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As Pakistan condemns Hamas leader’s assassination in Iran, thousands attend funeral prayers in absentia 

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Updated 31 July 2024
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As Pakistan condemns Hamas leader’s assassination in Iran, thousands attend funeral prayers in absentia 

As Pakistan condemns Hamas leader’s assassination in Iran, thousands attend funeral prayers in absentia 
  • Foreign Office says Israeli “adventurism” constituted a “dangerous escalation” in an already volatile region
  • Thousands offer funeral prayers in absentia for Ismail Haniyeh in Karachi, vow to raise their voices for Palestine
Updated 31 July 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR & NAIMAT KHAN
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ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistan on Wednesday condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, expressing shock over the “reckless act” that coincided with the new Iranian president’s oath-taking ceremony as thousands attended his funeral prayers in absentia in the southern port city of Karachi. 

Iran’s state television announced the killing of the Palestinian leader early Wednesday. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said Haniyeh and a security guard had been ambushed in their place of residence and an investigation was underway.

Haniyeh was in Iran for the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected reformist president Masoud Pezeshkian.




Activists and supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party carry Palestinian flags as they attend an absentia funeral prayers for Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Karachi on July 31, 2024, after his assassination in an air strike. (AFP)

“Pakistan condemns the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the Chief of Hamas Political Bureau in Tehran today,” the foreign office said in a statement, sending condolences to his family and the people of Palestine.

“We are deeply shocked by the timing of this reckless act, coinciding with the inauguration of the President of Iran, an event attended by several foreign dignitaries, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan.”

The foreign office expressed “serious concern” over what it described as “growing Israeli adventurism in the region.”

“Its latest acts constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region and undermine efforts for peace,” the statement said.

Separately, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, who heads a major Pakistani religious political party, announced funeral prayers in absentia for the “martyred” 62-year-old Hamas leader in Karachi on Wednesday. 

FUNERAL PRAYERS IN ABSENTIA




Activists and supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party offer absentia funeral prayers for for Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Lahore on July 31, 2024, after his assassination in an air strike. (AFP)

Thousands gathered at the city’s busy New M.A. Jinnah Road for the funeral prayers to pay tribute to the Hamas leader. 

Muhammad Hussain Mehnati, the head of the party’s Sindh chapter, said conscientious people worldwide should reject Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.

“Ismael Haniyeh and other Palestinian leaders among tens of thousands sacrificed their lives in the glorious struggle,” he noted.

Mehnati praised the “ongoing Palestinian resistance against tyranny,” criticizing the US, the UK, and other nations for supporting Israel.

“I urge the Pakistani government and other Muslim-majority countries to actively assist the oppressed Palestinians,” he said.

The JI, which is holding a sit-in protest against inflation and rising energy costs, had planned to hold another demonstration in front of the Governor’s House in Karachi on Wednesday. 

However, it called off the protest, urging residents to attend Haniyeh’s funeral prayers in absentia.

The event was also attended by a large number of women. One of the participants, Dr. Hareem Khurshid, praised Haniyeh for resisting Israel’s military campaign and credited him for protecting the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“We are happy because he embraced martyrdom and at the same time we are sad,” she told Arab News. “But we will never stop protesting and raising our voices for Palestine.”

INCREASING HOSTILITIES IN MIDDLE EAST

Haniyeh’s assassination comes amid an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which was blamed for an attack on the Israel-annexed Golan Heights that killed 12 children on the weekend.

On Tuesday night, Israel struck a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon, saying that it had killed Fuad Shukr, the head of Hezbollah’s military operations room.

Israel has promised to wipe out Hamas after the group conducted a deadly raid into settlements outside the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking hostages back to the Palestinian enclave.

Israel soon after launched a devastating military assault in Gaza and has since killed over 40,000 people, mainly civilians. Both sides have been trying to negotiate a hostage release agreement, which would include a cessation of fighting, with the help of the US and regional negotiators.

Haniyeh, normally based in Qatar, has been the face of Hamas’s international diplomacy as the war set off last year. Hamas said in a statement Haniyeh’s killing would “take the battle to new dimensions and have major repercussions,” while Iran also vowed to retaliate.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Israel had provided the grounds for “harsh punishment for itself” and it was Tehran’s duty to avenge the Hamas leader’s death as it had occurred in the Iranian capital. Iranian forces had already made strikes directly on Israel earlier in the Gaza war.

There was no comment nor claim of responsibility from Israel. In 2021, Israel assassinated Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran’s top nuclear scientist.

Topics: Ismail Haniyeh Hamas leader War on Gaza Pakistan Palestine

Pakistan accuses India of altering Chenab River flow as tensions rise

Pakistan accuses India of altering Chenab River flow as tensions rise
Updated 5 sec ago
AFP
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Pakistan accuses India of altering Chenab River flow as tensions rise

Pakistan accuses India of altering Chenab River flow as tensions rise
  • Punjab irrigation minister says Pakistan has ‘witnessed changes in the river which are not natural’
  • India recently lowered the sluice gates of the Baglihar dam to restrict water as a ‘punitive action’
Updated 5 sec ago
AFP

LAHORE: Pakistan on Tuesday accused India of altering the flow of the Chenab River, one of three rivers placed under Pakistan’s control according to the now suspended Indus Waters Treaty.
This major river originates in India but was allocated to Pakistan under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, signed by the two nuclear powers.
India suspended the treaty following a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 people.
Islamabad warned that tampering with its rivers would be considered “an act of war.”
“We have witnessed changes in the river (Chenab) which are not natural at all,” Kazim Pirzada, irrigation minister for Punjab province, told AFP.
Punjab, bordering India and home to nearly half of Pakistan’s 240 million citizens, is the country’s agricultural heartland, and “the majority impact will be felt in areas which have fewer alternate water routes,” Pirzada warned.
“One day the river had normal inflow and the next day it was greatly reduced,” Pirzada added.
In Azad Kashmir, large quantities of water from India were reportedly released on April 26, according to the Jinnah Institute, a think tank led by a former Pakistani climate change minister.
“This is being done so that we don’t get to utilize the water,” Pirzada added.
The gates of the sluice spillways on the Baglihar dam in Indian-administered Kashmir which lies upstream of Pakistani Punjab “have been lowered to restrict water flow ... as a short-term punitive action,” a senior Indian official has told The Indian Express.
The Indus Waters Treaty permits India to use shared rivers for dams or irrigation but prohibits diverting watercourses or altering downstream volumes.
Indian authorities have not commented yet but Kushvinder Vohra, former head of India’s Central Water Commission, told The Times of India: “Since the treaty is on pause ... we may do flushing on any project without any obligation.”
Experts said the water cannot be stopped in the longer term, and that India can only regulate timings of when it releases flows.
However, the Jinnah Institute warned: “Even small changes in the timing of water releases can disrupt sowing calendars (and) reduce crop yields.”

Topics: Chenab India Pakistan Ties

Fear and uncertainty grip Azad Kashmir’s tourism sector as India-Pakistan tensions soar

Fear and uncertainty grip Azad Kashmir’s tourism sector as India-Pakistan tensions soar
Updated 44 min 24 sec ago
Reuters
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Fear and uncertainty grip Azad Kashmir’s tourism sector as India-Pakistan tensions soar

Fear and uncertainty grip Azad Kashmir’s tourism sector as India-Pakistan tensions soar
  • Guesthouses in Azad Kashmir experiencing “zero occupancy” due to safety concerns and restrictions, says hotel association
  • Tensions between Delhi, Islamabad have surged since last month when militant attack killed 26 in Indian-administered Kashmir
Updated 44 min 24 sec ago
Reuters

PIR CHANASI, Muzaffarabad: Tensions between India and Pakistan have impacted tourism in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with local business owners reporting a sharp decline in visitor arrivals on Sunday (May 4) due to safety concerns and restrictions on movement enforced by Pakistani authorities.
The latest crisis between the nuclear-armed neighbors was sparked by a deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region last week that saw suspected militants kill at least 26 people. India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, which Islamabad denies. Pakistan has said it has “credible intelligence” that India intends to launch military action.
The Pir Chinasi area in Muzaffarabad district, a popular hilltop tourist destination not far from the border with India-administered Kashmir, has seen a dramatic drop in footfall, leaving hotels empty and businesses struggling.
“Due to tensions between India and Pakistan, the roads have been closed here since the border is nearby,” Mohammad Saghir, a local restaurant owner, said. “Because of this, only a few tourists are coming here.”
However, Syed Yasir Ali, a tourist from Islamabad, said he believes the area is still “a safe place” and “very peaceful.”
Despite Ali’s positive reassurances, Abrar Ahmed Butt, a spokesperson for the All Kashmir Hotel Association, local hotels and guesthouses have experienced “zero occupancy” over the past eight days due to road closures and restrictions on movement being enforced by local authorities. With no end in sight for the current hostilities, Butt said he is “hoping for the best”, but very supportive of Pakistani authorities, even if it means preventing tourists from traveling to the Muzaffarabad area.
“National security is our top priority. As patriots, we love our country. When our country is secure, business and other aspects will follow suit. With faith, we trust things will improve,” said Butt.

Topics: Kashmir Pakistan India standoff

Flight club: Pinching pigeons on the India-Pakistan border

Flight club: Pinching pigeons on the India-Pakistan border
Updated 06 May 2025
AFP
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Flight club: Pinching pigeons on the India-Pakistan border

Flight club: Pinching pigeons on the India-Pakistan border
  • Pigeon fanciers on both sides of de facto border try to lure birds from each other
  • Indian bird keepers say Pakistani pigeons are “bred better and fly longer durations”
Updated 06 May 2025
AFP

JAMMU: In the skies above the bunkers where Indian and Pakistani soldiers trade gunfire, masters of an ancient sport beloved on both sides seek to snatch prized pigeons from the other.

Indian breeder Pyara Singh spends his days trying to lure Pakistani birds from across the Himalayan valley, and guard against rivals wooing his flock.

“We get pigeons from Pakistan — we catch them,” said 33-year-old Singh, watching as some of his feathered favorites twisted like jets overhead. “We also often lose our pigeons to them.”

An attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month that New Delhi blames on Islamabad has sparked fears of renewed conflict between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals.

Pakistan insists it was not involved in the April 22 killings of 26 mainly Hindu men but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to respond.

Like every night since April 26, India’s army said Monday that its troops had exchanged gunfire with Pakistani soldiers overnight across the de facto frontier in contested Kashmir.

Pigeon fanciers across the divide can’t meet face-to-face but share the same passion. Breeders say the top birds can be worth hundreds of dollars.

The skill of “kabutar-baazi” pigeon flying stretches back centuries, straddling a border created at the violent end of British imperial rule in 1947.

Singh, sitting with his 100-strong flock on the roof of his home in the village of Pangali, said it was “it is an old art.”

Keepers guide the flight of their flocks with whistles to provide a swirling spectacle.

Others race them, timing their flight home, or simply find peace in their graceful colorations and gentle coos.

But Indian keepers like Singh say their Pakistani counterparts rear “better and stronger” birds, explaining the buzz in catching their pigeons.

“They are a treasured possession,” said Aarav KHajjuria, from Sainth, another frontline Indian village.

He proudly showed his flock of 29 birds — three of which are from Pakistan.

“Our pigeons also fly there,” he said. “Two of my pigeons went.”

The teenager started breeding pigeons four years ago after watching another local fancier catch a bird.

“I was fascinated,” KHajjuria added. “I now spend time on the roof, both immediately before and after I return from school.”

But he is most proud of his Pakistani captives.

“I lured them after they’d strayed across,” he said, pointing to a nearby row of trees that mark the border.

Pakistani pigeons “are better because they’re bred better and fly longer durations in a competition,” KHajjuria said.

Keepers say capturing a pigeon is a skill, using water, grain and their own flock to lure the stray bird into the fold.

Once the bird lands, they immediately clip some feathers to stop them flying. While they grow back, the bird builds a bond with the new flock.

Fanciers fix leg rings with contact details to the animals.

“If we catch a bird that belongs to someone from the nearby villages, and we know them, we call them and hand it back,” Singh said, hand on his heart.

Birds from Pakistan are a different matter.

“Given the overall situation, and the risks involved, no one calls if the bird is from the other side,” he said.

“We don’t want any issues in the future, and allegations that as an Indian we were contacting Pakistanis.”

In fact, fanciers say that police are wary Pakistani pigeons might be carrying messages.

Indian police have in recent years “detained” several suspected of being enemy carrier pigeons, with some jailbirds accused of having Pakistani links, others Chinese.

“The Pakistani side often marks their pigeons with ink stamps, names, or rings — but beyond that, we haven’t seen anything suspicious yet,” Singh said.

“We inform the army if we come across such a pigeon, but so far, we haven’t caught any with a camera,” he joked.

Singh says he worries that the nightly gunfire will escalate.

“Ideally there shouldn’t be a war,” he said, but said the April 22 attack was “so wrong that it can’t be left unanswered.”

But he is confident nothing will stop his pigeons flying free.

“The border is not for the bird,” he said.

“No army or fence could stop them. How could you? Our pigeons go there, and theirs often cross into India.”

Topics: Pakistan India Ties pakistan pigeons pigeons pigeons on the border

Pakistan calls for data-driven disaster management as extreme weather risks grow

Pakistan calls for data-driven disaster management as extreme weather risks grow
Updated 06 May 2025
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Pakistan calls for data-driven disaster management as extreme weather risks grow

Pakistan calls for data-driven disaster management as extreme weather risks grow
  • Dr. Musadiq Malik inaugurates Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction organized by the NDMA
  • He highlights the country’s efforts to strengthen disaster resilience through early warning systems
Updated 06 May 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani minister on Tuesday called for a data-driven and community-inclusive approach to disaster management, as the country faces increasing threats from extreme weather events.
Pakistan has endured repeated climate-related disasters in recent years, including heatwaves, droughts and catastrophic flooding, such as the deadly 2022 deluge that displaced millions and caused billions of dollars in damage.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadiq Malik said disaster management in complex environments required culturally sensitive solutions informed by evidence and broad inter-agency coordination.
“Pakistan’s vision for resilience by 2030 hinges on innovation, inter-agency coordination, and evidence-based decision-making,” he said while addressing the inauguration of the 2nd Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR-25), organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The event brought together diplomats, United Nations representatives, humanitarian partners and private sector leaders.
Malik highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to strengthen disaster resilience through early warning systems, localized response mechanisms and international cooperation.
He also pointed to the National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) that was set up to improve national response coordination and share technical expertise with regional partners.
“Pakistan has transformed challenges into opportunities by developing indigenous capacities like NEOC and sharing technical expertise with regional partners, creating goodwill and diplomatic leverage,” he added.
The minister praised the combined efforts of civil and military responders, civil society organizations and development partners in tackling past disasters and urged international donors to increase support for Pakistan’s adaptation and mitigation strategies, including better access to climate finance and carbon markets.

Topics: Pakistan Expo on Disaster Risk Reduction National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

Pakistan finance chief heads to UK to court investors, meet British officials

Pakistan finance chief heads to UK to court investors, meet British officials
Updated 06 May 2025
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Pakistan finance chief heads to UK to court investors, meet British officials

Pakistan finance chief heads to UK to court investors, meet British officials
  • Aurangzeb aims to highlight Pakistan’s improving economic outlook in meetings with investors
  • He will also discuss trade, investment and bilateral economic ties with senior British officials
Updated 06 May 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb left for London on Tuesday to meet British officials, financial institutions and business groups, as the South Asian nation seeks to attract foreign investment by highlighting its improving economic outlook.
Pakistan is striving to draw overseas investment amid a gradually healing macroeconomic environment after a prolonged downturn that forced Islamabad to seek external financing from friendly nations and multiple loan programs with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The government has also pursued aggressive economic diplomacy in recent years, signing several agreements and memoranda of understanding with countries in Central Asia and the Middle East.
Aurangzeb’s visit to the United Kingdom is part of Islamabad’s wider strategy to expand those efforts and engage potential investors from other regions.
“The federal minister for finance, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has departed for London to meet British officials, investors, financial institutions, investment banks, business firms and organizations,” the finance ministry said in a statement.
During the three-day visit, Aurangzeb will attend multiple investment forums and seminars where he will outline Pakistan’s economic trajectory.
He is also scheduled to participate in a roundtable titled “Pakistan Access Days” hosted by Jefferies, a prominent US-based investment bank, and another session with UK tech investors focusing on government-friendly policies in artificial intelligence, mining, health care and other sectors.
Aurangzeb will be joined at the roundtables by Muhammad Ali, the prime minister’s adviser on investment.
In addition to meetings with private sector leaders, Aurangzeb will visit the UK Treasury Department for talks with Financial Secretary Lord Livermore and senior officials.
He will also meet Hamish Nickells-Falconer, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The finance minister will also hold meetings with the chief executives of Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered, and meet with Simon Baugh, CEO of the UK’s Government Communication Service.
During the trip, he is expected to hold a series of question-and-answer sessions with selected representatives from international and British media outlets.

Topics: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb IMF Pakistan economy

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