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Pakistan Reports 3,689 Fresh Coronavirus Cases, 83 Deaths

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported as many as 3,689 new cases of the coronavirus and 83 deaths during the past 24 hours, said the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday.

It said the nationwide death toll rose to 26,580 after 83 more people died of the viral disease.

A total of 61,128 samples were tested during the previous 24 hours, out of which 3,689 turned out to be positive, taking the country’s caseload to 1,197,887.

Infection rate was recorded at 6.03 per cent, the NCOC, Pakistan’s top platform overseeing the Covid response, said, adding the number of patients in critical care stands at 5,362.

The number of patients recovering from the infection climbed to 1,079,867 after 3,755 more recuperated overnight.

On Thursday, NCOC decided to extend the closure of all educational institutions till September 15 in districts with high coronavirus prevalence.

In a notification issued, the NCOC said the restrictions enforced till September 12 have been extended till September 15 in 15 districts of Punjab; Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Khanewal, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan; eight districts of KP; Peshawar, Swabi, Malakand, Swat, Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Dera Ismail Khan; and Islamabad.

Al-Qaeda may seek comeback

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Web Desk

KUWAIT CITY: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday the al-Qaida extremist group that used Afghanistan as a staging base to attack United States 20 years ago may attempt to regenerate there following an American withdrawal that has left the Taliban in power.

Austin spoke to a small group of reporters in Kuwait City at the conclusion of a four-day tour of Persian Gulf states. He said the United States is prepared to prevent an al-Qaida comeback in Afghanistan that would threaten the United States.

“The whole community is kind of watching to see what happens and whether or not al-Qaida has the ability to regenerate in Afghanistan,” he said. “The nature of al-Qaida and (the Islamic State group) is they will always attempt to find space to grow and regenerate, whether it’s there, whether it’s in Somalia, or whether it’s in any other ungoverned space. I think that’s the nature of the organization.”

US ‘violating’ Doha agreement

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Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Thursday said that a continued blacklisting by the US of the Haqqani family is a “violation” of the Doha agreement.

“Latest US position regarding blacklist is a violation of Doha Agreement,” wrote Mujahid on Twitter, while issuing a statement on the matter.

The statement noted that Pentagon officials have remarked that some cabinet members of Afghanistan or the family members of Jalaluddin Haqqani “are on the US blacklists and still targets”.

“The Islamic Emirate considers this position a clear violation of the Doha Agreement which is neither in the interest of the United States nor Afghanistan,” said the statement.

According to the statement, the family of Haqqani “is part of [the] Islamic Emirate and does not have a separate name or organisational setup”.

“Similarly, in [the] Doha Agreement all officials of the Islamic Emirate without any exception were part of interaction with the US and should have been removed from the UN and US blacklists, a demand which still remains valid,” the statement added.

It termed statements by the US and other countries as “provocative” and accused them of trying to “meddle” in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. The statement added that Afghanistan “condemns” this in the “strongest terms”.

“Such remarks by US officials are a repetition of past failed experiments and such positions detrimental for America,” the statement said.

“We urge that these incorrect policies be immediately reversed through diplomatic interactions,” it underscored.

Spanish FM due on Sep 10

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DNA

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Minister of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares, will visit Pakistan on 10 September 2021.

During talks between the two Foreign Ministers, views will be exchanged on the latest developments in Afghanistan. Bilateral relations will be part of discussions during the delegation-level talks.

Pakistan and Spain enjoy cordial relations, bilaterally as well as in the context of EU and multilateral fora. Spain is the 3rd largest trading partner of Pakistan within the European Union. Spain is home to one of the largest Pakistani diasporas in Europe.

The visit of Foreign Minister Albares will help reinforce close cooperation between the two countries to strengthen mutual coordination on regional and international issues.

Saudis hope Afghan govt can bring stability

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KSA believes the new govt will reject violence; extremism

Web Desk

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia hopes the advent of a caretaker government in Afghanistan will help it to achieve stability and overcome violence and extremism, the kingdom’s foreign minister said on Wednesday at a ministerial meeting devoted to the Afghan crisis.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan also affirmed Saudi support for “the choices the Afghan people make regarding the future of their country, away from external interference,” Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Riyadh hopes the formation of the caretaker administration will be “a step in the right direction towards achieving security and stability, rejecting violence and extremism, building a bright future in line with these aspirations,” he added.
The ruling Taliban has dismayed Western countries by appointing veteran hardliners to top positions in the new government, including several with a US bounty on their head.
Tens of thousands of people fled Afghanistan after the group seized power in mid-August following a lightning military campaign. Many of those who left were professionals fearing reprisals because of their association with the previous Western-backed government.

PDM to finalise anti-govt movement

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Zubair Ahmad

ISLAMABAD: Heads of the parties forming Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an opposition parties’ alliance, will meet at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) office in Islamabad today (Friday) with alliance President and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the chair.

Quoting sources, a private television channel Thursday reported that as per the meeting’s agenda, PDM leaders will discuss the strategy to be adopted by the opposition during the presidential address to the joint session of the parliament.

Sources further told that the participants would also consult each other on fixing date for the road caravan to be taken out by the alliance against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government. Apart from that, sources added, PDM leaders would also fix dates for taking out rallies and holding public gatherings against the government.

Meanwhile, PDM is all set to give a tough time to the government by holding 51 public gatherings across the country. PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has reportedly prepared the schedule of the events while JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will do the shortlisting.

Ambassador of Iran lauds PAF’s Professionalism

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Pakistan and Iran enjoy longstanding religious, cultural and historical bonds: Air Chief

DNA

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force in his office on Thursday.

During the meeting, both the dignitaries discussed matters of professional and mutual interest. Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini commended the professionalism of PAF and acknowledged its rising indigenous capacity in aviation industry.

The Air Chief said that Pakistan and Islamic Republic of Iran enjoy longstanding religious, cultural and historical bonds which are manifested through strong ties between Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force and Pakistan Air Force.  The Air Chief reiterated his resolve to further enhance the existing bilateral cooperation between the two brotherly countries. 

Pak, Qatar to continue constructive efforts in Afganistan

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Saifullah

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has called upon the international community to stand in solidarity with the Afghan people, engage positively, and create incentives to ensure sustainable peace, stability and economic development in Afghanistan.

He was talking to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who called on him in Islamabad on Thursday.

The Prime Minister emphasized that it is vital to stabilize the security situation, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and stabilize the economy. He said Pakistan has and will continue to play its role for the economic uplift, humanitarian relief and assistance to Afghanistan.

During the meeting, views were exchanged on the developments in Afghanistan and diversifying Pakistan-Qatar relations.

The Prime Minister conveyed warm regards to the Amir of Qatar.

Highlighting that Pakistan had suffered enormously due to protracted conflict in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region.

The Prime Minister lauded Qatar’s role in support of the Afghan peace process.

In the bilateral context, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to strengthen mutually beneficial ties with Qatar. He stressed the importance of enhanced collaboration in diverse areas, including trade and investments, energy, and enhancing people-to-people linkages.

The Qatari leader acknowledged Pakistan’s important role as well as efforts for regional peace and stability.

He also underscored Qatar’s commitment to maintain close contact with Pakistan on bilateral and regional matters.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to continue playing a constructive role to avoid any humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

He said this while addressing a joint news conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Islamabad on Thursday evening, after the delegation level talks between the two sides.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said both the countries share joint vision of peace, stability, and prosperity in Afghanistan. He said He said the world community should come forward to extend financial and humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. He said spoilers should not be given an opportunity to play with the global efforts for peace in Afghanistan.

New envoys present credentials to President Alvi

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Pakistan greatly values ties with all countries: Dr. Arif Alvi

Ansar M Bhatti

ISLAMABAD:  President Dr Arif Alvi has said that Pakistan attaches great importance to the promotion of trade, business and commercial cooperation with friendly countries under its new “geo-economics” policy.

He added that Pakistan wanted to promote connectivity, and regional peace and development by further expanding bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, economy, culture and tourism. The President made these remarks while talking to the Ambassadors-designates of Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Azerbaijan, Kingdom of Thailand, and the High Commissioner-designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who made separate calls on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Earlier, the Ambassador-designate of Kyrgyzstan, Mr Totuiaev, Ulanbek Asankulovich, Ambassador-designate of Kazakhstan, Mr Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador-designate of Azerbaijan, Mr Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador-designate of Thailand, Mr Chakkrid Krachaiwong, and High Commissioner-designate of Nigeria, Mr Abioye Mohammed Bello presented their credentials to President Dr Arif Alvi at a ceremony. Congratulating the newly-appointed envoys, the President expressed the hope that they would play their role in further strengthening political, economic and cultural relations with Pakistan.

While talking to the envoys separately, President Dr Arif Alvi said that Pakistan’s unique geo-economic location offered tremendous opportunities for transport, trade, transit trade and ICT connectivity to the entire region. He observed that greater regional integration would help drive growth and socio-economic development in the entire region. He also underscored the need to hold regular meetings of institutional mechanisms such as the Bilateral Political Consultations, Joint Ministerial Commissions, and Inter-Governmental Commissions, to further solidify bilateral relations with friendly countries.

The President expressed satisfaction over the existing level of bilateral cooperation and wished the envoys success for their assignments in Islamabad.

Play real opposition; Bilawal slams PDM

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PPP chairman urges the opposition to have courage and support PPP to send the govt packing

Staff Report

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Hitting out at the other major opposition party in the country but without naming it, Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asked Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties to either play the role of real opposition or declare themselves facilitators of the government.

Addressing a public gathering in Rahim Yar Khan, he said, Bilawal Bhutto said that we had announced the long march but you [PDM] backed down even then. He urged all the opposition parties to have courage and support PPP in the mission to send the government packing adding it is not possible to deceive the honor of the vote.

“You people talk about giving respect to the vote. But when time comes to demonstrate your respect for the vote, you run away.” He said that PPP would force the PML-N to do real opposition so that both Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar could be shown the door.

He made it clear to the PML-N that if it did not cooperate with the PPP in sending Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar home, people would not forgive it. Bilawal, on the occasion, claimed that PPP would form governments both at the Center and in Punjab after next general elections.

“People of Pakistan witnessed the governance of PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and now they are being made to bear Prime Minister Imran Khan. And now they are yearning for the government of masses. Each and every promise made by the ‘selected’ prime minister is nothing but a deception,” he commented.

PPP chairman said today the ‘selected’ prime minister was begging the USA President Joe Biden for a phone call. “PTI had promised eliminating corruption in 90 days, building five million homes and providing 10 million jobs before coming to the power,” he said, and added, “But Imran Khan did not fulfill a single promise.

 Rather millions of people have lost their jobs. And it is only the PPP which provides people jobs.” He further said that under former president Asif Ali Zardari, the country had become an exporter of wheat while now the country had to import it.

PPP chairman said that due to Khan Sahib, Pakistan is facing highest level of inflation today. He said that those who had jobs were also made unemployed adding this is a tyrannical and anti-people government. Bilawal was of the view that inflation and unemployment witnessed under this government was ‘unprecedented’.  “Contrary to the PPP government which had raised people’s salaries and pensions in order to help them cope with price hike, this government has left people at the mercy of inflation,” he claimed.  Bilawal said that record employment was provided during the PPP government and the pension was increased 100%. 

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