed in the briefing that due to a lack of rain last winter, the country’s reservoirs are facing a water shortage.
“Water supply is being ensured in all areas. Water is being provided to remote areas through pipelines and water bowsers,” it said.
The PDMA urged all relevant departments to be on alert, with Kathia instructing all departments to make provision of basic medicines to deal with possible drought.
“Possible steps are being taken to deal with heat wave and possible drought,” the statement said.
Pakistan has the fourth-highest rate of water consumption in the world. The country’s agriculture sector uses the most amount of freshwater than any other sector. Rainfall has steadily declined over the past few decades and experts have been warning for years the country will approach “absolute scarcity” of water by 2025.
The results of the latest census in 2023 counted 241.49 million people across Pakistan with a growth rate of 2.55 percent. Linked to that, per capita water availability has been on a downward trend for decades.
