ISLAMABAD: The Afghan President’s Special Envoy for Pakistan, Mohammed Umer Daudzai, said on Wednesday Pakistan should use its influence over the Taliban to help break a deadlock in peace talks between the insurgent group and the Kabul government, but warned that Islamabad should push the Taliban to support democracy.
Talks between a Kabul government delegation and the Taliban have been going on in Doha since mid-September, but progress has been slow and rising violence in Afghanistan has sapped trust.
Nearly 6,000 Afghan civilians have been killed or wounded in the first nine months of the year as heavy fighting between government forces and Taliban insurgents rages on despite efforts to find peace, the United Nations said this week.
The peace talks follow a deal in February between the United States and the Taliban that will pave the way for foreign forces to leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in exchange for counterterrorism guarantees from the Taliban, who agreed to negotiate a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing formula with Kabul.
“We are pleased at the agreement between the Taliban and the US; it has proved that Pakistan has influence on the Taliban,” Daudzai told Arab News. “Since they have influence, so they should also help us. This is our expectation. Pakistan has not refused to help us. They have also not denied their influence [on the Taliban].”
Neighboring Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan has for years been ambiguous — it is a US ally but is also accused of supporting the Taliban as its proxy in Afghanistan, part of its wider jockeying with regional rival India. Islamabad denies this. It also insists its influence with the Taliban has waned over the years.
“Pakistani leaders know our position as what do we want, what do we expect from them. But when and how will they do that is up to them. But we want urgent actions,” Daudzai said, adding that the Afghan government expected Pakistan to support democracy in Afghanistan.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan would hold “detailed discussions” on the peace process with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani when they met in Kabul later this year.
Pakistan should use its influence over Taliban to help us, Afghan special envoy says
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Pakistan should use its influence over Taliban to help us, Afghan special envoy says
- Talks between Kabul government and Taliban ongoing in Doha since mid-September, but progress has been slow
- PM Khan to hold “detailed discussions” on peace process with President Ghani when they meet in Kabul later this year
PM Sharif to attend Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan trilateral summit today
- Pakistani PM is on regional diplomacy tour to Iran, Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan
- Turkiye, Azerbaijan openly pledged support for Pakistan during latest India conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in Azerbaijan on the third stopover of a five-day regional diplomacy tour that also saw him visit Iran and Turkiye, and will today, Wednesday, attend a Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan trilateral summit, the foreign office said.
Turkiye and Azerbaijan had openly pledged support for Pakistan during its latest military confrontation with archrival India earlier this month while Iran had urged restraint and also offered to mediate.
“Sharif will attend the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Meeting,” the foreign office said, releasing the PM’s schedule.
“The Prime Minister, along with the Presidents of Turkiye and Azerbaijan, will also attend a ceremony to mark Azerbaijan’s Independence Day, which the Prime Minister will also address.”
Pakistan and Azerbaijan have strengthened ties in recent years through defense and energy cooperation and Baku has supported Islamabad’s position on the Kashmir dispute with India at international forums.
Islamabad has also offered Azerbaijan access to its seaports to facilitate trade with global markets and promoted regional connectivity initiatives linking Central Asia to South Asia.
On Tuesday, Sharif met the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and thanked his country for its “steadfast support” during the standoff with India, the worst conflict in decades between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
The four-day military escalation saw Pakistan and India launch missiles and drones deep into each other’s territories and exchange gunfire on their de facto border, the Line of Control, until a ceasefire was announced on May 10. Nearly 70 people combined were killed on both sides of the border.
Before Azerbaijan, Sharif went to Iran where he held meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
At a joint press stakeout with the Iranian president, Sharif made a peace offer to India, saying Pakistan was ready for talks on contentious issues including Kashmir, water-sharing and countering terrorism.
At the start of his regional visit, Sharif met Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul and thanked him for Ankara’s strong backing during the conflict with India.
The two leaders also discussed expanding cooperation in defense production, energy, IT, agriculture and infrastructure and agreed to pursue a bilateral trade target of $5 billion, building on commitments made during the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council held in Islamabad earlier this year.
Pakistan and Bangladesh begin T20I series today
- 2009 world champions Pakistan have endured significant downturn in last 12 months, crashed out in first round of World Cup in 2024
- Bangladesh, ranked ninth, have won just four of last 12 T20Is, lost series against lower-ranked US last year and UAE earlier this month
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan are all set to take on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series commencing from today, Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
The second T20I will be held on Friday, May 30, while the third and final T20I of the series is scheduled on June 1.
Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan, while Litton Das will captain Bangladesh. All three T20Is will be played at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium, which will host its first T20I series after going through a complete renovation earlier this year.
“The boys are doing well as a unit. A lot of our players are coming off strong performances in the HBL PSL X, which is one of the most competitive T20 tournaments in the world. That form and momentum are something we are hoping to carry into this series,” Agha was quoted as saying in a PCB statement.
“Bangladesh are a quality side with talented players and we are expecting a good challenge from them. I believe fans are in for some thrilling cricket over the next few days.”
Das, the Bangladesh captain, said his team was “focused and understands the challenge Pakistan poses, especially in their home conditions.”
“This series is a great opportunity for every player to step up. We are trying a few combinations in the build-up to the T20 World Cup next year and this tour is a valuable part of that process,” the PCB statement quoted Das as saying.
The 2009 world champions Pakistan have endured a significant downturn in the last 12 months and crashed out in the first round of the World Cup in 2024.
They have won only three of their last 13 T20Is, two against minnows Zimbabwe, and slumped to eighth in the T20I rankings.
With a new head coach in New Zealand’s Mike Hesson they are looking to younger players with the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka just eight months away.
Star batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, have all been axed.
Salman Agha will lead the side, having lost a series in New Zealand 4-1 two months ago.
Bangladesh, ranked ninth, are in the same boat.
They have won just four of their last 12 T20Is and lost series against lower-ranked United States (2024) and United Arab Emirates earlier this month.
They also have a new coach in West Indian Phil Simmons, who will be missing senior players including Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, all either fully retired or from the T20Is.
Frontline fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman are nursing injuries while new pace sensation Nahid Rana withdrew from the tour over security fears following the cross-border conflict between India and Pakistan.
With inputs from AFP
On 27th anniversary of acquiring nukes, Pakistan reaffirms pledge of defensive use only
- Pakistan began program to obtain nuclear weapons after 1971 war led to division of the country and creation of Bangladesh
- Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in May 1998, officially becoming a nuclear-weapon state shortly after India conducted its own tests
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is celebrating Youm-e-Takbeer today, Wednesday, to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the day it acquired nuclear weapons, reaffirming its pledge to use the capability for defensive purposes only.
Pakistan began a program to obtain nuclear weapons after the 1971 war which led to the division of the country and the creation of Bangladesh, then East Pakistan. The army sees its nuclear weapons as essential to offset the conventional superiority of its much bigger neighbor, India. India sees its own nuclear weapons as a deterrent against Pakistan and China, which defeated it in a border war in 1962.
Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in May 1998, shortly after India announced it had done so.
“Youm-e-Takbeer commemorates the momentous occasion in 1998 when Pakistan emerged as a nuclear power— restoring the strategic balance in South Asia and asserting its sovereign right to self-defense,” the army said in a statement.
“This historic achievement epitomizes the nation’s resolve, unity, and unwavering pursuit of a dignified and peaceful existence.
“The Armed Forces of Pakistan reiterate their unflinching resolve to defend the motherland against all threats across the full spectrum of conflict. As responsible custodians of the nation’s strategic assets, we reaffirm that our nuclear capability remains solely for defensive purposes and stands as a guarantor of peace.”
The military added that the day underscored Pakistan’s “steadfast commitment” to preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity and affirmed its doctrine of credible minimum deterrence, rooted in the principle of maintaining peace and strategic stability in the region.
Both India and Pakistan faced international sanctions as a result of testing nukes in 1998, although India has since won effective recognition as a nuclear power following an accord negotiated with the United States. Neither Pakistan, nor India, have signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists estimates Pakistan’s arsenal at about 170 warheads. These can be delivered by aircraft, or by missiles, which both countries have been developing and testing.
The nuclear program is controlled by the army and run by the Strategic Plans Division.
Pakistan and India’s nuclear capabilities make any conflict between them especially dangerous and raise global alarm, as happened earlier this month when they launched missiles and drones deep into each other’s territories and exchanged gunfire on their de facto border, the Line of Control, until a ceasefire was announced on May 10. Nearly 70 people combined were killed on both sides of the border.
It was the worst conflict in decades between the neighbors.
Pakistan has fought three full-scale wars with India, including two over the disputed Kashmir region.
Turkiye detains 13 people in probe of fintech Papara, which acquired Pakistan’s SadaPay
- Papara is suspected of money laundering, illegal betting and establishing a criminal organization
- Papara expanded by acquiring Pakistan-based SadaPay and Spain-based Rebellion Pay in 2023
ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities detained 13 people as part of an investigation into fintech company Papara over suspected money laundering, illegal betting and establishing a criminal organization, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Tuesday.
Yerlikaya said authorities determined that the company, which provides online money transfers, foreign-exchange transactions and bill-payment services for its 21 million users, was allowing users to open accounts to transfer illegal betting income.
A report by state broadcaster TRT Haber said the detentions included Papara’s founder and chairman, Ahmet Faruk Karsli.
As part of the probe, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as a trustee to Papara by a court decision, following reports from the central bank, the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), and other relevant institutions.
The central bank, which regulates payment firms, said on Tuesday it would implement daily limits to transactions made on the platform.
“In this process, which will be carried out in coordination with the relevant institutions, temporary daily limits will be applied to payment transactions at the institution,” the central bank said in a statement.
It also sought to reassure users, noting that “within the scope of the law, the funds of payment service users in payment and electronic money institutions are secured in protection accounts at banks.”
Yerlikaya said 10 companies, bank accounts and assets of the detained individuals were seized as part of the investigation.
A report by the financial crimes unit found that more than 26,000 accounts were used for illegal online betting, involving transactions worth 12.9 billion lira ($330 million), he added.
Papara, one of Turkiye’s fastest-growing fintech companies, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The company was founded in 2015 and received an electronic money institution license from the banking regulator BDDK the following year. It expanded abroad by acquiring Pakistan-based SadaPay and Spain-based Rebellion Pay in 2023.
According to its website, Papara had 21 million users as of last year. PPR Holding owns Papara, and Trade Registry data shows Karsli held about 90 percent of the company as of May 2024.
Pakistan to celebrate Eid Al-Adha on June 7
- Eid Al-Adha is observed on 10th day of Dhul Hijjah
- Annual Hajj pilgrimage will commence on June 4
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s moon sighting committee announced today, Tuesday, that the crescent marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah was not sighted due to unclear skies and the Eid Al-Adha festival would commence from June 7.
Dhul Hijjah is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, a sacred period during which the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid Al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, take place. It is one of the four holy months in Islam, with the first 10 days especially revered and considered among the best days of the year for performing righteous deeds.
“Today, in Pakistan, most areas experienced cloudy weather, and some areas had clear skies. The confirmation of sighting of the Dhul Hijjah moon has not been received from any part of Pakistan,” Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad said at a press conference.
“Hence unanimously [we have] decided that the first Dhul Hijjah, 1446 AH will be observed on Thursday, May 29 and Eid Al-Adha will be on Saturday, June 7, 2025.”
Commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son on God’s command, Muslims mark the Eid Al-Adha holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep, cows and goats. The meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor.
Eid Al-Adha is observed on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, while the annual Hajj pilgrimage will commence on June 4.
