Page 22 - Pakistan

US adds 6 Pakistani firms to 'unsafeguarded' nuclear proliferation list

The United States has placed six Pakistani companies on its entity list for missile proliferation and unsafe-guarded nuclear activity

US imposes sanctions on six Pak companies unsafeguarded nuclear activities

The US on Thursday designated six companies based in Pakistan on its entity list for unsafeguarded nuclear and missile proliferation activities. The Department of Commerce added as many as 24 companies to the entities list including those from Pakistan, Latvia, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates. Companies based out of Pakistan are Dynamic Engineering Corporation, EnerQuip Private, Ltd., NAR Technologies General Trading LLC, Trojans, Rainbow Solutions, and Universal Drilling Engineers. According to a federal register notification, Dynamic Engineering Corporation has been added to the 'Entity List' because it poses an unacceptable risk of using or diverting export control items to Pakistan's unsafeguarded nuclear activities, contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States. Same is the case with Rainbow Solutions, while EnerQuip Private, Ltd., and Universal Drilling Engineers have been added to the list based on their ...

Pakistan urgently seeks $3 bn from Saudi Arabia after dip in forex reserves

Pakistan has requested Saudi Arabia to urgently provide $3 billion in cash after its foreign exchange reserves fell to a critically low level

Pakistan's external debt stocks in 2021 stood at $130 billion: World Bank

The World Bank has estimated Pakistan's total external debt stocks stood at $130.433 billion by end-2021 in comparison to $115.695 by the end-2020

Pak poll panel get 'go ahead' for criminal proceedings against Imran Khan

Supreme Court said that the high courts had not restricted the ECP from taking action against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan and other party members but from conducting disciplinary action

No one to disrupt gains of war against terrorism, says Pak Army chief

Pakistan's recently appointed Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, said on Tuesday that no one would be allowed to disrupt the hard-earned gains of the war against terrorism. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, Gen. Munir made these remarks during his visit to Tirah Valley in Khyber district on the western border with Afghanistan. General Munir said that defence of the motherland will be ensured at all costs and there won't be any space for spoilers of peace. "No one will be allowed to disrupt the hard-earned gains of war against terror made thus far," he was quoted as saying. While interacting with officers and men, General Munir praised them for their high morale and operational readiness in the line of duty. The COAS said that the state's writ has been established due to innumerable sacrifices by tribal people and security forces. "Our fight against terrorism will continue with the support of the nation till we achieve endurin

Pak's Election Commission plans to oust Imran Khan as chairman of PTI party

Pakistan's Election Commission on Tuesday initiated the process to remove Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan from his post following his disqualification in the Toshakhana case. A notice has been issued to the former prime minister and the case has been fixed for hearing on December 13, the Dawn newspaper reported, quoting a top ECP official. Khan,70, is in the crosshairs for buying gifts, including an expensive Graff wristwatch he had received as the premier at a discounted price from the state depository called Toshakhana and selling them for profit. He was later disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) under Article 63 (i) (p) for making "false statements and incorrect declaration." According to the ECP records, the gifts were purchased from the Toshakhana -- the state depository established in 1974 -- for Rs 21.5 million on the basis of their assessed value, while they were valued at around Rs 108 million. There have been numerous allegations and ...

Pak working to operationalise closed airports, revive aviation assets: Rprt

Pakistan has started working on a comprehensive plan for the operationalisation of long-closed airports on a commercial basis to boost regional connectivity and revive civil aviation assets worth billions of dollars that are lying idle in the country, a media report said on Sunday. As part of the project, regional connectivity will be promoted, closed airports will be made operational, and Pakistan Airways, a subsidiary of the Pakistan International Airlines, will be reactivated, The Express Tribune reported, quoting official documents available with the paper. A framework for regional connectivity was finalised at the domestic level, enabling the national airline to enter into a joint venture with any foreign company. For this purpose, Pakistan Airways can also be activated, which will operate as a regional airline, the report said. The objective of this project is to make air travel accessible to all Pakistanis, besides repurposing the civil aviation assets worth billions of ...

Pakistani security forces kill terrorist commander in Waziristan

Pakistan's security forces have killed a terrorist commander, wanted for his involvement in high profile terror activities, during an exchange of fire in the country's troubled northwest, the army has said. Muhammad Noor alias Sarakai was killed during an encounter with the security forces in North Waziristan's general area Shewa on December 2, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) the media wing of the army - said on Saturday. Noor was wanted by the Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) for his involvement in several terror activities against the security forces and also several kidnapping and ransom cases. During intense exchange of fire, Muhammad Noor alias Sarakai, a notorious terrorist commander was killed. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist, it added. Last month, a Pakistan Army soldier was killed in a gun battle with terrorists in South Waziristan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Ready for war with India if attacked, warns Pak's new Army chief Asim Munir

Pakistan's newly-appointed Army chief General Asim Munir on Saturday said that if his country is attacked, the Pakistani armed forces will "not only defend every inch of our motherland, but to take the fight back to the enemy." Munir made the remarks during his first-ever visit to troops in the frontline areas in Rakhchikri Sector of the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday. We have noticed highly irresponsible statements from Indian leadership on Gilgit Baltistan and Jammu and Kashmir recently. Let me make it categorically clear, Pakistan's armed forces are ever ready, not only to defend every inch of our motherland, but to take the fight back to the enemy, if ever, war is imposed on us, he said. General Munir on November 24 replaced General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retired after serving two consecutive three-year terms as the Army chief in the coup-prone country, where the military wields considerable power in matters of security and foreign policy. During his visit to the frontline .

Pakistan govt invites Imran Khan's party for 'unconditional negotiations'

The Pakistan government on Saturday invited Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party for holding unconditional talks, saying negotiations are part of the political process and complex problems are resolved when two sides hear each other out. Addressing a joint press conference with Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party should sit down and negotiate with the government to resolve the impasse over holding early general elections. At the same time, they said that threats and talks cannot go together. The development comes after PTI chief Khan on Friday warned that he would dissolve the assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces ruled by his party if the federal government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif did not sit down for talks and announce dates for the general elections. The federal government led by Prime Minister Sharif is opposed to holding elections now. The term of the

Pak summons Afghan diplomat to convey anguish over attack on envoy in Kabul

Pakistan has summoned Afghanistan's Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad and conveyed to him its deep concern over the attack on the country's Head of Mission in Kabul, it emerged on Saturday. Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani survived an attack on Pakistan's embassy in Kabul on Friday, drawing immediate condemnation and a demand for a probe from Islamabad. Nizamani was targeted by unidentified gunmen while taking a walk in the embassy compound. His guard was critically injured in the attack. The Pakistan Foreign Office said in a late-night statement that the Afghan diplomat was summoned on Friday evening and conveyed Pakistan's grave concern over the serious incident in which, thankfully, the Head of Mission remained unhurt but the guard was seriously wounded. The Charge d'Affaires was conveyed that security and protection of Pakistan's diplomatic Missions and personnel was the responsibility of the Afghan Interim Government and that this incident was an extremely serious security lapse, it ...

IMF can't dictate to Pak govt, says Ishaq Dar over delay in review

"I do not care if they come, I don't have to plead before them. I have to look at Pakistan's interest first," he said

State Bank of Pakistan says its forex reserves have fallen by $327 mn

The State Bank of Pakistan announced that its foreign exchange reserves have decreased by $327 million

Pak ruling party to table no-trust motions against PTI govts in KP, Punjab

Imran's PTI is in power in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. However, the PTI has yet to announce a date for the dissolution of assemblies in Punjab and KP

Pakistan asks Russia for 30-40% discount on crude oil; Moscow denies

A Pakistani delegation holding talks with their Russian counterparts has asked for a 30-40 per cent discount on crude oil, a demand turned down by Moscow which said it could not offer anything right now as all volumes were committed, according to a media report on Thursday. The delegation comprising State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, Secretary Petroleum Capt (retd) Muhammad Mahmood, joint secretary and officials of the Pakistan Embassy in Moscow asked for a discount during talks in Moscow on Wednesday, The News reported. The talks ended with no cogent conclusion but the Russian side promised to consider Pakistan's demand and to share its decision later on through diplomatic channels, the paper said, citing its sources. The paper said that Russia can offer crude at the rates it is providing to its large client countries, which are reliable and sound economies, at a suitable time. Right now all volumes are committed with big buyers, sources said. The Russian side asked ...

East Pakistan 1971 debacle a military failure, says Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has termed the East Pakistan debacle in 1971 a "colossal military failure," in a veiled jibe at the former Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, who termed it a "political failure." Bilawal made these comments at the Nishtar Park rally, which was organised to mark the 55th Foundation Day of his Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). On the occasion, the PPP chairman revisited the history of his party and recounted the achievements of its founder, his grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took over the government, the people were broken and had lost all hope, he was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. But he rebuilt the nation, restored the confidence of the people, and finally brought our 90,000 troops back home who had been made prisoners of war due to military failure'. Those 90,000 soldiers were reunited with their families. And that all was made possible due to politics of hope... of unity... and inclusion," he ...

General Asim Munir takes charge as Pakistan's new Army chief

General Asim Munir, Pakistan's former spymaster, on Tuesday assumed charge as the country's new Army chief, replacing Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa who retired after two consecutive three-year terms. Munir assumed charge during an impressive ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ), becoming the 17th Chief of the Army Staff. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on November 24 nominated Munir to the most powerful position in the coup-prone country, where the military wields considerable power in matters of security and foreign policy. He is the first Army chief who has headed both powerful intelligence agencies - the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI). His stint as the spy chief at the ISI was the shortest ever as he was replaced by Lt Gen Faiz Hamid within eight months on the insistence of then-Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019. The powerful Army, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 75-plus years of existence, has hitherto wielded considerable po

Former ISI chief Lt General Faiz Hamid decides to retire early: Reports

Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid, the former ISI chief and one of the top military officers of Pakistan, has opted to seek an early retirement, days after he was shortlisted but not appointed as the Army chief, according to media reports on Tuesday. Gen Hamid was one of the six senior-most generals shortlisted by the General Headquarters (GHQ) for the post of the Chief of Army Staff. The list was sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approval last week. Bahawalpur Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Hamid has decided to seek an early retirement days after he was not selected as the Army chief of the country, the Dawn newspaper reported quoting its sister media outlet DawnNews TV. Gen Asim Munir, a former ISI chief was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff by the Pakistan government on Thursday, ending intense speculation on the high-profile and sensitive post. The report said that Gen Hamid has sent his resignation to the high command. The authorities have already accepted his ...

Pakistani Taliban ends months-long cease-fire with govt, vows new attacks

The Pakistani Taliban on Monday ended a months-long ceasefire with the government in Islamabad, ordering its fighters to resume attacks across the country, where scores of deadly attacks have been blamed on the insurgent group. In a statement, the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan said it decided to end the five-month-old cease-fire after Pakistan's army stepped up operations against them in former northwestern tribal areas and elsewhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan. Pakistan and the TTP had agreed to an indefinite cease-fire in May after talks in Afghanistan's capital. There was no immediate comment from the government or the military. The Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but are allies of the Afghanistan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan more than a year ago as the US and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened TTP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in ...