DNA

ISLAMABAD / DUSHANBE — Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has strongly condemned the devastating suicide terrorist attack that targeted a passenger train in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, expressing profound grief over the loss of lives.

In separate, identical official communiqués dispatched to Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Tajik head of state conveyed the solidarity of the government and people of Tajikistan with Pakistan during this time of national mourning.

President Rahmon stated that the tragic news of the bombing, which resulted in dozens of deaths and critical injuries, caused “immense grief and sorrow” in Tajikistan.

“We strongly condemn this horrific terrorist act and, as always, all forms of terrorism, and we further emphasize the need for relentless struggle against it,” Rahmon wrote in his messages to the Pakistani leadership.

The Tajik leader extended his heartfelt condolences to the families and relatives of the victims—whom he termed martyrs—and prayed for the full and swift recovery of the dozens wounded in the blast.

Observers note that Tajikistan’s swift and high-level response underscores the deepening bilateral and security ties between Dushanbe and Islamabad. Both nations share acute security concerns regarding regional stability, cross-border militancy, and the protection of critical transport infrastructure.

President Rahmon’s call for a “relentless struggle” against terrorism aligns with ongoing discussions within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and bilateral frameworks aimed at enhancing intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism coordination across Central and South Asia.

Bureau Report

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday met visiting Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan V at the Lower Chitral Airport, where the latter assured him of investment in the province.

Prince Rahim arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for a week-long visit — his first to the country since being named the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community last year.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Chitral, CM Afridi said he had made the visit to welcome Prince Rahim on his arrival.

“During the meeting with Prince Rahim Aga Khan, discussions were held on the province’s potential as well as the government’s initiatives and goals,” the chief minister said, while lauding the services of the Aga Khan Foundation.

“‘We also discussed the establishment of an Aga Khan University and hospital in Peshawar,” CM Afridi added. “Prince Rahim Aga Khan assured investment in the province.”

At the Lower Chitral Airport, the chief minister was received by local leaders and government officials. He added that he would attend a reception ceremony held in honour of Prince Rahim.

The Ismaili spiritual leader reached Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday, where he urged followers to strengthen unity, pursue education and remain steadfast in faith.

Addressing a large gathering of community members in the Passu area of Hunza on Friday, Prince Rahim emphasised the importance of harmony within families and society, stating that strong and united families form the foundation of a prosperous and happy community.

“When families and communities remain united, they become stronger and happier — and the Imam will also be happy,” he told the gathering.

Upon his arrival at Nur Khan Air Base on Wednesday, Prince Rahim was received by President Asif Ali Zardari. He was presented with a guard of honour at Aiwan-i-Sadr, where he stood alongside the president as the national anthem was played.

He reaffirmed the Aga Khan Development Network’s (AKDN) commitment to supporting humanitarian and development efforts in Pakistan during a meeting with the president.

ISLAMABAD, 25 MAY (DNA) —    MAXHUB, a Chinese brand specializing in smart collaboration solutions, has partnered with Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad to accelerate the university’s digital transformation, creating a more efficient teaching and research environment for faculty and students, Gwadar Pro reported.

MAXHUB has unveiled a state-of-the-art smart seminar hall at the university, powered by the company’s comprehensive smart education solutions.  The facility is designed to demonstrate the full potential of interactive flat panels tailored for educational settings. Concept credit for the seminar hall was attributed to Hanan Ali Abbasi, an author and public speaker.

The smart seminar hall serves as an experiential hub for MAXHUB’s education-focused solutions that span the entire teaching cycle.  Key functionalities include pre-class lesson preparation with automated courseware generation, in-class interactive teaching with diverse engagement tools, and post-class teaching evaluation to measure learning outcomes. 

The solution aims to create a more dynamic and collaborative classroom experience, moving beyond traditional teaching methods. MAXHUB partners with Quaid-i-Azam University to drive digital campus transformation, photo provided to GP

In a gesture recognizing the company’s contribution to the university’s digital advancement, Dr. Abdul Haq, Chairperson of the Department of Statistics at Quaid-i-Azam University, presented a token of appreciation to Leo Deng, Country Head of MAXHUB in Pakistan, for his role in digitally advancing the main auditorium at the Department of Statistics.

Looking ahead, Deng announced that MAXHUB plans to extend its support to a wider range of educational institutions across Pakistan.  The company will donate its smart education solutions to relevant education ministries, as well as selected higher education institutions, vocational training colleges and primary and secondary schools. — DNA

BEIJING, May 25 (DNA): China on Monday strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pakistan and reaffirmed its firm support for Islamabad’s efforts to combat terrorism and maintain national stability.

Responding to a question at a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said that China had taken note of the incident and expressed deep condolences to the victims.

“We strongly condemn this terrorist attack and extend deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathies to the injured and the families of the victims,” she said.

Mao Ning emphasized that China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and reiterated Beijing’s continued support for Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts.

She said China would continue to support Pakistan in combating terrorism, safeguarding social unity and stability, and ensuring the safety and security of its people.

The spokesperson further said that China stands ready to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan and work jointly to uphold regional peace, security and stability.

China and Pakistan maintain close cooperation in security and counter-terrorism under their longstanding strategic partnership.