ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf on Friday criticized the United States for making the mistakes of the past by leaving Afghanistan without waiting for a political settlement in that country.
“The Afghans have now been left on their own to fight among themselves,” he said in an interview to the Voice of America (VOA). “It’s fine [for some] if the region remains unstable. However, this is exactly the mistake the world made in the 1990s and pledged not to repeat it again.”
The American international broadcaster shared excerpts of the interview which is yet to be aired on its website and social media accounts.
Yusuf acknowledged that the US had heavily invested in Afghanistan and would not want the situation to deteriorate in that country. However, he maintained it was tragic that history was repeating itself in the region.
Pakistan’s top officials have raised concerns about the Afghan security situation and maintained that the world could witness another civil war in their neighboring state.
The country has also urged the United States to wait for an inclusive power-sharing agreement in Afghanistan before making an exit from the region.
However, President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that US military operations would end on August 31 while defending his administration’s decision to withdraw its troops from the war-battered country after a span of two decades.
“We did not go to Afghanistan to nation build,” the American president said in a recent speech. “Afghan leaders have to come together and drive toward a future.”
The Pakistani NSA, however, said the US was not pulling out its forces responsibly since the hasty withdrawal could result in greater regional instability.
He noted that his country would continue its efforts for peace in Afghanistan, though he added that factional fighting in the neighboring state should concern all international stakeholders.
Yusuf also highlighted Pakistan’s precarious position with reference to Afghanistan.
“We were accused of interfering [in Afghan domestic affairs] when we used to offer them advice [in the past],” he said. “Now that Pakistan has stopped advising them at all, we are blamed for not doing enough [for peace in that country].”
He added it was not right to criticize Pakistan for the international community’s failures in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani NSA pointed out that his country had invested a great deal of energy in Afghan peace efforts, yet it was only asked to “do more” by the United States in return.
He pointed out that Islamabad was willing to work with Washington, though it desired to broaden its relations with the US after turning geoeconomics into the central pillar of its international engagements.
Asked about the possibility of accommodating more Afghan refugees in case of factional fighting in that country, Yusuf said it would not be possible due to Pakistan’s security concerns.
He continued that India had been using the Afghan soil to launch terrorist operations in his country, adding that militant elements could also enter Pakistan if more refugees were allowed in the coming days.
Pakistan’s NSA criticizes United States for repeating past mistakes in Afghanistan
https://arab.news/yjy5k
Pakistan’s NSA criticizes United States for repeating past mistakes in Afghanistan
- Moeed Yusuf says the US decision to pull out its forces without a power-sharing agreement in Afghanistan could lead to regional instability
- The Pakistani NSA maintains his country will not be able to accommodate Afghan refugees in case of a civil war due to its own security concerns
Pakistan’s largest province to ban plastic production, trade from June 5
- Plastics produce greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere of the earth and in turn contribute to global warming and exacerbate climate change
- Pakistan, which ranks among countries most vulnerable to climate change, has witnessed untimely downpours, floods, heatwaves and droughts in recent years
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s largest Punjab province has decided to ban production, distribution and trade of plastic from June 5, the Punjab information ministry said on Sunday, citing plastic as a source of cancer and other fatal diseases.
The carbon-intensive production of plastics has been on pace to emit more greenhouse gases than coal-fired power plants across the world, with the global plastic industry releasing at least 232 million tons of these gases annually.
These greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere of the earth and in turn contribute to global warming and exacerbate climate change, leading to devastating impacts around the world.
To address this cause of environmental pollution, Pakistan’s Punjab province has made preparations to ban the production, distribution and sale of plastic bags.
“A crackdown will also be launched against factories manufacturing illegal plastic products from June 5,” the Punjab information ministry said in a statement.
“Hotels, restaurants and other food joints will be strictly prohibited from giving food to customers in plastic bags.”
The use of plastics is leading to cancer and other deadly diseases among the masses and is increasing environmental pollution, according to the ministry. Those violating the ban will face action and heavy fines will be imposed on them.
Pakistan, which ranks among countries most vulnerable to climate change, has witnessed untimely downpours, deadly floods, heatwaves and droughts in recent years, which experts have blamed on climate change.
The South Asian country of more than 241 million people this week witnessed an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 52 degrees Celsius (126°F) in parts of the country.
Minister asks authorities to timely issue passports to overseas Pakistanis, warns against delays
- It took overseas Pakistanis reportedly four months to get normal passports, while the urgent ones required 45 days
- Interior Minister asks officials to ensure issuance of normal passports within 30 days and urgent ones within a week
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has taken notice of prolonged delays in issuance of passports to overseas Pakistanis and directed authorities to ensure their issuance within the stipulated time period, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
The directives came during a visit by the interior minister, who is currently in the United Kingdom, to Pakistan’s Immigration and Passports and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) offices in London.
Naqvi took notice of the complaints that it took overseas Pakistanis as much as four months to get their normal passports, while the urgent ones were being issued in one-and-a-half month, according to a report published by the Radio Pakistan broadcaster.
Naqvi told officials to ensure the issuance of normal passports within 30 days and the urgent ones within a week, saying the policy would be applicable to all Pakistani missions abroad.
“No delay will be tolerated anymore and action will be taken against non-issuance of passport within stipulated time,” the interior minister was quoted as saying in the report.
He also established a monitoring cell to ensure timely delivery of passports, according to the report. The monitoring cell would be headed by personal staff officer to the minister, Shahrbano Naqvi.
Overseas Pakistanis can email their complaints about delays in issuance of passports to [email protected], Radio Pakistan reported.
The Pakistani interior minister is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom. During his visit, Pakistan and the UK have agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism, organized crime and prevention of illegal immigration.
On Sunday, Naqvi also met former member of British parliament, Khalid Mehmood, in London, Radio Pakistan reported.
“During the meeting, they discussed measures to resolve the issues facing overseas Pakistanis in detail,” the report read.
“Khalid Mehmood expressed gratitude to Mohsin Naqvi for addressing the matter of passport issuance for Overseas Pakistanis within a specific timeline.”
Naqvi appreciated the contributions of overseas Pakistanis and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to facilitate them at all levels.
‘Party in the USA’ but Pakistan and India await for T20 co-hosts
- The game in its shortest form can be largely won by the brilliance of an individual and for the USA’s maiden victory, Aaron Jones was that individual
- Every one of New York-born but Barbados-raised Jones’ sixes was greeted with a massive roar and the final one to seal victory, set off wild celebrations
DALLAS: “Cricket? Erm, is it a team game?” asked the slightly puzzled Uber driver taking his passenger toward the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Texas on Saturday.
Had the driver been one of the curious American-born spectators who ventured inside the venue and witnessed the USA’s first ever T20 World Cup game — a pulsating seven-wicket victory over Canada — he would have had the answer.
Yes, team game it is, but in the shortest form it is also one that can be largely won by the brilliance of an individual.
For the USA’s maiden victory, in front of a passionate crowd inside the purpose built, 7,000 capacity home of Major League Cricket, that individual was Aaron Jones.
Jones’ unbeaten 94 of 40 balls, featuring 14 boundaries, ten of them sixes, with the stadium PA blasting out Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA” after the biggest hits, transformed what could have been a very low key American debut in elite cricket into a spectacular celebration.
“Especially because America is not really a ‘cricketing country’. I wanted to win the first game of the tournament for our fans and we did that,” a smiling Jones said after the game.
Now the USA must prepare for a much bigger test of their credentials in the sport’s elite, when they take on Pakistan, at the same venue, on Thursday.
But there is a bigger context to this tournament for the co-hosts because as much as organizer’s play down the attempt to convert American sports fans to the pleasures of the old game, part of the whole idea of holding the biennial tournament in the USA is to establish some firmer roots for the sport here.
There were two things to note about the crowd at Grand Prairie — as expected the majority of spectators were drawn from the Indian community in Texas but as they showed throughout, they are fervent backers of the national team of their adopted country.
Every one of New York born but Barbados-raised Jones’ sixes was greeted with a massive roar and the final one, to seal victory, set off wild celebrations in the stands.
The second element was that, scattered among those Indian-heritage fans were local Americans who have, to a greater or lesser degree, been won over by the game.
Sean Fortner, who drove three hours from Houston with his family and friends, was attending his first ever match but said he had watched many games on television after studying Indian society and culture at University.
“I watched it for a long time, trying to figure it all out,” he told AFP, “Finally I got one of my Indian friends to explain all the rules to me and I just got hooked on it.”
So much so that Fortner even made a seven-minute video explainer that he shared with his companions before they made the trip to the game.
Another Texan first-time fan Ryan Ubl from Dallas, was also at his first game.
“I got into it really during the ODI World Cup in India. I worked with a bunch of people from India and they were very enthusiastic about it all and so I watched a bit of it and tickets weren’t so expensive, so here I am,” he said.
Ubl is a baseball fan and knows there are limits to how far cricket could go in the USA but thinks there is a future beyond this tournament.
“Obviously I don’t think it’ll ever eclipse baseball but it could carve out its own little niche,” he said.
Fortner agrees even if he knows the sporting mainstream remains far away.
“Just watching how hard it has been for soccer to get a (foothold) when half the people that live here love soccer already, it’s a hard hill to climb. But it can catch on, we know fandom and we get loyal,” he said.
“We’re not going to get a lot of fans but we’ll get loyal fans,” he said.
Jones, still buzzing from his spectacular innings was understandably in no mood for measured considerations even with Pakistan and top-ranked India to come.
His accent may be Bajan but the attitude and rhetoric was all-American.
“We want to play fearless cricket. We want to play hard cricket. We want to play smart cricket and I think we’re going to go into the Pakistan game with the same mindset. We want to play fearless cricket regardless of who we play against,” he said.
Pakistan Hajj Mission fully prepared to cope with any health emergency — official
- Pakistan has Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which around 70,000 will perform pilgrimage under government scheme
- Official says a 400-member dedicated Pakistan Hajj Medical Mission is working around the clock to serve Pakistani pilgrims
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hajj Mission is fully prepared to cope with any health emergency during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a senior official told Pakistani state media on Sunday.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every adult Muslim to undertake the journey to the holy Islamic sites in Makkah at least once in their lifetime if they are financially and physically able.
Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims this year, of which around 70,000 people will perform the pilgrimage under the government scheme, while the rest will use private tour operators.
PHM Director Jamil Ahmed Lakhair said a 400-member dedicated Pakistan Hajj Medical Mission (PHMM) is working around the clock to serve Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“The PHMM is fully equipped, prepared and competent enough to tackle any medical emergency situation, if it arises, in a highly professional manner,” Lakhair was quoted as saying in the report.
“The medical mission includes almost all types of medical specialists, including cardiologists, chest specialists, physiologists, pulmonologists, pathologists, radiologists, and dermatologists. They are available round the clock to serve the pilgrims.”
Pakistan has established two hospitals and 11 dispensaries in the Saudi cities of Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah to provide health care to Hajj pilgrims, according to the official.
Around 1,300 patients on an average are visiting the PHMM health facilities, where free treatment and medicines are provided to them.
Imran Ahmad, a Pakistani pilgrim from Lahore, said the facilities available in the Kingdom are “very good and the pilgrims do not feel like they are outside of their homes,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Lakhair appealed the pilgrims to take all possible precautionary measures against heatstroke, following a severe heat warning issued by the Saudi National Center for Meteorology. He suggested the pilgrims should use face masks and umbrellas, avoid sun exposure, and drink plenty of water, preferably Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), to maintain their health.
Since Pakistan began its pre-Hajj flight operation, more than 62,148 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom under both government and private schemes, according to the Pakistani religion ministry.
Around 390 assistants, including Pakistani civil and uniformed officers, are working for travel and accommodation facilities of the pilgrims as well as providing food, while over 150 officers of the ministry are facilitating pilgrims at the Main Control Office, Madinah and Jeddah Airports, Lost and Found Department, Madinah Departure Cell, Monitoring Cell, and Accounts and Administration Departments.
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to run from June 14 till June 19. Pakistan’s pre-Hajj flight operation, which began on May 9, will continue until June 9.
Efforts on to douse another fire on Margalla Hills as experts warn of environmental hazards
- Part of the Himalayan foothills, Margalla range in Pakistan experiences bush fires relatively often in summer months as temperatures soar
- Experts say these annual fires are detrimental to the environment as they hinder biodiversity and disrupt natural habitat of birds, animals
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad administration on Sunday prevented the spread of another forest fire on Margalla Hills into its territory, but the blaze that erupted in part of the hills located in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province had yet to be fully extinguished, officials said, with experts warning of several environmental hazards of these annual fires.
The Margalla range, part of the Himalayan foothills, frequently experiences bush fires during the summer months. This month, several fires have occurred, largely due to the extreme heat wave affecting the South Asian region.
The latest fire incident occurred on the hills in KP on Saturday after authorities extinguished similar fires at three locations in Islamabad. Officials said the blaze in KP had a very “low intensity” and efforts were on to completely douse it.
“The latest situation is that the fire on the KP side is diminishing with each passing hour and getting less and less in intensity,” Shahzad Khalil, a Capital Development Authority (CDA) official who was supervising the firefighting operation, told Arab News.
He said CDA teams were working day and night to control fires, whenever they erupted on the hills, and the spread of the latest fire into Islamabad’s territory was prevented because of effective response by firefighters who remained on site through the night.
“It is a tough job because of the dense forest and they cannot take heavy equipment with them,” Khalil said. “They made fire lines to control the fire flow, and on the KP side, efforts are also underway to control the fire as we are helping them with all our resources.”
Fire lines, also known as firebreaks or fireguards, are gaps created to stop or slow the spread of a wildfire by removing the fuel that a fire needs to continue burning, thereby creating a barrier. Firefighters position fire lines around a wildfire’s perimeter to contain it and protect critical areas, or to redirect the fire to more manageable areas.
“All other institutions, including army and the National Disaster Management Authority, also take part in this effort as and when required,” he said.
More than 20 fires erupted on Margalla Hills from May 17 to May 31, but things were under control in the CDA’s territory, according to the official
These incidents could have resulted from accidental ignition due to dry conditions as well as “intentional arson by mischievous individuals.”
“We have filed around 15 police reports and have also apprehended three individuals on suspicion,” he said. “The law enforcement agencies are investigating all aspects.”
He said there were around 28 villages on Margalla Hills and the CDA had temporarily hired locals from these villages to assist in firefighting and safeguarding the area by increasing vigilance and providing additional security.
“We have hired 450 local people from the month of April for three months as a quick response force and our trained staff keep on guiding the locals in 37 pickets which we have established in this whole area,” Khalil said.
The future strategy will be to increase the number of pickets to enhance vigilance and promptly control fire in the event of an eruption, according to the CDA official.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon said the administration had sensitized the local community to report any “mischievous elements” involved in such incidents.
“We have conducted meetings with people in nearby villages, gaining their trust and confidence, and we are hopeful that locals will report any individuals involved in fire incidents,” Memon told Arab News. “Our personnel are stationed at the pickets around the clock, ready to dispatch teams immediately to control any fires in the affected area.”
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL GROUP ON FOREST FIRES
Meanwhile, Romina Khurshid Alam, the prime minister’s coordinator on climate change, has established an inter-departmental working group (IWG) on forest fires in the Margalla Hills National Park, headed by Inspector General of Forests Ghulam Qadir Shah. The body comprising Islamabad Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mustafa Tanveer, the CDA director-general of environment and other officials will coordinate rapid response efforts across relevant departments and report directly to Alam.
“The idea was to ensure coordination among the most relevant agencies for an effective response to the fires, including CDA, NDMA, Rescue 1122, police, and the fire department,” Shah, the working group head, told Arab News.
During this dry season, he said, forest fires occur worldwide because the grass below is dry, and fires can start from anywhere at any time.
“Mainly, there is a human element involved, such as tourists making tea or warming food during picnics, discarding cigarette butts, and intentional acts by those involved in timber theft,” he said, adding the Ministry of Climate Change had developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) in 2022 for relevant departments to remain on alert during the season and prevent fires at the earliest.
“Due to this, our forestry departments have updated their mechanism, and created more fire lines, improving vigilance and so on, which has contributed to effective control of fires this year.”
The forest fires have occurred at a time when Pakistan has seen temperatures as high as 52.2 degrees Celsius (126°F) as South Asia swelters in a hot summer this year — a trend scientists say has been worsened by human-driven climate change.
‘TWO-FOLD IMPACT’
Experts say these annual fires are detrimental to the environment as they hinder biodiversity and disrupt the natural habitat of birds and animals.
“These fires have a two-fold impact on the environment. Firstly, they clear the vegetation of trees taking at least 10 years to regrow, and secondly, they generate smoke, leading to carbon dioxide emissions that degrade the environment,” Dr. Ghulam Rasul, head of the Climate Change Program’s International Union for Conservation of Nature, told Arab News.
He said this phenomenon was likely to exacerbate problems for the local population and lead to the suffering of biodiversity. To control these incidents, he said, the civic agencies should initiate an aggressive awareness campaign before the start of every summer season, targeting locals and tourists by involving academics, media and social media influencers.
“The campaign should highlight the damages caused by visitor negligence, emphasize the importance of environmental conservation, and stress the need for vigilance against criminals involved in starting fires and engaging in wood theft,” he added.
Maryam Shabbir, another environmental expert, said these fires adversely impacted the air quality, humans, wildlife residing in forests and birds along with disrupting hiking and other recreational activities on Margalla Hills.
“It is inevitable during summer to not have forest fires. However, proper and timely arrangements can save biodiversity,” she said, urging authorities to monitor the forest and use helicopters to control a fire as soon as it erupts.
Pakistan is seen by global organizations as one of the most vulnerable countries to extreme weather and climate change. In 2022, floods wreaked havoc in the country, killing over 1,700 people and displacing millions.
