ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday closed its border with Afghanistan at Chaman crossing point for a preliminary one-week period amid fears the coronavirus epidemic could spread from the neighboring country.
The Pakistan embassy in Kabul said, Sunday, in a statement the Pak-Afghan crossing point at Chaman would be closed from Monday “to prevent the spread of cornavirus on both sides of the crossing point.”
The measure comes after several suspected coronavirus cases were reported in Afghanistan in recent days, and at least one was confirmed by officials. The war torn country’s health infrastructure is unequipped to deal with a major outbreak.
Last week, Pakistani border authorities deployed health teams at Torkham and Ghulam Khan border crossing points to screen out all people and vehicles entering Pakistan.
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan also closed their land borders with Iran last week, after the virus death toll in that country clocked in at the highest of any country outside the disease epicenter of China. A majority of the infected patients in Afghanistan and Pakistan have been traced back to Iran.
Pakistan’s State Minister for Health, Zafar Mirza, confirmed on Saturday that the country had detected two new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of patients with the infection to four. In a little over two months, the disease has killed almost 3,000 people worldwide and infected more than 86,000.
Mirza further said during Saturday’s media briefing that all entry points to Pakistan would be under more stringent surveillance and any persons coming from affected countries would be quarantined for tests. Affected countries and territories now clock in at 64 around the world.
Pakistan closes land border with Afghanistan to contain coronavirus
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Pakistan closes land border with Afghanistan to contain coronavirus
- Pakistan has also closed land border with Iran where death toll from infections has soared
- There are presently four confirmed cases of the virus on Pakistani soil
One injured as explosion derails three coaches of Jaffar Express train in Pakistan’s south
- This is the second incident involving Jaffar Express since it resumed operations in March, following a rare hijacking
- In June, the train narrowly avoided a disaster, when a bogie of its power van derailed near Shikarpur’s Mandi Phatak area
ISLAMABAD: At least one person was injured when an explosion derailed three coaches of the Jaffar Express train in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, Pakistan’s state media reported on Monday.
The train, which was en route to Quetta from Peshawar, derailed in Sindh’s Shkarpur district after the explosion damaged part of the railway track, the APP news agency reported, citing Sukkur Divisional Superintendent of Railways Jamshaid Alam.
The incident forced authorities to suspend train operations on Monday evening.
“Teams from Sukkur were summoned to start repairing work after the incident,” the report read. “It may take up to further five hours to restore the track.”
This is the second incident involving Jaffar Express since it resumed operations in March, following a rare hijacking by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) separatist militants in March with 400 passengers aboard.
The hijacking in the rugged Bolan mountain range ended on March 12 after an hours-long military operation that killed 33 militants and rescued hostages. The standoff also left 23 soldiers, three railway staff and five passengers dead.
In June, the train narrowly avoided a disaster, when a bogie of its power van derailed near Shikarpur’s Mandi Phatak area, according to the APP report.
The provincial government has ordered an investigation into Monday’s explosion.
Pakistan’s railway system faces frequent derailments due to poor maintenance and militant attacks targeting rail tracks, especially in Sindh and Balochistan provinces.
These incidents underscore an urgent need for infrastructure and security upgrades across the rail network.
Pakistan, Egypt resolve to boost cooperation in defense, trade and other key sectors
- The development comes at a meeting of the two foreign ministers in New York
- Both sides also agreed to undertake high-level exchanges in the near future
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, and Egyptian FM Dr. Badr Abdelatty on Monday held a meeting in New York, where they agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense, trade and other key sectors, the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a high-level United Nations (UN) summit on Palestine, which is being co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France on July 28-29.
Appreciating the continued collaboration at multilateral fora, FM Abdelatty congratulated Pakistan on assuming the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July.
“The two leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing broad-based cooperation across various sectors, including medical, minerals, defense, trade, and investment,” the Pakistan foreign ministry said.
“They agreed on the need to strengthen connectivity between Pakistan and Egypt to promote economic integration and facilitate greater trade. Both sides also agreed to undertake high-level exchanges in the near future.”
Pakistan and Egypt have cordial ties and both countries have resolved in recent years to facilitate businessmen with visas, exchange trade-related information and promote private-sector contacts.
During Monday’s meeting, the two foreign ministers reiterated their unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their just cause, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.
“The two ministers underscored the urgent need for unimpaired humanitarian access, an immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities, and expressed hope for a meaningful and constructive outcome of the International Conference on the Two-State Solution,” it added.
The UN conference is being held at a time of worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and France’s historic decision to formally recognize Palestine as a state.
The summit takes place a day after Israel declared a “tactical pause” in fighting in parts of Gaza, where more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, saying it would allow the UN and aid agencies to open secure land routes to tackle a deepening hunger crisis.
Analysts say France’s move could tip the balance internationally. Already, 147 of 193 UN member states — nearly 75 percent — recognize Palestine, including nearly all of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. France would be the first G7 country to join that group, with the official declaration to be made at the UN General Assembly in September.
Pakistan finance minister due in US for ‘final’ round of trade talks
- Pakistan, US have been engaged in talks after Washington announced a 29 percent ‘reciprocal tariff’ on Pakistani exports in April
- Islamabad said the move, which was paused on April 9 for a 90-day period, may undercut its fragile, export-led economic recovery
KARACHI: Pakistan’s finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, has left for the United States (US) for a “final” round of trade talks between the two countries, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Monday.
Pakistan and the US have been engaged in talks after Washington announced a 29 percent “reciprocal tariff” on Pakistani exports in April. Islamabad said the move, paused on April 9 for a 90-day period, may undercut its fragile, export-led recovery.
The US is Pakistan’s top export destination, with shipments totaling $5.44 billion in fiscal year 2023-2024, according to official data. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports rose 10 percent from a year earlier.
The Pakistani finance ministry said the finalization of a trade agreement between Pakistan and the US will benefit both economies, noting opportunities for partnership between the two countries in various sectors.
“US is Pakistan’s largest trading partner. Pakistan is keen to expand bilateral trade ties to traditional and non-traditional sectors,” it said.
“There are vast opportunities for partnership between the two countries in key sectors such as information technology, minerals and agriculture.”
This is Aurangzeb’s second visit to the US this month. The finance minister last week said that Islamabad and Washington were exploring a shift in their economic engagement, anchored in long-term investment.
“One thing we discussed was that we have to move beyond the immediate trade imperative for it to be brought into the next level and bring in a real step change,” he said, following his meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington.
“So, the investment imperative will come forward, and areas have already been identified in terms of minerals and mining, in terms of AI [artificial intelligence], in terms of digital infrastructure [and] crypto,” Aurangzeb said.
“We feel that this will be a real game changer, God willing, in terms of the relationship and the economic relationship between Pakistan and the United States.”
Finmin highlights Pakistan’s IT, mineral and agriculture potential for collaboration with US
- Muhammad Aurangzeb briefs the US chargé d’affaires on Pakistan’s macroeconomic indicators and rating upgrades
- Both countries have been engaged in talks since the US announced in April 29 percent ‘reciprocal tariff’ on Pakistani exports
KARACHI: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday met with US Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth Horst and discussed with her the potential of Pakistan’s information technology (IT), minerals and agriculture sectors for collaboration with the United States, the Pakistani finance ministry said.
The meeting served as an opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest and to reaffirm the positive trajectory of bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States.
Aurangzeb appreciated the continued US support for Pakistan’s development and macroeconomic stability achieved over the past year and a half, according to the Pakistani finance ministry.
“Aurangzeb underscored the importance of the US as Pakistan’s largest trading partner and highlighted Pakistan’s keen interest in broadening bilateral cooperation beyond traditional sectors,” his ministry said.
“He specifically pointed to the promising potential in information technology, minerals and agriculture as avenues for mutually beneficial collaboration.”
The US is Pakistan’s top export destination, with shipments totaling $5.44 billion in fiscal year 2023-2024, according to official data. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports rose 10 percent from a year earlier.
Both countries have been engaged in talks after Washington announced a 29 percent “reciprocal tariff” on Pakistani exports in April. Islamabad said the move, paused in June for a 90-day period, may undercut its fragile, export-led recovery.
Recalling his visit to the US this month, Aurangzeb shared insights from his productive meetings with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Washington, noting “encouraging progress” in deepening trade and economic ties between the two countries.
He also briefed Horst on Pakistan’s recent macroeconomic indicators, including sovereign rating upgrades and renewed investor confidence, according to the Pakistani finance ministry.
The US chargé d’affaires appreciated the economic progress and the government’s reform-driven approach, emphasizing the US commitment to strengthening economic and trade ties with Pakistan.
“She reiterated US support for continued economic and political stability in Pakistan, and expressed optimism for an enduring and robust business partnership between the two nations,” the Pakistani ministry said.
“The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to building on the momentum of current engagements to further deepen bilateral cooperation.”
15 militants killed as Pakistani helicopters pound hideouts near Afghan border — official
- The development comes a week after eight Pakistani paramilitary troops were killed in a clash with militants in Orakzai district
- More than 200 army and police personnel are participating in the ongoing grand operation in Hangu, Karak, Orakzai and Kurram areas
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani gunship helicopters have hit militant hideouts near the country’s border with Afghanistan in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, a senior police official said on Monday, adding that the days-long operation has left 15 militants dead so far.
Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militancy in KP in recent years. Militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in the region.
Regional Police Officer Abbas Majeed Marwat said the gunship helicopters destroyed several militant hideouts in Kohat, Hangu, Orakzai and Lower Kurram border areas and several militants were seen fleeing to mountain forests in the vicinity.
“Operation against terrorists is underway in Chapri, Kandao, Shanawari, Zargari, Naryab and other mountainous areas. More than 200 army and police personnel are participating in the ongoing grand operation against khawarij [TTP militants],” Marwat said in a statement.
“Fifteen terrorists have been killed and many others have been injured in the operation in Hangu, Karak, Orakzai and Kurram that has been going on for the past ten days.”
Marwat’s comments came a week after eight Pakistani paramilitary troops and four militants were killed in a clash in KP’s Orakzai district that borders Afghanistan.
“Armed terrorists attacked a Frontier Corps (FC) convoy with heavy weapons... The fighting continued for several hours,” AFP news agency quoted a senior local security official as saying.
“Eight FC personnel were killed, and 11 were injured.”
In recent months, Islamabad has frequently accused India of backing militant groups and Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation.
