100+ killed, 157 wounded, as suicide blast rips through Pakistan police mosque Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who visited the wounded in Peshawar, and vowed “stern action” against those behind the terror attack
PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a crowded mosque in a highly fortified security compound in Pakistan on Monday, the latest in a string of attacks targeting police. Police said the attacker appeared to have passed through several barricades manned by security forces to get into the Red Zone compound that houses police and counter-terrorism offices in the northwestern city of Peshawar. “It was a suicide bombing,” Peshawar police chief Muhammad Ijaz Khan said. Authorities said the bomber detonated the explosives at the moment hundreds of people lined up to pray. “We have found traces of explosives,” Khan said. A security lapse had clearly occurred as the bomber had slipped through the most secure area of the compound, he said. An inquiry was under way into how the attacker breached such an elite security cordon and whether there was any inside help. Khan said the mosque hall was packed with up to 400 worshippers, and that most of the dead were police officers. Peshawar district administrator Riaz Mehsud told “I think 90 percent of the casualties are police personnel because most of those offering prayers in the mosque were policemen.” Taliban commander claims attack Sarbakaf Mohmand, a commander for the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, claimed responsibility for the attack in a post on Twitter.
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4 Security Personnel Martyred in Terrorist Activity from Across Pak-Iran Border in Balochistan
By: Naveed Siddiqui | January 18, 2023
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that four security personnel were martyred during “terrorist activity” from across the Pakistan-Iran border in Balochistan’s Panjgur district. “Today, in a terrorist activity from across Pakistan-Iran border in Chukab sector, district Panjgur, Balochistan, four security forces personnel have embraced martyrdom,” the statement said. It further said that the militants used Iranian soil to “target a convoy of security forces patrolling along the border”. Iran has been asked to hunt down the terrorists on their side, the ISPR statement said. Earlier in the day, foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters at a media briefing that Pakistan had called on Iran to hold accountable “responsible elements” behind the attack. “Pakistan strongly condemns the terrorist attack from across the Iran border,” Baloch said. “Terrorists used the territory of Iran and we hope that Iran will act against the responsible elements.” In a press statement, the Iranian embassy in Islamabad condemned attack. “Terrorism is the common pain of Iran,” the statement said. (Source: APP)
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Foreign Minister holds Delegation level Talks with Foreign Minister of Russia
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held delegation level talks with Foreign Minister of Russia, Mr. Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on 30 January 2023. Foreign Minister is on his maiden visit to Moscow at the invitation of his Russian counterpart. The talks covered the entire range of bilateral relations with a special focus on trade and economic relations, energy cooperation as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. Noting the multidimensional cooperation between Pakistan and Russia, the two Foreign Ministers agreed to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of trade, energy, education, culture, security and counter-terrorism. They also agreed on the importance of regular high-level exchanges for the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples. The two Foreign Ministers also discussed the regional situation, especially in Afghanistan. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari apprised the Foreign Minister Lavrov on Pakistan’s efforts for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan. He briefed the Russian delegation on Pakistan’s perspective on stability and security in South Asia and gross human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The two sides also reviewed cooperation within various multilateral institutions including United Nations and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). (Courtesy – Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Islamabad – Pakistan 30 January 2023
Energy supplies
The ministerial meeting is taking place in the context of an intensive work by Russian and Pakistani companies to resolve all remaining issues related to energy supplies to Pakistan.
Pakistan Stream
One of the key issues of cooperation between the two countries is the North-South gas pipeline project, the parties had previously decided to rename into Pakistan Stream. In January, the Russian Energy Ministry reported that Moscow sees no obstacles to the implementation of this project and is working on an appropriate road map with Islamabad. (TASS Russian News Agency)
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Putin views Pakistan as ‘key partner in South Asia’ High-level Russian delegation meets with Pakistan’s premier in Islamabad
By: Rizwan Shehzad January 19, 2023 (The Express Ttibune)
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has received a special message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who views Pakistan as Russia’s key partner in South Asia and the Islamic world, reiterating his country’s keen interest in deepening bilateral relationship as well as increasing trade and investment between the two sides. The message was delivered by the visiting Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov, who called on the prime minister in Lahore. Shulginov is leading a Russian delegation for the 8th Round of Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Friday. During the meeting, both the sides discussed the purchase of petroleum products from Russia on discounted rates, besides mulling over the supply of oil and gas from Russia to Pakistan on a long-term basis as well as reviewing the gas pipeline project. Through the special message, the Russian energy minister conveyed that President Putin referred to “Pakistan as Russia’s important partner in South Asia and the Islamic World [and] reiterated Russia’s strong interest to deepen the bilateral relationship”. Welcoming the delegation, Shehbaz highlighted the importance Pakistan attached to its relations with the Russian Federation. Shehbaz recalled his meeting with President Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 and said that the meeting had reached important decisions to further strengthen Pakistan-Russia relations. Prime Minister Shehbaz also noted with satisfaction “the keen desire on both the sides to upgrade the bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and economic matters”. The Russian energy minister reciprocated the prime minister’s sentiments. In December, a Pakistani delegation had visited Russia. During the visit, Russia confirmed the availability of 100,000 barrels per day crude oil supply to Pakistan, and it was reported that a delegation from Moscow would visit Islamabad in January to set terms for a deal, including rates and mode of payment.
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Pakistan backs ‘Two-State Formula’ t o End Palestinian-Israel conflict
By: Anwar Iqbal : January 19, 2023
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan told the UN Security Council (UNSC) that the ‘two-state formula’ offers the only viable solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the rising extremism in Israeli leadership “must not be allowed to foreclose the two-state solution”. Ambassador Munir Akram rejected all Israeli measures and attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo of Al Aqsa mosque and demanded full respect for the status quo at Al Aqsa and all other holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories. Pakistan urged the Security Council to “act swiftly and resolutely to bring a halt to all such Israeli violations, ensure its full compliance with international law, and implement its own resolutions”. Ambassador Akram said Pakistan was looking forward to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal implications of Israeli occupation. Ambassador Akram says Islamabad looks forward to advisory opinion of ICJ on legal implications of Israeli occupation “We expect that the court’s opinion will lead to Israeli accountability for its crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory. It is a measure of Israel’s sense of impunity that it has taken punitive measures against the Palestinian authorities and people for merely seeking the court’s opinion,” he said. Israel is incensed over a UN General Assembly resolution in late December requesting that the ICJ offer an opinion on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and has imposed fresh sanctions on Palestinian authorities. According to a UN statement, participants at debate underscored the importance of the two-state solution and the need to avoid all measures and actions that would undermine its realisation. Mr Wennesland told the Security Council that it was “imperative” for both Israel and Palestinians to refrain “from provocations and unilateral steps that undermine… the ability to achieve a negotiated peace”. Ahead of its Dec 29 swearing-in, the new Israeli government declared that the Jewish people had an exclusive right to all parts of the occupied land and issued fresh eviction notices. In debate, UN Security Council members expressed concern at plans to advance settlements and stress that settlement advancement undermines the prospects for a two-state solution. (Source: Dawn News)
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KARACHI: 3-Day “Made in Iran” Exhibition Ends
By News desk | (16-17-18 January 2023)
The three-day “Made in Iran” exhibition of Iranian products has come to an end at the Expo Center of Karachi, the economic artery of Pakistan. The exhibition was inaugurated by Sindh Governor Kamran Tesori. Head of Iran Trade Promotion Organization Ali Raza Peyman Pak, Iranian Consul General Hasan Noorian, President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries Irfan Iqbal Sheikh along with a large number of Iranian and Pakistani officials and businessmen were also present. More than 80 stalls of 75 Iranian companies were set up in the “Made in Iran” exhibition including water and power industries, food products (dairy, milk, sweets and chocolate), barbed wire, polymer products, tiles and ceramics, galvanized wire, mining, steel, copper and allied industries, construction materials, agricultural Products, various machinery, packaging products, home appliances, carpets, textiles and other products are presented for exhibition. Governor of Sindh Kamran Tesoori and Head of Iran Trade Promotion Organization Ali Raza Peyman Pak addressed the opening ceremony. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also visited the exhibition on the first day. On the first day of the exhibition, a large number of people, including Pakistani businessmen, industrialists, expressed their interest in Iranian products and termed the exhibition as encouraging for Pak-Iran trade events.
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Pakistan’s Biggest Tractor Manufacturer (Millat Tractors) shuts down operations
(WebDesk : JANUARY 5, 2023)
Pakistan’s biggest agricultural machinery manufacturer, Millat Tractors Limited, has announced to shut down its operations from January 6 till further notice, citing low demand and cash flow constraints. The company shared the development in its notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). “Due to continuing reduced demand of tractors and cash flow constraints, the Company will remain closed from Friday, January 06, 2023 till further notice,” read the statement. The development comes as dozens of companies in recently have announced either a shutdown or reduction in operations in Pakistan owing to reduced demand, inventory shortage, energy crunch and supply chain disruptions. Last month, MTL announced that it would observe non-production days on Friday, citing lower demand. The company then said that “due to reduced demand of tractors, the company will observe Fridays as non-production days from December 16, 2022, till further notice”. Earlier, KSB Pumps Company Limited (KSBP), a manufacturer of industrial pumps, suspended its plant operations from January 02, 2023, citing import restrictions. Moreover, an automobile company Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited has announced to shut down its production plant from January 2 to 6. Pakistan Suzuki Motors wrote a letter to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that the production process of cars and motorcycles will be completely shut down from January 2 to 6.(Source: Daily Times)