You are here

US urges sports diplomacy between Pakistan, India following ICC Champions Trophy row

Short Url

https://arab.news/5zbcy

Updated 15 November 2024
Follow

US urges sports diplomacy between Pakistan, India following ICC Champions Trophy row

US urges sports diplomacy between Pakistan, India following ICC Champions Trophy row
  • State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel highlights the role of sports in “connecting people”
  • India has refused to travel to Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy slated to be held from Feb-March next year
Updated 15 November 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan
Follow

ISLAMABAD: US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel on Friday encouraged sports diplomacy between Pakistan and India amid a row over New Delhi’s refusal to send its cricket team to neighboring Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy.
The ICC informed Pakistan last week India had declined to play any games in Pakistan during the Champions Trophy, which is scheduled to be held from Feb. 19 - March 9. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought clarification from the ICC on the refusal.
“Bilateral relationships are certainly not something for us to get in the middle of but sports is certainly a potent and connecting force,” Patel said during a weekly press briefing. “You have seen the secretary and this department really prioritize the role that sports diplomacy has in connecting people.”
Patel added that bilateral relations between Pakistan and India ought to be discussed between the countries on their own through sports orother means. 
“At the end of the day, sports really connects so many people and is a great way for the human-to-human and people-to-people ties this administration has really prioritized,” he said.
India has not toured Pakistan since 2008 because of soured political relations between the neighbors, who play each other only in global multi-team tournaments. Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year but the winners India played all their matches in Sri Lanka under a “hybrid model.”
The PCB has ruled out a similar arrangement for the 2025 Champions Trophy despite the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) maintaining its stance of not sending a team to Pakistan, citing government advice.

Topics: Pakistan vs India ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Pakistan International Airlines flight lands safely in Lahore with ‘missing wheel’

Pakistan International Airlines flight lands safely in Lahore with ‘missing wheel’
Updated 4 min 33 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan International Airlines flight lands safely in Lahore with ‘missing wheel’

Pakistan International Airlines flight lands safely in Lahore with ‘missing wheel’
  • PIA flight safety teams will submit a report after completing their investigation into the matter
  • The missing wheel of the plan was later found near a remote parking bay at Karachi airport
Updated 4 min 33 sec ago
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Karachi to Lahore landed with a missing wheel at its destination, authorities said on Friday, adding that an investigation into the matter was underway.
PIA has faced a history of challenges, particularly regarding the safety and reliability of its flights. In May 2020, one of its planes crashed into a residential area near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, killing 97 of the 99 people on board.
The crash led to deep scrutiny of PIA’s safety protocols, with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspending its authorization to operate in Europe, citing serious safety deficiencies. The ban severely impacted PIA’s international operations, tarnished the airline’s reputation and led to massive financial losses.
According to a PIA statement, PK-306 departed from Karachi to Lahore on Thursday and made a “smooth, uneventful” landing despite a wheel missing from the main landing gear.
“On the walk-around inspection by the captain, it was revealed that one out of the six-wheel assemblies on the main landing gear at the back side was missing,” the airline’s spokesperson, Abdullah Khan, said in the statement.
He added that PIA flight safety teams would submit a report in this regard once the investigation was complete.
“It is worth mentioning that the aircraft is designed to handle these contingencies and that at no point was there any risk posed to the equipment or to the passengers,” Khan said.
Later, the missing wheel of the plane was found near a remote parking bay at Karachi airport. The Pakistan Airports Authority confirmed that there was no evidence of casualties or property damage resulting from the wheel’s detachment.
The incident comes after EASA lifted the four-year ban on PIA on November 29, 2024, citing significant improvements in safety and regulatory compliance by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority.
PIA welcomed the decision and promptly scheduled flights to European destinations. The first direct flight from Islamabad to Paris took off on January 10, 2025, marking the official resumption of PIA’s European operations.

Topics: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)

Pakistan military details rescue operation days after deadly train hijacking by separatists

Pakistan military details rescue operation days after deadly train hijacking by separatists
Updated 14 March 2025
Follow

Pakistan military details rescue operation days after deadly train hijacking by separatists

Pakistan military details rescue operation days after deadly train hijacking by separatists
  • BLA separatists targeted a passenger train in Pakistan’s southwest earlier this week, 26 passengers and four troops killed
  • Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry accuses India of launching information warfare by using AI images of the attack
Updated 14 March 2025
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military on Friday provided details of its hostage rescue operation after separatist militants hijacked a passenger train in Balochistan earlier this week, holding more than 200 people captive before security forces intervened to secure their release.
The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) bombed part of a railway track and stormed the Jaffar Express on Tuesday afternoon in Mushkaaf, a rugged area in the mountainous Bolan range. The hostage crisis was resolved a day later when the armed forces conducted an operation to rescue the captives, killing 33 militants in the process.
Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, the military’s spokesperson, described the operation as “one of the most successful” conducted in a hostage situation.
“Not even a single casualty of hostages took place during this process,” he said at a press conference in Islamabad. “The whole operation was done with extreme expertise.”
Chaudhry said the armed forces executed the mission after a careful assessment of the situation, ensuring the safety of the hostages while eliminating the militants who had positioned suicide bombers near civilians to prolong the standoff.
He informed the militants had killed 26 hostages soon after seizing control of the train, but there were no further casualties among the passengers during the rescue operation. The security forces also lost four soldiers in the whole episode.
During his briefing, the military spokesperson also criticized Indian media for “glorifying” the attack, accusing it of using fabricated content to amplify the BLA’s narrative.

This screengrab, taken from state run Pakistan Television’s live broadcast, shows Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, speaking during a press briefing on Balochistan train hijack, in Islamabad on March 14, 2025. (PTV World/Screengrab)

“The Indian media was using videos shared by the internationally recognized terrorist group,” he said, referring to visuals released by the BLA. “They used images generated by artificial intelligence and old videos as well to glorify and promote the attack internationally.”
Chaudhry maintained that the coverage by Indian outlets underscored a broader agenda to destabilize Balochistan and pointed to the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Yadav, whom Pakistan arrested in 2016, accusing him of spying for India’s Research and Analysis Wing.
New Delhi denies the allegations, saying he was kidnapped from Iran and illegally rendered to Pakistan.
The military spokesperson played portions of Yadav’s “confessional video” recorded soon after his arrest, in which he said he was tasked by the Indian authorities with facilitating militant violence in Balochistan.
The military spokesperson also reiterated that BLA militants were in contact with individuals inside Afghanistan, echoing Islamabad’s allegation that Afghan authorities have been backing anti-Pakistan groups, a charge the administration in Kabul denies.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by land area, has long been the site of a low-level insurgency, with separatist groups accusing the government of exploiting the province’s natural resources while leaving its people in poverty.
Government officials deny the allegation and say they are developing the province through multibillion-dollar projects, including those backed by China.

Topics: Pakistan Army ISPR Jaffar Express Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Pakistan Taliban

Related

Pakistan PM calls for national unity to address Balochistan crisis after train hijacking video
Pakistan
Pakistan PM calls for national unity to address Balochistan crisis after train hijacking
Pakistan army says operation against militants who hijacked train has ended, 21 hostages killed video
Pakistan
Pakistan army says operation against militants who hijacked train has ended, 21 hostages killed

PM presents Rs2.5 million cheque to struggling Pakistani footballer, promises government job

PM presents Rs2.5 million cheque to struggling Pakistani footballer, promises government job
Updated 14 March 2025
Follow

PM presents Rs2.5 million cheque to struggling Pakistani footballer, promises government job

PM presents Rs2.5 million cheque to struggling Pakistani footballer, promises government job
  • A video of Muhammad Riaz frying popular street snack to make ends meet went viral on social media this month, drawing online criticism
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif calls for a strategy to provide sustainable employment opportunities to athletes representing Pakistan internationally
Updated 14 March 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has met with Pakistani footballer Muhammad Riaz and handed him Rs2.5 million ($8,916) cheque and promised a government job for him in a federal department of his choice, Sharif’s office said on Friday.
Riaz, who represented Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games, made headlines after a video of him selling jalebis, a popular street snack, went viral online, with netizens criticizing the government and sports bodies for ignoring the footballer.
Sports athletes in the subcontinent, including Pakistan, usually come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds before becoming household names overnight and attaining financial success.
In his meeting with the footballer, PM Sharif praised his courage and determination, and urged to continue playing football and an active role in promoting the game in the South Asian country.
“Pakistani youth are a valuable asset of the country,” Sharif’s office quoted him as saying. “Providing all kinds of facilities to Pakistani athletes and resources for them to compete at the international level is among the top priorities of the government.”
The prime minister instructed officials to provide Riaz with job in federal department of his choice.
“Steps should be taken to promote sports in the country,” he said. “A strategy should be formulated to provide sustainable employment opportunities to the athletes representing Pakistan at the international level and for their welfare.”
Riaz thanked the prime minister for the financial support and for taking steps for the welfare of players and the promotion of sports, according to Sharif’s office.
The plight of football in Pakistan is a tale of unfulfilled potential, administrative chaos and lack of investment. Despite a passionate fan base and a pool of talented players, the sport has suffered due to mismanagement by governing bodies, political interference and inadequate infrastructure.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has been marred by internal disputes and FIFA suspensions which have hindered the development of the game at all levels.
On Wednesday, the Pakistan Football League (PFL) also announced a cash prize of Rs1 million ($3,573) and a “prominent position” in the league for Riaz.
The PFL is a franchise league that says it is driven by a UK-based company with foreign investment solely committed to uplifting football from the grassroots to a professional level in Pakistan.

Topics: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Mohammad Riaz Footballer

Related

Pakistan PM to take notice of cricket team’s dismal state of affairs— aide 
Pakistan
Pakistan PM to take notice of cricket team’s dismal state of affairs— aide 
Pakistan to host delayed South Asian Games in January 2026
Pakistan
Pakistan to host delayed South Asian Games in January 2026

Blast in northwestern Pakistan mosque injures religious party leader, three others

Blast in northwestern Pakistan mosque injures religious party leader, three others
Updated 14 March 2025
Reuters
Follow

Blast in northwestern Pakistan mosque injures religious party leader, three others

Blast in northwestern Pakistan mosque injures religious party leader, three others
  • Attacks have been escalating in Pakistan’s border regions with Afghanistan in recent months
  • Last month, a suicide bomber killed six worshippers during Friday prayers at an Islamic seminary
Updated 14 March 2025
Reuters

PESHAWAR: A blast tore through a mosque on Friday in northwestern Pakistan, police said, injuring a religious party leader and three others, including children.
Abdullah Nadeem, a local leader of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party, was believed to be the target of the blast and had been hospitalized with serious injures, said Asif Bahadar, a district police chief in South Waziristan. He said two children were among the injured.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the explosion.
Attacks have been escalating in Pakistan’s border regions with Afghanistan in recent months.
Last month, a suicide bomber killed six worshippers during Friday prayers at an Islamic seminary in northwestern Pakistan, known as a historic training ground for the Afghan Taliban.
This week in southwestern Balochistan, separatist militants hijacked a train and held passengers hostage in a day-long standoff with security forces.
Pakistan has vowed to crack down on growing militancy and has said the militants are finding safe haven in neighboring Afghanistan, a charge the ruling Afghan Taliban deny.

Topics: KP militancy militancy in Pakistan

KSrelief distributes 50,000 winter relief kits across Pakistan

KSrelief distributes 50,000 winter relief kits across Pakistan
Updated 14 March 2025
Follow

KSrelief distributes 50,000 winter relief kits across Pakistan

KSrelief distributes 50,000 winter relief kits across Pakistan
  • The packages included quilts, warms shawls and winter clothing for protection against extreme temperatures
  • Over 300,000 Pakistanis from 52 districts, including in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, received the winter kits
Updated 14 March 2025
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has distributed 50,000 winter relief kits in all four provinces of Pakistan as well as the Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir regions, the Saudi charity said on Friday.
These kits were distributed as part of a large-scale humanitarian initiative, launched in January and aimed at assisting communities affected by severe winter conditions and natural disasters across Pakistan.
The Saudi charitable organization distributed the kits in collaboration with Pakistan’s national and provincial disaster management authorities, covering some of the coldest and most vulnerable regions in the country.
“The aid reached 17 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 11 in Balochistan, six in Azad Kashmir, six in Sindh and two in Punjab,” KSrelief said in a statement.
“Each comprehensive winter package included two high-quality polyester quilts, warm shawl kits for men and women, and winter clothing for children and adults, ensuring that families had the necessary protection against extreme temperatures.”
The distribution was carried out in close coordination with the government and it benefitted over 337,079 people, according to the statement.
Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief has implemented more than 200 projects, including emergency relief for natural disasters and initiatives to address food security, health care and education, to improve the lives of vulnerable communities in Pakistan.

Topics: KS relief Pakistan Saudi Arabia ties

Latest updates

Finland jails Russian for life over 2014 ‘war crimes’ in Ukraine
Finland jails Russian for life over 2014 ‘war crimes’ in Ukraine
‘Strong G7 unity’ on Ukraine in talks: host Canada
‘Strong G7 unity’ on Ukraine in talks: host Canada
Top Syrian diplomat makes first visit to Iraq
Top Syrian diplomat makes first visit to Iraq
Saudi FM, EU foreign policy chief discuss regional developments in phone call
Saudi FM, EU foreign policy chief discuss regional developments in phone call
Iraqi PM says Daesh leader for Iraq and Syria killed
Iraqi PM says Daesh leader for Iraq and Syria killed

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.