‘Reprehensible’: Pakistan says Afghan acting consul general ‘disrespected’ national anthem

The picture was taken from a video shared by Rehmat Mehsud on X on September 17, 2024, shows the Afghan Consul General in Peshawar, Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir (second from right), sitting during Pakistani national anthem at a conference in Peshawar, Pakistan. (Rehmat Mehsud)
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Updated 17 September 2024
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‘Reprehensible’: Pakistan says Afghan acting consul general ‘disrespected’ national anthem

  • Foreign office says Afghan official acted against diplomatic norms by not standing up for national anthem
  • Shakir was attending an Eid Milad-un-Nabi conference in Peshawar where the national anthem was played 

ISLAMABAD: The foreign office said on Tuesday it was “reprehensible” that the Afghan Consul General in Peshawar, Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir, had remained seated as the Pakistani national anthem was played at a conference in Peshawar, saying he had disrespected the patriotic song. 

Videos widely circulated on social media on Tuesday showed Shakir attending the Rehmat-ul-Alameen Conference hosted by Ali Amin Gandapur, the chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The event was held in the northwestern town of Peshawar to mark the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi. 

As the Pakistani national anthem was played and everyone in the room stood up in respect, Shakir and another Afghan colleague remained seated.

“The disrespect of host country’s national anthem is against diplomatic norms,” Foreign Office Spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement. “This act of Acting Consul General of Afghanistan is reprehensible. We are conveying our strong protest to the Afghan authorities both in Islamabad and Kabul.”

The Afghan government or consulate have not yet commented on the issue.

Traditionally tense relations between Islamabad and Kabul have soured further in recent months amid a surge in militancy in Pakistan that it blames on its neighbor.

Islamabad says militants mainly associated with the Pakistani Taliban group frequently launch attacks from hideouts in Afghanistan, targeting police and other security forces. Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for facilitating anti-Pakistan militants. Kabul denies the charges.

Last week, CM Gandapur said he would hold direct talks with Kabul’s Taliban rulers to take action against Afghanistan-based militant groups.


PM Sharif, president vow to promote religious freedom as Pakistan marks Minorities Day

Updated 8 sec ago
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PM Sharif, president vow to promote religious freedom as Pakistan marks Minorities Day

  • Pakistan observes Aug. 11 every year to highlight the contributions of religious minorities to the nation’s progress
  • There have been several instances of mob violence against religious minorities in Muslim-majority Pakistan in recent years

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari vowed to promote religious freedom and interfaith harmony to build an inclusive society, as Pakistan marks the National Minorities Day today, Monday. 

Pakistan observes the National Minorities Day every year on Aug. 11 since 2009, when the Pakistani government established it with the aim of recognizing the contributions of religious minorities to the nation’s progress.

According to the latest digital census conducted in 2023, over 96 percent of Pakistan’s population is Muslim, with the remaining four percent comprising 5.2 million Hindus, 3.3 million Christians, 15,992 Sikhs and others. 

There have been dozens of instances of mob violence against religious minorities in Pakistan in recent years, including an attack on Christians in Jaranwala, a town in Punjab province, where churches, homes and businesses were set ablaze in August 2023. In the southern Sindh province, Hindus have frequently complained about forced conversions, particularly of young girls within their community, and attacks on temples. 

“Today, the entire nation, including me, is celebrating National Minorities Day to protect the rights of minorities and appreciate their key role in the country’s development and progress,” Sharif was quoted as saying by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). 

“Today, we renew our pledge to always strive for religious freedom and equal rights of minorities in the light of the teachings of the founder of Pakistan and Islamic teachings.”

The Pakistani prime minister said that the welfare of all minorities, whether they be Sikhs, Christians, Hindus or Parsis, is one of the “priority duties” of the government.

In his message on the occasion, the Pakistani president vowed to safeguard and advance the rights of minorities in the country. 

“This day reflects Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of a Pakistan where every citizen lives in equality, harmony, and mutual respect,” the president secretariat press wing said in a press release.

Zardari said Pakistan’s constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, or color. He added that it also safeguarded the legitimate interests of minorities, ensuring their political, economic, religious, social, and cultural rights.

“Pakistan stands resolutely against all forms of discrimination, extremism, and religious intolerance,” he said. “We remain determined to build a society free from prejudice— one that embraces diversity as a strength and is anchored in mutual respect, interfaith harmony, and shared progress.”

Every year, a range of events, discussions, and communal assemblies are organized by the government through the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, and various minority communities to observe the day.


Pakistan army chief says agreements with Saudi Arabia, US, UAE to promote economic cooperation, investment

Updated 59 min 36 sec ago
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Pakistan army chief says agreements with Saudi Arabia, US, UAE to promote economic cooperation, investment

  • Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir speaks to Pakistanis in US about Middle East situation, Pakistan’s ties to Washington and tensions with India 
  • Pakistan, Saudi Arabia last year signed 34 MoUs worth $2.8 billion, seven of which have since been converted into agreements valued at $560 million

ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir recently said various memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between Pakistan and allies Saudi Arabia, US, China and the UAE are being implemented, which would bring economic cooperation and investment to the country, state-run media reported. 

Pakistan has signed several agreements promoting trade, economic cooperation and bilateral investment with China, US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Central Asian Republics. Islamabad aims to ward off a prolonged macroeconomic crisis and escape a precarious balance of payment position, through foreign trade and investment, that has weakened the country’s economy in recent years.

During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the Kingdom in October 2024, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed 34 MoUs worth $2.8 billion, seven of which have since been converted into agreements valued at $560 million. Meanwhile, the UAE is Pakistan’s third largest trading partner after China and the US, and last year pledged $10 billion in future investments in Pakistan’s priority sectors.

Speaking to members of the Pakistani community in the US during his official visit to the country, Munir said Pakistan expects “huge investment” due to a possible trade agreement with Washington. 

“He said various Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are being implemented with the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China, which will promote economic cooperation and investment,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday. 

The Pakistan army chief also spoke about the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, warning it could have implications worldwide. 

“Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said the ongoing genocide in Gaza is a worst human tragedy that has serious implications at both the global and regional levels,” Radio Pakistan said. 

Munir undertook a visit to the US in June this year, when he was invited to an unprecedented lunch by US President Donald Trump at the White House. The two discussed the then Israel-Iran military conflict and the days-long military confrontation between India and Pakistan which ended in a ceasefire on May 10. 

The Pakistan army chief spoke about his second official visit to the US since June, saying it marked “a new dimension” in Islamabad’s ties to Washington. “He said the aim of these visits is to take the relations on a constructive, sustainable and positive trajectory,” the state broadcaster said. 

He said Pakistan is “extremely grateful” to US President Donald Trump, saying that his strategic leadership not only stopped the India-Pakistan war but also prevented many wars in the world. 

Munir blamed India’s premier intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), for being involved in “transnational terrorist activities.” He pointed to the arrest of former Indian navy officials by Qatar in 2023, who were reportedly arrested for allegedly spying for Israel. He also cited the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2023, whose killing sparked a diplomatic crisis between Ottawa and New Delhi after former Canada PM Justin Trudeau cited evidence of Indian government involvement. 

“He said the Indian aggression has brought the region to the brink of a dangerously flaming war, where any mistake, leading to a bilateral conflict, would be a huge mistake,” the state broadcaster’s report said. 

The Pakistan army chief arrived in the US last week to attend the retirement ceremony of the outgoing US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief and held meetings with senior American political and military leaders, the Pakistani military’s media wing said on Sunday. 


West Indies level series with 5-wicket win over Pakistan in second ODI

Updated 11 August 2025
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West Indies level series with 5-wicket win over Pakistan in second ODI

  • Roston Chase’s 49 not out off 47 balls included two sixes, winning boundary as West Indies scored 184-5 in 33.2 overs
  • Pakistan won preceding T20 series 2-1, third and final match in ODI series is scheduled for Tuesday at the same stadium

TAROUBA, Trinidad and Tobago: Roston Chase and Justin Greaves led West Indies to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan with 10 balls to spare in the rain-reduced second one-day cricket international on Sunday, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.

Chase’s 49 not out off 47 balls included two sixes and the winning boundary as West Indies scored 184-5 in 33.2 overs.

The hosts were chasing a revised target of 181 runs in 35 overs under the DLS method after multiple rain interruptions saw Pakistan’s innings end at 171-7 in 37 overs. Right-arm fast bowler Jayden Seales took 3-23 in seven overs.

West Indies stumbled from 101-3 after 18 overs at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, to 111-5 off 24 overs, including the wicket of Sherfane Rutherford, who hit a 33-ball 45 with three sixes and four fours.

Chase and Greaves (26 off 31) shared a 77-run unbroken partnership for the sixth wicket.

West Indies earlier chose to bowl first and Hasan Nawaz again played a key role for Pakistan with 36 not out off 30 deliveries, after his unbeaten 63 in the ODI opener.

Hasan’s knock on Sunday included three sixes — two of them in what turned out to be the last over of Pakistan’s innings after more rain. Hussain Talat got 31 off 32 balls but most Pakistan batters were much slower, including captain Mohammad Rizwan who was trapped lbw by Gudakesh Motie for a 38-ball 16.

Pakistan beat West Indies in the first one-day international on Friday, also by five wickets.

The third and final match in the ODI series is scheduled for Tuesday at the same stadium.

Pakistan won the preceding Twenty20 series 2-1 played in Florida.


Pakistan demands UN Security Council stop Israel’s planned occupation of Gaza

Updated 1 min 48 sec ago
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Pakistan demands UN Security Council stop Israel’s planned occupation of Gaza

  • Israel’s cabinet last week approved a plan to take control of the Gaza city, drawing outrage from Muslim states worldwide
  • Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad says the UN Security Council must be ready to impose a cost on Israel if it defies demand

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), on Sunday demanded the Security Council stop Israel’s planned occupation of Gaza city, saying the move “aims to erase Palestinian presence.”

After a security cabinet meeting on Friday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed a plan to take over Gaza had been approved, with Israeli forces preparing to take control of Gaza while providing humanitarian aid to civilian population outside combat zones.

The move has drawn a sharp reaction from several countries around the world, including Pakistan, while UN human rights chief Volker Turk this week called on Israel to immediately halt its plan of occupying Gaza city.

Speaking at a UNSC meeting on the Middle East, Ahmad said the latest Israeli move would extinguish prospects for peace and was the culmination of a campaign of “ethnic cleansing.”

“Gaza is enduring a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe. For nearly two years, it has suffered indiscriminate bombardment, total blockade, and deliberate deprivation and starvation, while violence and dispossession escalate in the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” he said.

“The so-called humanitarian system is a cruel illusion. Famine is rampant. Civilians are being shot trying to collect food. Under the circumstances, this Council must urgently demand Israel, under Chapter of the Charter, to refrain from its stated plan of occupying Gaza city.”

Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, has consistently condemned Israel’s war on Gaza that has killed over 61,000 Palestinians since Oct. 2023, calling for uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Palestinian territory.

Ahmad once again urged an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages and exchange of Palestinian prisoners, a complete halt to displacement, unhindered humanitarian access, and protection of the legal and historical status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites.

“Those shielding Israel from accountability — through political cover, military support, or diplomatic protection — are complicit, and must share responsibility. They must reconsider their policies, for history will judge them harshly,” he said.

“The Security Council must be ready to impose a cost on Israel if it defies the demand of the Council and the will of the international community. The Council must enact enforcement measures including the deployment of an international protection force to save the besieged population.”


US trade deal likely to bring huge investments to Pakistan, army chief tells overseas Pakistanis

Updated 10 August 2025
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US trade deal likely to bring huge investments to Pakistan, army chief tells overseas Pakistanis

  • The statement comes during Field Marshal Asim Munir’s second visit to the US in less than two months
  • Field Marshal Munir says his visits aim to take bilateral ties to ‘constructive, sustainable and positive path’

KARACHI: Pakistan’s recent trade deal with the United States (US) is expected to bring huge investments to the South Asian country, Pakistani military sources said on Sunday, citing Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir who is on a visit to the US.

Field Marshal Munir has engaged with senior American military and political leadership during his ongoing visit, after years of strained relations mainly due to disagreements over counter‑terrorism issues.

Pakistan eyes greater collaboration with the US under President Donald Trump and both nations have appeared to be keen to rebuild their military and economic relationship in recent months.

On Sunday, the army chief met a group of overseas Pakistanis and spoke with them about his visits and a host of issues of national significance for Islamabad, according to Pakistani military sources.

“My second visit after a gap of just one and a half months marks a new dimension in Pakistan-US relations,” Field Marshal Munir was quoted as saying.

“The aim of these visits is to take the relationship on a constructive, sustainable and positive path. A possible trade deal with the US is expected to bring in huge investments.”

Both countries last month reached a trade deal according to which the US will charge a 19 percent tariff on imports from Pakistan, compared to a 29 percent reciprocal tariff announced in April that had raised alarm in Islamabad. Separately, President Trump has highlighted a partnership with Pakistan to develop the country’s oil reserves.

Field Marshal Munir said the implementation of various Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and China was underway to promote economic cooperation and investment.

“Our progress and prosperity are linked to Pakistanis living around the world,” he said, adding the country’s 64 percent young population has immense potential to build a promising future of the country.

Under Trump’s renewed outreach, Washington has praised Pakistan’s leadership and reinstated military cooperation previously curtailed over Afghanistan-related concerns. Islamabad, in turn, seeks to balance its longstanding partnership with China, including arms supply and defense infrastructure, with growing engagement with the US.

Pakistan’s powerful military, which has ruled the country directly for nearly half of its history and holds sway in political matters even when not in power, plays a central role in shaping its foreign and security policies.

This is the Pakistani army chief’s second visit to the US since June, when Trump hosted him for an unprecedented lunch at the White House, signifying growing closeness between the two countries. Both leaders discussed the tensions in the Middle East, particularly the 12-day Iran-Israel military conflict.

During his ongoing visit, Field Marshal Munir also attended the retirement ceremony of outgoing United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael E. Kurilla and witnessed the handover of command to Admiral Brad Cooper in Tampa, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.

Munir lauded General Kurilla’s leadership and his contributions to strengthening bilateral military cooperation between Pakistan and the US. He extended his best wishes to Admiral Cooper, expressing confidence in continued collaboration to address shared security challenges. The Pakistani army chief also met US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine and discussed with him matters of professional interest.

“On the sidelines, COAS (chief of army staff) interacted with Chiefs of Defense from friendly nations,” the ISPR said on Sunday, without mentioning the names of the countries.