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​US working on ‘goal’ to prevent Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project — US diplomat Lu

​US working on ‘goal’ to prevent Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project — US diplomat Lu
US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu testifies before a subcommittee of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs in the US House of Representatives in US in March 20, 2024. (US Capitol)
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Updated 21 March 2024
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​US working on ‘goal’ to prevent Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project — US diplomat Lu

​US working on ‘goal’ to prevent Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project — US diplomat Lu
  • Donald Lu tells a Congressional hearing Pakistan’s decision to build the pipeline will lead to US sanctions
  • Pakistan approved construction of 80-kilometer pipeline segment last month from its border with Iran to Gwadar
Updated 21 March 2024
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: A senior United States administration official said on Wednesday his country was trying to prevent the construction of Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline after the administration in Islamabad approved its 80-kilometer segment in February.
Originally intended to supply gas from Iran to both Pakistan and neighboring India, the IP project remained stalled for significant period due to the international sanctions targeting Iran.
The US expressed opposition to it from the outset, raising concerns that Pakistan could face financial penalties if it proceeded with it.
The issue came up for discussion during a Congressional hearing where US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu presented a testimony related to the political situation in Pakistan and answered a broad range of questions.
“I fully support the efforts by the US government to prevent this pipeline from happening,” he said in response to a query. “We are working toward that goal.”
The Petroleum Division of Pakistan’s Energy Ministry announced last month the country would build the pipeline from its border with Iran to Gwadar in the first phase.
The IP project, agreed upon by both countries, includes stipulations that could lead to financial penalties if either party fails to meet the construction deadlines or breaches the contract terms.
The US official dismissed the possibility that Pakistan’s decision to build the 80-kilometer stretch of the pipeline reflected its strategic alignment with Iran, pointing out that the two countries “traded missiles and drone strikes a few weeks ago.”
“We are tracking this planned pipeline between Iran and Pakistan,” he added. “Honestly, I don’t know where the financing for such a project would come from. I don’t think that many international donors would be interested in funding such an endeavor.”
He noted Pakistan had not sought any waiver related to the US sanctions that “would certainly result from such a project.”
“We are in consultation with the Pakistani government on this issue,” he continued. “The administration will uphold both in letter and spirit all sanction laws related to Iran.”

Topics: Donald Lu Pakistan Iran gas pipeline

Pakistan, Egypt discuss trade and investment on sidelines of Sir Bani Yas Forum

Pakistan, Egypt discuss trade and investment on sidelines of Sir Bani Yas Forum
Updated 53 sec ago
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Pakistan, Egypt discuss trade and investment on sidelines of Sir Bani Yas Forum

Pakistan, Egypt discuss trade and investment on sidelines of Sir Bani Yas Forum
  • Both countries have strengthen bilateral ties in recent years, with Pakistan mostly focusing on Gulf states
  • Egypt and Pakistan commemorated 75 years of diplomatic ties last year by issuing a joint postage stamp
Updated 53 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Egypt on Friday discussed enhanced economic cooperation in various areas as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on the sidelines of the 15th Sir Bani Yas Forum held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The three-day annual retreat, running from November 15 to 17, has brought together top decision-makers and experts from around the world to debate pressing Middle Eastern issues, including regional peace, security and economic transformation.
Dar was invited to the forum by his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Pakistan’s foreign office.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister’s meeting with the Egyptian foreign minister was reported by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.
“During the meeting, they discussed Pakistan-Egypt cooperation and dialogue to promote bilateral trade, investment, and tourism,” it said.
Pakistan and Egypt have actively sought to strengthen their bilateral relations in recent years, though Islamabad has mostly focused on strengthening its economic relations with the Gulf countries.
Last year in August 2024, both nations commemorated 75 years of diplomatic ties by issuing a joint postage stamp, symbolizing their enduring partnership and mutual commitment to future collaboration.

Topics: Pakistan Egypt ties Sir Bani Yas Forum Ishaq Dar Foreign minister Ishaq Dar

Riyadh hosts first fashion exhibition for Pakistani designers, raising hopes for collaboration

Riyadh hosts first fashion exhibition for Pakistani designers, raising hopes for collaboration
Updated 15 November 2024
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Riyadh hosts first fashion exhibition for Pakistani designers, raising hopes for collaboration

Riyadh hosts first fashion exhibition for Pakistani designers, raising hopes for collaboration
  • The fashion exhibition will kick off on Saturday, featuring renowned names like Deepak Perwani and HSY
  • Organizers say 80 percent of designers are from Pakistan, while the rest will participate from India and UAE
Updated 15 November 2024
BURAQ SHABBIR

KARACHI: Riyadh will host its first-ever fashion exhibition spotlighting Pakistani designers on Saturday, with organizers saying the event will pave the way for stronger cultural and creative ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
The inaugural Riyadh Fashion Couture 2024, scheduled for November 16, is the brainchild of co-founders Sharmeen Ehsan, Ayesha Mohsin and Adnan Bashir Khan, who bring decades of experience in event management.
The exhibition will showcase emerging and established designers, with 80 percent of participants from Pakistan and the remainder from India, the United States, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Organizers hope the initiative will foster greater collaboration between the Pakistani and Saudi fashion industries.
“The purpose of hosting a Pakistani designers’ exhibition in Riyadh is to foster cultural exchange, promote the rich heritage of Pakistan, and create a platform for collaboration between the fashion and design industries of both nations,” Ehsan said while speaking to Arab News on Friday.
“For the first time, Riyadh will host a curated exhibition majorly featuring Pakistani designers, offering a fresh perspective on fashion and design from a region that has traditionally been underrepresented in the Saudi fashion scene,” she said, adding a majority of designers will be from Pakistan.
The designer lineup from Pakistan features renowned names such as Deepak Perwani, HSY, Agha Noor, Sadaf Amir, Maliha Studio, Anam Akhlaq and Komal Lakhani, among others.
Indian designers include Pam Mehta, Asma Gulzar, and Vibha Jewel, specializing in bridal couture and semi-formals.
“This exhibition will provide employment opportunities for local models, makeup artists and local designers,” Ehsan said.
“It will be a groundbreaking event for Riyadh, as it marks the first-ever showcasing of contemporary Pakistani design talent in the city,” she continued. “It will set the stage for future collaborations and growth in an emerging Middle Eastern fashion scene which has huge potential to grow.”
One of Pakistan’s most prominent designers, Deepak Perwani, who is already in Saudi Arabia for the exhibition, said this was the first time he was taking his collection to Riyadh.
“We have been showing in Dubai, Doha and Bahrain all the time but this is the first time we are doing it in Riyadh,” he told Arab News.
“I am sure there will be a market,” he added. “There is always a first time to try. There is a massive Pakistani and Indian population there. We are open to all diasporas but primarily I’m assuming it will be Pakistani diaspora who will come to us because they already know us.”
Perwani informed he will be exhibiting the winter collection, evening wear and semi-formal wear for the upcoming shadi and festive season.
Pakistani actress Sajal Aly, known for her role in the recently concluded and critically acclaimed drama serial “Zard Patton Ka Bunn,” will serve as the guest of honor at Riyadh Fashion Couture 2024.
“Riyadh is an emerging market and a burgeoning fashion hub with immense growth potential,” the event’s co-founder Ehsan said. “This exhibition will serve as a unique opportunity to showcase creativity, craftsmanship and innovation of Pakistani designers in various fields, including fashion, textiles, jewelry, interior design and accessories.”
 

Topics: fashion show Pakistan Saudi Arabia ties Pakistan Saudi Ties

Pakistan’s army chief flags non-state actors, disinformation as threats to global peace

Pakistan’s army chief flags non-state actors, disinformation as threats to global peace
Updated 15 November 2024
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Pakistan’s army chief flags non-state actors, disinformation as threats to global peace

Pakistan’s army chief flags non-state actors, disinformation as threats to global peace
  • General Asim Munir says Pakistan expects Kabul not to allow its soil to be used for militancy
  • He says absence of regulation over freedom of expression is deteriorating moral values
Updated 15 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir on Friday identified violent non-state actors and the spread of disinformation as significant challenges to global peace while addressing a gathering in the federal capital, where he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting international stability.
The army chief made the remarks during a special session of the Margalla Dialogue, an annual conference that convenes policymakers, scholars and experts to discuss critical national, regional and global issues, where he highlighted Pakistan’s role in fostering global peace.
Organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), a local think tank, the conference provided a platform for the army chief to emphasize Pakistan’s contributions and express concerns about the issue of cross-border militancy.
“Terrorism by violent non-state actors and state-sponsored entities remains a significant global challenge,” the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported him as saying.
“We expect the Afghan interim government to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan and to take strict measures in this regard,” he added.
The army chief’s statement comes against the backdrop of a surge in militant violence in Pakistan’s western provinces bordering Afghanistan.
Officials in Islamabad have frequently accused Afghan authorities of “facilitating” cross-border attacks by armed factions, such as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which target civilians and security personnel— an allegation Kabul denies.
APP reported the army chief stated that Pakistan would not become part of any global conflict and would continue to play its role in promoting international peace and stability.
General Munir acknowledged the role of technology in disseminating information, though he cautioned that it also facilitated the rapid spread of disinformation.
He asserted that without comprehensive laws and regulations, disinformation and hate speech could destabilize political and social structures.
“Absence of proper regulations for freedom of expression is leading to the deterioration of moral values in societies worldwide,” he added.
The army chief expressed optimism about the country’s future, noting that about 63 percent of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30, adding that the country was endowed with immense natural resources and had emerged as a major global agricultural producer.
He highlighted Pakistan’s significant role in the global freelancing industry and noted that its geographical location and seaports could position it as a vital trade hub for countries around the world.
 

Topics: Pakistan Army Pakistan army chief Army chief General Syed Asim Munir Margalla dialogue 2024

Pakistan suspends mobile internet in Balochistan, citing ‘public safety’ amid rising violence

Pakistan suspends mobile internet in Balochistan, citing ‘public safety’ amid rising violence
Updated 5 min 3 sec ago
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Pakistan suspends mobile internet in Balochistan, citing ‘public safety’ amid rising violence

Pakistan suspends mobile internet in Balochistan, citing ‘public safety’ amid rising violence
  • People in Balochistan say mobile Internet has been down for about three days in different areas
  • PTA announcement comes days after a suicide bombing at a crowded railway station in Quetta
Updated 5 min 3 sec ago
SAADULLAH AKHTER

QUETTA: The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) announced the suspension of mobile Internet services in various parts of the restive southwestern Balochistan province on Friday, saying the decision was taken to “ensure public safety” amid a surge in militant violence over the past several months.
The announcement follows a deadly suicide bombing at a crowded railway station in Quetta, the provincial capital, which killed at least 28 people, including Pakistani soldiers, and injured dozens of others.
The attack was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an outlawed separatist group that has targeted Chinese nationals in an effort to undermine the multibillion-dollar Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
The BLA, the largest of several ethnic insurgent groups battling the Pakistani state, alleges that the province’s rich gas and mineral resources are unfairly exploited, a claim the government denies.
“The general public is hereby informed that, under the directives of authorized departments, mobile Internet services have been temporarily suspended in certain areas of Balochistan,” the PTA said in an official statement.
“This measure has been taken to ensure public safety, given the security situation in these areas,” it added.
The PTA statement did not specify the areas where mobile Internet services have been suspended, nor was there any clarification from other departments on whether the government was planning an operation against militants in these regions.
However, mobile Internet has already been down in the province’s Kech, Panjgur, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Loralai, Dukki, Ziarat, Harnai and Zhob districts for the last three days, causing significant hardships for students and the business community in these areas.
“Hundreds of students and businesses have been affected by the mobile Internet suspension,” Abdul Majid Dashti, a lawyer based in Turbat, told Arab News, adding that cellphone Internet had been down for nearly three days in the area.
Sadaqat Baloch, a journalist in Pakistan’s coastal town of Gwadar, which is central to CPEC, said authorities suspended mobile Internet in the area a day after the Quetta railway station bombing.
“People of the Makran region, including Khuzdar, are now deprived of mobile Internet, which has been creating problems for them,” he added.
The provincial government’s spokesperson was unavailable for comment on the recent mobile Internet suspension.
 

Topics: Internet disruptions Pakistan internet Pakistan Telecom Authority Balochistan Liberation Army Internet

Pakistan felicitates Palestinians on 36th independence anniversary, reaffirms support

Pakistan felicitates Palestinians on 36th independence anniversary, reaffirms support
Updated 15 November 2024
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Pakistan felicitates Palestinians on 36th independence anniversary, reaffirms support

Pakistan felicitates Palestinians on 36th independence anniversary, reaffirms support
  • Palestinians proclaimed the Declaration of Independence on Nov. 15, 1988, in Algiers
  • Pakistan calls support to the Palestinian cause a ‘consistent facet’ of its foreign policy
Updated 15 November 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday felicitated the people of Palestine on the 36th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, saying its support for the Palestinian cause has been the most consistent feature of the country’s foreign policy.
Proclaimed on November 15, 1988, during a meeting of the Palestine National Council in Algiers, the Declaration of Independence envisioned a sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with Jerusalem as its capital.
It marked an important movement in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and has since been a symbol of their aspirations for statehood.
“On the occasion of Declaration of Independence Day of the State of #Palestine, we extend our heartiest felicitations to its people and the Government,” the foreign office said in a social media post.
“Pakistan’s unflinching support to the Palestinian cause has been a consistent facet of our foreign policy,” it added. “We reaffirm our strong commitment to the Palestinian right to self-determination and our unwavering support for the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous state of Palestine, with Al-Quds-Al-Sharif as its Capital.”

The anniversary comes as the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 43,700 since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign more than a year ago, displacing nearly the entire population of the Palestinian territory.
Most of those killed in Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives are reported to be women and children, while the international community fears that the conflict could spread to the rest of the Middle East.
The situation has also exacerbated humanitarian concerns, with the United Nations warning of an impending famine in the besieged territory, where residents face acute shortages of food, water and medical supplies.
 

Topics: pakistan palestine ties Palestine

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