KABUL: The second round of quadrilateral meeting between representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China is scheduled to be held on Monday (today) in Kabul. The first round of talks between the four countries was held in Islamabad, aimed at establishing a roadmap on resumption of peace talks between Afghan government and the Taliban. Deputy Spokesman for the Chief Executive Office, Javed Faisal, said that the second round would shed lights on a…
Posts published in “Day: January 18, 2016”
ISLAMABAD: A day before a crucial meeting to discuss a roadmap for Afghan peace, the Taliban have accused the United States of derailing the process by carrying out combat operations in the country. The US has reportedly deployed special troops in Helmand to assist beleaguered Afghan soldiers against the insurgents in the wake of heavy fighting and casualties. The accusations come at a time when top diplomats from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US are…
The author has a military aviation background. A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet flies over the NATO airbase in Aviano, northern Italy, in this March 21, 2011. PHOTO: REUTERS Fighting Falcon F-16, an American built multi-role fighter jet, has enjoyed a deep-rooted relationship with Pakistan for over three decades. Thanks to its design, it offers an almost complete solution to the tactical and narrowed strategic demands of a compact Air Force like Pakistan’s. Its…
Despite mixed signals from India, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif continues to follow a single track approach towards India. This is raising many raising many eye brows as to whether he is confronting failure of Indian approach towards Pakistan or reinforcing failure of his own approach towards Indian leadership. Is the three times Prime Minister of Pakistan making same mistakes again and again with respect to his India policy? Does he want to do it all…
ISLAMABAD: As Islamabad is yet to make up its mind about New Delhi’s preconditions for a high-powered Pakistani team that might be sent to Pathankot to probe into the air base assault, Pakistan is optimistic about solving the case. On January 14, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vikas Swarup had welcomed the special investigation team (SIT) that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has constituted to probe the January 2 Indian Air Force base attack that left seven…
ISLAMABAD: The talks between foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India would take place towards end January. The Indian media has reported that “Pakistan has been asked to provide documentary and supporting evidence, including their photos in custody, to substantiate their statements and claims of action,” the source said. Without concrete cases against the individuals linked to the terrorist attack in Pathankot, it will be difficult for the government to send the foreign secretary to Islamabad.…
HONG KONG — Sainty Marine Corporation started small, buying and selling a few ships in the 1980s. But Sainty Marine, a Chinese state-owned company, went on a debt-fueled binge over the last few years, opening its own shipyards and signing orders worth hundreds of millions of dollars each. Now, heavily indebted companies like Sainty Marine are at the center of the economic troubles in China that have unsettled currency, commodity and stock markets of late.…
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and COAS General Raheel Sharif embark on an attempted mediatory mission to Saudi Arabia (today) and Iran (Tuesday) to help defuse tensions between the two countries that have escalated to virtual breaking point in recent days. To recap, Saudi Arabia’s execution of Shia cleric and critic of the Saudi regime Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr earlier this month infuriated Iran and Shias throughout the region. The execution was seen as a deliberate and…
LONG having relegated itself to the sidelines of diplomacy, the country appears to be making something of a comeback on the international stage. Led by the unlikely combination of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, an unprecedented Pakistani diplomatic intervention is about to be attempted in the Middle East. Travelling first to Saudi Arabia and then to Iran, Mr Sharif and the army chief will likely try and mediate in a…
ISLAMABAD: The second rare visit of two Sharifs (Prime Minister Nawaz and Chief of Army Staff Raheel) together to Saudi Arabia in nine months not only reflects the exceptional harmony and concord between them but also displays the extraordinary one voice with which Pakistan speaks on key issues concerning Riyadh and other Muslim countries. The combined tour signals a positive, telling message at home as well as abroad – Pakistan’s most senior civil and military…
ISLAMABAD: The peace mission of Pakistan for Saudi Arabia and Iran under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would carry solid proposals for rapprochement between the two countries. The authorities are keeping the proposals close to their chest but ‘The News’ has learnt on reliable authority on foremost phase of the mission and a mini-summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) could be convened as follow-up measure provided the two sides are agreed to some specifics.…