News Desk/DNA

KABUL: Afghanistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Hanif Atmar has sought Pakistan’s help to end the raging conflict in Afghanistan, saying that he hoped Islamabad would persuade the Taliban to return to talks again.

The situation in Afghanistan has taken a turn for the worse, with the Taliban launching a blistering campaign and capturing key districts of the country, drastically emboldened as US and other foreign forces gear up to leave the country.

In an interview with a private TV channel, he said “We are hopeful Pakistan will help Afghanistan disrupt the Taliban’s supply and ‘brutal campaign’,” said the Afghan minister.

In response to a question about whether the Afghan government thinks the US betrayed it, Atmar said that Washington signed an agreement with the Taliban with honest intentions.

“The Taliban did not fulfil their part of the deal and deceived the whole world,” he said. “The Taliban are making a huge mistake. All of us have extended a hand of friendship towards them,” he added.

He said the Afghan government was telling the Taliban to honour the Doha peace deal, adding that Kabul had fulfilled its obligations of the deal when it came to the prisoners exchange and ensuring foreign troops leave the country.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda have banded forces with other terrorist elements and are fighting alongside the Taliban against the government of Afghanistan, said Atmer.

“We are monitoring links between the TTP, Taliban and Al-Qaeda on a daily basis,” said Atmer. “These ties certainly exist.”

The Afghan foreign minister said these ‘elements’ were fighting against the “government and people of Afghanistan” alongside the Taliban, adding that these elements were fighting the Afghanistan government in Badakhshan, Kunduz, Faryab and other provinces of the war-torn country.

Speaking about the militants, Atmar said the Afghan government has divided these groups of foreign fighters into three categories.

“The first among them are the [militant groups] that are fighting for a global agenda, such as Al-Qaeda and Daesh,” he said. “Al-Qaeda and Daesh militants have been present in the region where Pakistan and Afghanistan are situated,” he added.

Atmer said his government was aware of the locations in Pakistan and Afghanistan where Al-Qaeda members were killed and arrested.

“Then, we have regional players,” the Afghan minister said. “[These include] the TTP, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, ITIM, the Ansarullah and Jundullah are also fighting with them [Taliban],” he added.

“The entire region, not Afghanistan alone, is at threat from these groups,” he stressed. “Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, India, Russia and the Middle East are in danger from these groups,” he said.

Atmer said the government of Afghanistan spoke about regional cooperation as “there are no good or bad terrorists and they all are the same”.

“Peace between Afghanistan and the Taliban will ensure these elements do not find a safe haven in Afghanistan,” he added. Taliban launch blistering campaign as US, other foreign forces prepare to leave Afghanistan

With the US pullout 90% complete, according to the Pentagon, the insurgents have launched a blistering campaign to capture new territory, and fears are mounting that Afghan forces will collapse without vital American air support.President Ashraf Ghani had said the government had the capacity to handle the situation, but admitted difficulties lay ahead.

“What we are witnessing is one of the most complicated stages of the transition,” he had said in a speech in Kabul.The withdrawal of US and NATO troops — after two decades in the country — has drastically emboldened the Taliban, who appear to be pressing for a full military victory.

Supposed peace talks between the insurgents and the government in Doha have largely fizzled out after months of a deadlock.Meanwhile, a meeting between an Afghan government delegation and Taliban representatives in Tehran ended Thursday, Iran’s state news agency said, with both sides urging an end to the fighting, and more talks.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Red Crescent Society in collaboration with Health Department of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has launched “Corona Free Kashmir” Initiative under which public will be vaccinated through mobile vaccination units in different districts of the AJK. An inaugural ceremony of the initiative was held at Kashmir House here on Friday.  

The ceremony was attended by President AJK Sardar Masood Khan, Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society Abrar ul Haq, Chairman PRCS AJK Ejaz Raza, Secretary General PRCS Dr. Adeel Nawaz, IFRC Head of Delegation Peter (Piwi) Ophoff, health care workers, officials of GoAJK, PRCS and volunteers. 

Under this initiative, in the 1st phase vaccination mobile units have been established in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, beside mobile units will also be set up in other districts of AJK. PRCS will deploy its ambulances and volunteers for the mass vaccination under this initiative. 

Speaking on this occasion, AJK President Sardar Masood Khan lauded the efforts of PRCS in combating coronavirus pandemic, saying that the swift actions of the National Society played a key role in preventing the spread. He said PRCS volunteers have played an effective role in creating awareness among people against the pandemic.” The distribution of PPEs among health care workers, distribution of food and non-food items among the deserving during the pandemic were need of the hour and PRCS has always been in the forefront to help the vulnerable communities in AJK”, he added.     

He paid tribute to philanthropists for helping the affected people and the government in coping with the challenge. The government, he said, was also helping the affected people from its own resources. 

In a statement on the occasion, PRCS Chairman Abrar ul Haq said that PRCS has expanded its recently launched campaign for door-to-door and mobile vaccination against Covid-19 virus in order to contain the spread of pandemic in the country. As part of the initiative, door-to-door vaccination drive is in full swing in the territorial limits of Islamabad Capital Territory and in different parts of Karachi and Rawalpindi in collaboration with government.   

Abrar ul Haq said the Red Crescent Corona Care Hospital (RCCH) in Rawalpindi has selflessly served people during the pandemic wherein hundreds of Covid-19 patients were treated free of cost. He said it is a matter of great honor for the PRCS that the RCCH was designated by the government as a Mass Vaccination Centre for Covid-19 where more than 150,000 people have been vaccinated so far.  “Corona Free Kashmir Initiative” is a great initiative under which PRCS and GoAJK will take all necessary measures regarding prevention and control to stop the spread of pandemic in all the districts of AJK.  

He said PRCS in collaboration with the Health Department of Government of Sindh and National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has opened 3 mobile Covid-19 vaccination units in Karachi. “Preparations are also underway to establish mass vaccination centers at Pakistan Red Crescent Hospitals in different districts of Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and Tribal areas”, he added. 

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PRCS AJK Branch Ejaz Raza said that fight against the COVID19 is not over. He stressed the need to expedite the process of vaccination and appealed the citizen to get vaccinated against the virus as soon as possible. He said that AJK branch is grateful to National Headquarters for this initiative and its generous support to make Kashmir Corona free.  

Earlier, the officials from the Health Department of AJK briefed the participants on “Corona Free Kashmir Initiative”. 

At the end of ceremony, President AJK Sardar Masood Khan along with Chairman PRCS Abrar ul Haq, Chairman PRCS AJK Ejaz Raza and others inspected the ambulances that will be deployed by PRCS at mobile vaccination units.  

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Navy Ship PNS ZULFIQUAR, with embarked helicopter, will visit Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth (UK) from 12-14 July 2021 as part of Pakistan Navy’s overseas deployment.

The ship will be received by Deputy High Commissioner Dr Faisal Aziz and Defence & Naval Adviser Commodore Jamal Alam together with senior Royal Navy officials.

Commodore Syed Rizwan Khalid is the Mission Commander whereas Captain Rao Ahmed Imran Anwar is the Commanding Officer at the PNS ZULFIQUAR.

The ship will also participate in a bilateral exercise with the Royal Navy after the port visit.
The visit is aimed at enhancing bilateral maritime cooperation between Pakistan and the UK navies.