WASHINGTON: A top Pentagon official has acknowledged that Pakistan has played an important role in supporting the peace process in Afghanistan. David F Helvey, Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Affairs told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Saturday that the US government will continue to engage Pakistan due to the country’s significant […]
NATO
Terrorists will never be allowed to disturb hard earned peace: Army Chief
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that the terrorists would never be allowed to disturb the hard earned peace in these areas (of tribal districts of Kyber Pakhtunkhwa along Western Border). “Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) will do whatever it takes till the job is fully accomplished,” […]
Exports to Afghanistan witness 15% growth during July-April 2021
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production Abdul Razak Dawood has claimed that Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan during July-April 2021 have witnessed growth of 15 percent to $ 869 million as compared to $ 754 million during July-April 2020. Fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, chemicals, electrical equipment, machinery, paper and […]
UK Chief of Defence Staff praises Pakistan’s efforts for peace in region
ISLAMABAD: UK Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi on Monday and discussed matters of mutual interest and regional security situation particularly current developments in Afghan peace process. The measures to further enhance bilateral and defence cooperation were also discussed in […]
HRCP condemns carnage in Kabul girls’ school
LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly condemned the brutal terrorist attack on a girls’ school in Kabul on Saturday, which cost over 60 lives—most of them, young students, said a statement issued on Monday. The statement issued on behalf of HRCP Chairperson Hina Jilani said that the incident is a grim […]
Biden to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by September 11
United States President Joe Biden is set to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan in the coming months, said US officials. A complete military exit is expected by 11th September 2021 marking 20th anniversary of the attacks that lead US to its longest war. “After a rigorous policy review, President Biden has decided to draw down […]
Iran in focus as new Pentagon chief heads to NATO
Acting US Defense Secretary Mark Esper will be ready to update European allies on tensions with Iran as he heads to NATO headquarters this week during his inaugural trip as Pentagon chief, a senior US official said. Esper, whose first full day in the Pentagon was on Monday, led the Army until the surprise resignation […]
US terminates Turkey’s preferential trade agreement, reduces tariffs on steel
The United States on Thursday terminated Turkey’s preferential trade treatment that allowed some exports to enter the country duty free, but it has halved its tariffs on imports of Turkish steel to 25%. The White House said it was appropriate to terminate Turkey’s eligibility to participate in the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, based […]
An ominous narrative
It would seem that the United States president’s resolve to withdraw American forces from Afghanistan by December 2018 has been frustrated by the Pentagon and Langley by persuading the president to avoid a dangerous power vacuum in Afghanistan. The fact is the American design to shift the battlefield to Pakistan has been defeated by Pakistan’s […]
Lithuania presidential run-off pits ex-minister against novice
Conservative ex-finance minister Ingrida Simonyte won a paper-thin victory over political novice Gitanas Nauseda in round one of Lithuania’s presidential election on Sunday, sending both to a tight May 26 run-off set to focus on inequality and poverty in the Baltic eurozone state. Centre-left Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis vowed to quit after he was eliminated […]