KARACHI: Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan said on Tuesday the Champions Trophy would be a “historic occasion” for the country, a day before the hosts kick the tournament off against New Zealand.
The Champions Trophy is the first major cricket event hosted by Pakistan in nearly three decades and is regarded as second only to the World Cup in the one-day game.
“A global event has come to Pakistan after 29 years so I think the whole nation should enjoy this historic occasion,” Rizwan told a news conference on the eve of the tournament, which runs until March 9.
Pakistan had been due to host the tournament in 2008 but was thrown into cricketing isolation by a security crisis as violence spilled over from the long-running war in neighboring Afghanistan.
Gunmen then attacked a bus carrying Sri Lanka’s team in Lahore the following year, wounding several players and killing eight policemen and civilians.
However, major teams have toured Pakistan in the past five years as security improved, opening the way for the cricket-mad nation to stage the tournament.
“Pakistan has suffered enough and for a long time, but we have also won during this phase like the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup,” Rizwan said.
Still, the build-up has not been without problems after neighbors and arch-rivals India refused to play in Pakistan over long-standing political tensions. India will instead play their matches in Dubai.
Pakistan’s opponents in the tournament opener in Karachi beat them twice this month during a tri-series event that included South Africa.
“There shouldn’t be any doubts on our performance,” Rizwan said. “We may not have played on our abilities but we all want to win the event for the country and people.”
Rizwan hoped to have pace bowler Haris Rauf on the pitch after he suffered chest muscle strain in the match against New Zealand in Lahore last week.
“Haris bowled 80 percent yesterday and today he is bowling at his full rhythm and told us that he is not feeling any discomfort, so I hope he is fully fit,” Rizwan said.
Skipper Rizwan urges Pakistan to enjoy ICC Champions Trophy
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Skipper Rizwan urges Pakistan to enjoy ICC Champions Trophy
- Pakistan had been due to host the tournament in 2008 but was thrown into cricketing isolation by a security crisis
- Major teams have toured Pakistan as security improved, opening way for cricket-mad nation to stage the tournament.
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Muhammad Yasir in Asian Athletics Championships javelin finals
- Olympic gold medalist Nadeem and compatriot Yasir qualified with impressive throws of 86.34m and 76.07m respectively
- Nadeem made history at 2024 Paris Olympics by winning Pakistan’s first athletics gold with a record throw of 92.97m
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Olympic medalist Arshad Nadeem and compatriot javelin thrower Muhammad Yasir have qualified for the finals of the 26th Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea.
The championship, running from May 27 till May 31, is featuring over 2,000 athletes from 43 countries, who are competing across 45 track and field events at the Gumi Civic Stadium.
Nadeem advanced to the final with a powerful throw of 86.34 meters on his first and only attempt in the A qualification round, while Yasir secured his spot in the final with a 76.07-meter throw in the B qualification round.
“Alhamdulillah, qualified this morning for the final competition tomorrow afternoon at 1:10pm Pakistan time at the Asian Championships,” Nadeem said on X.
“As always I would need your support and prayers.”
Nadeem tops the 21-member field. He is followed by Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage with a throw of 83.71 meters and Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama with a throw of 81.36 meters.
Yasir entered the final ranked 9th.
Nadeem made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning Pakistan’s first-ever athletics gold with a record-breaking javelin throw of 92.97 meters. His throw not only set a new Olympic and Asian record but also ended Pakistan’s 32-year Olympic medal drought.
He has since become a national hero, inspiring millions with his journey from humble beginnings in smalltown Mian Channu to the top of the Olympic podium.
Pakistan among dozens of countries joins China’s new global mediation group
- Beijing has touted the organization as the world’s first intergovernmental legal body for resolving disputes through mediation
- Deputy PM Ishaq Dar says multilateralism is key to global peace and stability, and the new organization reaffirms this ideal
ISLAMABAD: Dozens of countries, including Pakistan, on Friday joined China in establishing a global mediation-based dispute resolution group, with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar hoping to play an “active” role in the mission.
Dar was among representatives of more than 30 countries, from Indonesia to Belarus to Cuba, who signed the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong to become founding members of the global organization.
Beijing has touted the organization as the world’s first intergovernmental legal body for resolving disputes through mediation, saying it will be an important mechanism in safeguarding the principles of the United Nations charter. It also positioned Hong Kong as an international legal and dispute resolution services center in Asia.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dar said Pakistan values China’s steadfast support for multilateral efforts, which aim to bridge East and West, and North and South, bringing together developed and developing countries to foster a global community with a shared future.
“Pakistan and China have always shared the view that multilateralism is the centerpiece for international peace, stability, and development,” he said.
“The creation of IOMed today reaffirms this ideal, offering new opportunities and fresh hopes to build a more inclusive, more just and more equitable world. Pakistan will continue to be an active voice in this noble mission.”
The new body, headquartered in Hong Kong, aims to help promote the amicable resolution of international disputes and build more harmonious global relations. The support of developing countries signaled Beijing’s rising influence in the global south amid heightened geopolitical tensions, partly exacerbated by US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.
Wang said China has long advocated for handling differences with a spirit of mutual understanding and consensus-building through dialogue, while aiming to provide “Chinese wisdom” for resolving conflicts between nations.
“The establishment of the International Organization for Mediation helps to move beyond the zero-sum mindset of ‘you lose and I win,’” he said.
Hong Kong leader John Lee said the organization could begin its work as early as the end of this year. The ceremony was attended by representatives from some 50 other countries and about 20 organizations, including the United Nations.
Yueming Yan, a law professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the new organization is a complementary mechanism to existing institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague.
“While the ICJ and PCA focus on adjudication and arbitration, IOMed introduces a structured, institutionalized form of alternative dispute resolution — namely, mediation — on a global scale,” she said.
Although many details about the new body are yet to be clarified, it could open the door for greater synergy between formal litigation or arbitration and more flexible methods like mediation, she said.
Shahla Ali, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the International Organization for Mediation would have the capacity to mediate disputes between states, between a state and a national of another state, or in international commercial disputes.
“Conventions can provide opportunities to experiment with new approaches,” she said, noting rising interest in mediation globally as a means to resolve investor-state disputes.
Dar said peace and security as well as global prosperity can be promoted and preserved through strict adherence to the principles of the UN Charter, faithful implementation of UN Security Council resolutions as well as international law.
“Pakistan has established an International Mediation and Arbitration Center (IMAC) to promote commercial and investment dispute resolution and judicial efficiency. We look forward to collaborating with the Secretariat of IOMed and IMAC of Pakistan,” he added.
At Tajikistan summit, Pakistan PM urges world action over India’s ‘weaponization’ of Indus waters
- India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty a day after a militant attack in disputed Kashmir, which it blamed on Pakistan
- The attack triggered worst fighting between the two neighbors in decades before they agreed to a ceasefire this month
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday drew the world’s attention to India’s “weaponization” of water by suspending Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, urging the world to not let millions of lives to be held “hostage.”
India announced on April 23 that it was putting the 1960 World Bank-mediated treaty in abeyance after it accused Pakistan of backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad has denied complicity and called for a credible, international probe into it.
The IWT grants Pakistan rights to the Indus basin’s western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — for irrigation, drinking, and non-consumptive uses like hydropower, while India controls the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — for unrestricted use but must not significantly alter their flow. India can use the western rivers for limited purposes such as power generation and irrigation, without storing or diverting large volumes, according to the agreement.
Speaking at the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe, Sharif said the world must recognize that water transcends political boundaries, connects communities and sustains ecosystems and cultures, demanding world action over New Delhi’s move to suspend the IWT.
“We are now witnessing an alarming new low, the weaponization of water, India’s unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty which governs the sharing of the Indus basin’s water is deeply regrettable,” he said, urging that lives of millions of Pakistanis must not be held hostage to “narrow political gains.”
“Our waters and our glaciers... bind us in a shared destiny. Let us protect and preserve nature’s precious bounties for our planet and our peoples.”
The IWT suspension was among a series of punitive measures India announced against Pakistan over the Kashmir attack that killed 26 people. The archfoes this month traded missile, drone and artillery fire in their worst fighting since 1999 Kargil War before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10.
India has maintained its decision to keep the treaty, which ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, in abeyance, while Islamabad has said it will contest the move at every forum.
Sharif also urged the world to expedite its climate action to protect glacial systems, which were the lifeline of their civilization, culture and economy.
He said his country witnessed firsthand the peril of glacial melt in 2022, when devastating floods submerged Pakistan, washing away standing crops over millions of acres, affecting over 30 million people and causing more billions of dollars in damages.
“We only contribute less than half percent of the total world emissions, and yet we are one of those 10 most vulnerable countries facing this menace [of climate change],” he said.
“I pray to Allah Almighty that other countries do not face this kind of devastation which we faced back in 2022, but it will not be protected through words and speeches, it requires comprehensive, a plan, and immediate implementation.”
Pakistan believes in shared responsibility and collective action, according to Sharif. There is an urgent need for an enhanced global climate action to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.
“The developed countries must meet their climate financial commitments without any delay and with a balanced focus on adaptation and mitigation as well as loss and damage,” he said.
“Adequate funding for climate resilient infrastructure and overcoming financing gap remains critical for climate vulnerable countries.”
Islamabad has been urging the international community to ensure faster and simpler disbursements from the global fund to help vulnerable countries respond to climate-related losses.
The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) was established at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt in 2022 and a year later, nearly 200 nations agreed to the operationalization of $575 million as part of it. However, disbursements under the program have since been slow, hampering climate adaptation efforts in developing countries.
Heavy rains, thunderstorms claim more than 25 lives in Pakistan
- Moist currents have penetrated Pakistan over the past one week, with rains lashing upper and central regions
- Moist currents have penetrated Pakistan over the past one week, with rains lashing upper and central regions
ISLAMABAD: Heavy rains and thunderstorms have killed eight people in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, authorities said on Friday, taking the nationwide death from rain-related incidents to at least 26.
Moist currents have penetrated Pakistan over the past one week and under the influence of this weather system, isolated heavy rains and hail and thunderstorms have lashed several areas in upper and central parts of the country.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said fresh downpours, which began on May 27, have damaged 25 homes in Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar, Shangla, Swat, Torghar, Mohmand, Mansehra and Haripur, killing eight and injuring 21 people.
“Among the deceased are five men, two women, and a child,” the PDMA said in a statement. “The injured include ten men, five women and six children.”
Earlier this week, Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority chief Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed heavy rains had killed 18 people and injured 110 people in the eastern province.
Pakistan has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns which have led to frequent heat waves, untimely rains, storms, cyclones and droughts in recent years. Scientists have blamed the events on human-driven climate change.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast that the current spell of rains will continue till May 31.
“PDMA has instructed local administrations to provide immediate support to affected families and ensure that the injured receive proper medical care,” the KP authority said.
“Citizens are urged to report any emergencies by calling 1700.”
In 2022, devastating floods, blamed on human-driven climate change, killed more than 1,700 Pakistanis, affected another 33 million and caused the country over $30 billion in economic losses.
Four soldiers, seven ‘Indian-sponsored’ militants killed in Pakistan’s northwest, military says
- Islamabad has lately accused India of orchestrating several militant attacks in Pakistan, New Delhi denies allegations
- Both neighbors this month traded missiles, drones and artillery fire in their worst standoff in more than two decades
ISLAMABAD: Four Pakistani soldiers and seven “Indian-sponsored” militants were killed in separate encounters in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said late Thursday.
Islamabad has accused India of orchestrating several militant attacks in Pakistan, amid heightened tensions between the two neighbors since traded fire earlier this month in worst fighting between them in decades. New Delhi denies the allegations.
On Thursday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said the militants attempted to attack a security forces’ check-post in KP’s North Waziristan district, which was effectively thwarted by Pakistani forces.
“Indian sponsored khwarij [militants] attempted to attack a Security Forces Check Post in general area Shawal, North Waziristan District. The attempt was effectively thwarted by own troops and in ensuing fire exchange, six Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell,” it said in a statement.
“However, during intense fire exchange, Lt. Daniyal Ismail… a brave young officer who was leading his troops from front, fought gallantly and embraced Shahadat along with his three men.”
Pakistani security forces neutralized one more “Indian-sponsored” militant in another encounter in the Chitral district, according to the ISPR.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area,” it added.
Pakistan and India often accuse each other of supporting militancy. This month’s standoff, which saw the neighbors trade missiles, drones and artillery fire, was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that India blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad has denied involvement.
Islamabad blames India of backing a separatist insurgency in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province as well as religiously motivated militant groups, like the Pakistani Taliban, in KP. India denies the allegations.
