Russia says Israeli bombardment of Gaza is against international law
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza runs counter to international law and risks creating a catastrophe that could last decades, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said. Lavrov made the comments, some of Moscow’s most critical of Israel yet, in an interview with the Belarusian state news agency Belta, which released them on Saturday. “While we condemn terrorism, we categorically disagree that you can respond to terrorism by violating the norms of international humanitarian law, including indiscriminately using force against targets where civilians are known to be present, including hostages that have been taken,” he said.
It was impossible, he added, to destroy Hamas as Israel has pledged to do without destroying Gaza along with most of its civilian population. “If Gaza is destroyed and two million inhabitants are expelled, as some politicians in Israel and abroad propose, this will create a catastrophe for many decades, if not centuries,” warned Lavrov. “It is necessary to stop, and to announce humanitarian programs to save the population under blockade.”
Courtesy: Al-Jazeera.
‘Indus shield-2023’: Pakistan air force’s 14-nation exercise commences
Pakistan Air Force (PAF), on Monday (16/10/2023), kick-started multinational air drills, Indus Shields 2023 at an operation air base in the country. Air Officer Commanding, Central Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Tariq Mehmood Ghazi attended the opening ceremony as Chief Guest. Addressing the participants, he said the exercise would prove to be a step forward in promoting brotherly relations amongst the leading air powers of the region. Air forces of 14 nations Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Morocco, Uzbekistan, China, and Hungary are participating in the air exercise in Pakistan.
Courtesy: Pakistan Observer.
Military conducts successful flight test of Ababeel missile
Pakistan on Wednesday (October 18, 2023) conducted a successful flight test of the Ababeel weapon system, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The latest test of the ballistic missile system was aimed at “re-validating various design, technical parameters, and performance evaluation. “The missile system is aimed at strengthening deterrence and enhancing strategic stability in the region through the operationalization of full spectrum deterrence in the overall construct of credible minimum deterrence,” said ISPR.
Courtesy: The Express Tribune.
Canada cuts some consular services in India amid row over Sikh leader’s murder
Canada on Friday said it was temporarily suspending in-person operations at consulates in several Indian cities and warned of visa processing delays amid a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia. The announcements affecting consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, and Mumbai came hours after Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said Canada had withdrawn 41 diplomats from India.
Courtesy: Dawn.
Pakistan launches Ghauri ballistic missile in a test of readiness
Pakistan on Tuesday (24/10/2023) successfully conducted a training launch of Ghauri Weapon System aimed at testing the operational and technical readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command. According to an ISPR statement released in Rawalpindi, the launch was witnessed by the Commander of Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC), senior officers from the strategic forces, scientists, and engineers of the strategic organization.
Courtesy: Hum News
COAS Munir meets Palestinian envoy, expresses concern over Israel’s ‘unabated violence’ in Gaza
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir on Tuesday (24/10/2023) expressed grave concern over the “indiscriminate killing” of Palestinians in Gaza and called on the international community to put an end to the “unlawful use of force” by the Israeli military.
The COAS expressed grave concern over unabated violence and willful, indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians by the Israeli Defense Forces in the war. Incessant attacks on the civilian population, schools, universities, aid workers, hospitals, and the forced exodus of Palestinians from Gaza are manifest crimes against humanity,” it stated.
Courtesy: Dawn.