LAHORE – United States Ambassador to Pakistan Paul Wayne Jones has responded to Pakistan’s refutation of U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells’ statement about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and said her statement was in accordance with the U.S. foreign policy.“Pakistanis should understand Alice Wells’ statement […] her statement should be taken positively,” the ambassador said in his talk to the media while visiting Lahore’s Wazir Khan Mosque.

JEDDAH, NOV 24 (DNA) – The AJK President Sardar Masood Khan has regretted that Kashmir despite being the oldest issue on the UN agenda remains unresolved. “Our brethren in occupied Kashmir have spent more than 100 days under curfew and media blackout, and the Indian forces have turned Kashmir into the world’s largest prison,” he added.Speaking at a paintings exhibition titled “Kashmir: Blood, Cries & Tears” and a seminar on Kashmir here on Sunday, he said that Kashmiri people were being punished for being Muslims and demanding their right to self-determination.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 24 (DNA) -The Norwegian government strongly disapproves of the Quran burning in the right-wing demonstration in Kristiansand, said Norwegian ambassador to Pakistan Kjell Eriksen in his Tweet on Sunday.He said, the police stopped the demonstration for security reasons. In Norway everyone has the right to free speech and to practice their religion without being harassed, the ambassador added.It may be mentioned here that the Foreign Office on Saturday had summoned the ambassador and lodged protest.Reports from Norway suggest that situation is under control and government has effectively overcome the situation.=DNA

In a bid to boost cultural interaction between Korea and Pakistan and responding to Prime Minister of Pakistan’s initiative to promote religious tourism, particularly, Buddhist tourism in the country, over 60 members’delegation of Korean Buddhist pilgrims led by Ven. Wonhaeng, President of Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism visited Pakistan between 16^th and 23^rd November, 2019.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 23 (DNA) – The Ambassador of Norway was called to the Foreign office today to convey the deep concern of the government and people of Pakistan over the incident of desecration of the Holy Quran in the Norwegian city of Kristiansand.Pakistan’s condemnation of this action was reiterated. It was underscored that such actions hurt the sentiments of 1.3 billion Muslims around the world, including those in Pakistan.Furthermore, such actions could not be justified in the name of freedom of expression.The Norwegian authorities were urged to bring those responsible to justice and to prevent the recurrence of any such incident in the future.

BAKU (DNA) – A book titled “Religious Tourism Destinations in Azerbaijan” by an employee of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan Bahruz Orujov, has been published.The book provides detailed information about the temples of various religious confessions, which existed in Azerbaijan since ancient times and are considered to be the magnificent pearls of the spiritual and cultural heritage of the country.

WASHINGTON: (DNA) – The United States on Thursday warned Pakistan that it faced long-term economic damage with little return if China keeps pursuing its giant infrastructure push.The top US diplomat for South Asia said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — heralded as a game-changer by both Asian countries — would profit only Beijing, adding that the United States offered a better model.“It’s clear, or it needs to be clear, that CPEC is not about aid,” said Alice Wells, the acting assistant secretary of state for South Asia.She noted that the multibillion-dollar initiative was driven by non-concessionary loans, with Chinese companies sending their own labour and material.

SUKKUR, (DNA) – The National Accountability Bureau on Friday produced a food department official in government’s wheat misappropriation case before the accountability court Sukkur.The court granted 10 days’ physical remand of Aneesur Rehman Mahar, deputy director Sindh Food Department, to the bureau. The court also ordered the NAB to produce the accused on December 02 before the court.Accountability bureau Sukkur’s officials had arrested the accused government official from Karachi and brought him back to Sukkur after getting his transit remand.

Islamabad; November 22, 2019: Pakistan is grateful for Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatullah Ali Khamenei’s strong support for the just struggle of the people of Kashmir, said President Dr. Arif Alvi, while talking to the outgoing Ambassador of Iran, Mr. Mehdi Honardoost, who paid farewell call on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad today.