Pakistan

Pakistan has no interest or desire in escalation, says FM on border tension with Iran

Published

6 months ago

Farwa

Jilani shares Pakistan’s perspective and recent happenings.
This he said in a telephonic conversation with Hakan Fidan.
They discussed ongoing developments between Pakistan, Iran.

ISLAMABAD: Following retaliatory strikes by Pakistan against Iran, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Friday said Islamabad had no interest or desire in escalation.

This he said in a telephonic conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye Hakan Fidan. Both the dignitaries discussed the ongoing developments between Pakistan and Iran.

FM Jilani shared Pakistan’s perspective and the recent happenings. “Pakistan’s Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar was aimed at terrorist camps inside Iran,” he said.

Foreign Minister @HakanFidan of Turkiye called Foreign Minister @JalilJilani to discuss the ongoing developments between Pakistan and Iran. FM shared Pakistan’s perspective and the recent developments. He stated that Pakistan’s Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar was aimed at terrorist… pic.twitter.com/BCzKDHkRPK
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) January 19, 2024

The phone call came a day after the exchange of positive messages between the top Pakistani and Iranian officials.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch shared a tête-à-tête between Additional Foreign Secretary Rahim Hayat Qureshi and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Rasoul Mousavi on her X handle, saying: “Some positive exchanges.”

Some positive exchanges https://t.co/LLYNnFG5A3
— Mumtaz Baloch (@Mumtazzb) January 18, 2024

The development comes hours after Pakistan launched strikes on terrorists’ hideouts inside Iran on Thursday, in a retaliatory attack two days after Tehran violated the country’s sovereignty by launching a strike in Balochistan that left two children dead and injured three girls.

In a statement, the Pakistan Army said the hideouts used by terrorist militant organisations, namely Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), were successfully struck in an intelligence-based operation, code named — “Marg Bar Sarmachar”.

I reciprocate yr sentiments dear brother @rasmou. 🇵🇰 & 🇮🇷 have fraternal rels & shall move fwd to resolve all issues through positive dialogue. It is imp to restore trust & confidence that has always defined our bil rels. Our common challenges incl terrorism require coord action https://t.co/9Erv2OvhjT
— Rahim Hayat Qureshi (@rahimhayat) January 18, 2024

In an X post today, the FO additional secretary responded to his Iranian counterpart letter saying he reciprocated the sentiments of “dear brother Seyed Rasoul Mousavi”.

He said Pakistan and Iran have fraternal relations and the countries to move forward to resolve all issues through positive dialogue.

He said it is important to restore trust and confidence that has always defined bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Our common challenges including terrorism require coordinated action,” he added.

Mousavi said he believed that Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the endpoint of the prevailing tensions between the two countries.

“Leaders and high officials of both countries know that only terrorists and enemies of both countries benefit from the existing tension between the two neighboring countries,” he wrote on X in Persian.

Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has summoned separate meetings of the federal cabinet and the National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday (today) to discuss situation arising out of Pak-Iran tension.

The prime minister who was in Davos to attend meeting of the World Economic Forum, cut shot his visit to return to the country.

The cabinet would review the scenario in the backdrop of strikes and air space violation by Iran.

The meeting would also be briefed on the border situation and operational preparedness and briefing of the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs given to the media on Thursday.

The cabinet would also discuss matters with regard to preparations for the February 8 elections.

The NSC meeting to be attended by Cabinet members who are members of the Committee, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, three services chiefs, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), would hold consultations on the current situation on Pak-Iran border.

Some important decisions are expected with regard to country’s internal and external security.

Latest News

Rainfall throughout the night stops flights in Lahore.

Published

17 hours ago

Farwa

Allama Iqbal International Airport experienced many hours of flight disruption due to the intense rainfall and windstorms that occurred overnight in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab.

Aviation sources claim that because of the monsoon weather, the flight operation was unable to operate between 3 and 4 am.

It is possible that the planes will arrive at the airport at 4 am.

Amidst delays in foreign airline flights, three aircraft made landings in Multan and Peshawar.

Riyadh flights arrived in Peshawar Airport, while flights scheduled to land in Lahore in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain ended up landing in Multan Airport.

Seven hours later than scheduled, the Qatar Airways flight from Doha arrived in Lahore.

Because of the bad weather, there are delays in the arrival and departure of numerous international planes.

Latest News

Changes to Pakistan’s Test team could be significant for the Bangladesh series.

Published

17 hours ago

Farwa

Major changes to Pakistan’s team are anticipated ahead of the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh, sources in Lahore have revealed.

As the team gets ready for the series, meetings with the players are planned for next week.

It is predicted that the Test squad would undergo several changes. The team’s lineup is expected to be strengthened by the likely inclusion of Muhammad Huraira. Key players like Faheem Ashraf, Wasim Jr., Saim Ayub, and Nauman Ali, whose contributions are vital to the team’s success, struggle to get a spot on the squad.

Furthermore, according to sources, Imamul Haq or Sahibzada Farhan are anticipated to be added to the team, subject to additional assessment. Furthermore, following a fitness assessment, Amir Jamal and Hasan Ali’s futures will be determined.

The ultimate selection for the Test team will take place following Red Ball head coach Jason Gillespie’s return to Pakistan. The ultimate squad that will play Bangladesh in the forthcoming Test series will be greatly influenced by his assessments and thoughts.

Pakistan is scheduled to visit New Zealand in March and April of 2025, according to the country’s official cricket schedule, which was released earlier this month.

Throughout their visit, the Pakistan cricket team will play three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in an exciting series.

The T20I series, which starts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on March 16, will serve as the tour’s opening event.

Latest News

PM Meets With KP Lawmakers: Promises Progression and Relief Efforts in Province

Published

17 hours ago

Farwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhawa lawmakers are given assurances by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the province’s development, namely in the amalgamated districts, with a particular emphasis on the provision of standard health and educational facilities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa National and Provincial Assembly members paid a visit to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at PM House.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that the PML-N Government has always given priority to the development of the combined districts.

The prime minister promised that the combined Districts would have standard health and educational facilities, and that Danish Schools would be established nearby to offer local pupils an education of the highest caliber possible.

The PM also underlined the importance of promoting solar energy, combating electricity theft, and helping the middle class and impoverished.

He said that in order to boost the agriculture sector’s growth, expand the amount of land under cultivation, and reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign fuel imports, the government was converting agricultural tubewells to solar energy nationwide.

According to PM Shehbaz Sharif, the government recently provided significant reduction from electricity rates for those with low and moderate incomes.

At the event, he also announced the creation of a committee headed by the deputy prime minister, whose goal will be to identify long-term solutions to the issues facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s elected officials.

He argued that in order to preserve the nation from going into default, the current government had to make difficult political choices in order to revitalize the economy.

The parliamentarians gave Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif high marks for his visionary leadership in transforming Pakistan’s economy.