UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has expressed hope that the US-Taliban talks, which were abruptly suspended over the weekend, would soon resume and open the way for intra-Afghan negotiations that would lead to a peaceful settlement of the long-drawn conflict in Afghanistan.
“We hope the suspension of the peace talks is only a pause and will resume sooner rather than later as the alternative is a surge in violence, which could push Afghanistan into even more turbulent and uncertain phase than has been witnessed so far,” Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told the UN Security Council, while assuring of Pakistan’s role as a facilitator of the Afghan peace process.
Speaking in a debate on the situation in Afghanistan, she said Pakistan had always condemned violence and called for all sides to exercise restraint and to remain committed to the peace process out of its belief that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict.
Pakistan urges early resumption of Afghan peace talks
Pakistan urges early resumption of Afghan peace talks
- Says no military solution to Afghan conflict
- A lull in peace talks will only lead to surge in violence, says Islamabad’s permanent envoy to UN
PM Sharif seeks Ericsson’s global expertise as Pakistan eyes 5G rollout
- The prime minister says Pakistan wants to benefit from Ericsson’s experience in advanced networks
- Government aims to auction 5G spectrum by late January or early February, the IT minister has said
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday the government was keen to draw on global expertise as it prepares to move ahead with next-generation digital connectivity, holding talks with Sweden’s Ericsson at a time when Islamabad plans to auction 5G spectrum in the coming weeks.
Last month, Pakistan’s information technology minister said the government was aiming to hold its long-delayed 5G spectrum auction by late January or early February to pave the way for the country’s first rollout of 5G services.
The prime minister discussed the role of next-generation digital connectivity in supporting economic growth, productivity and public service delivery during talks with an Ericsson delegation led by Patrick Johansson, the company’s president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the prime minister’s office said.
“Pakistan is interested in benefiting from Ericsson’s global experience in advanced networks, including 5G, and remains committed to developing secure and sustainable information technology infrastructure in line with national needs,” Sharif said, according to the statement.
The government has said expanding digital connectivity is central to its broader economic agenda, which includes improving financial inclusion, promoting cashless payments and strengthening disaster preparedness through technology.
The statement said Ericsson’s delegation welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to improve its telecom infrastructure, including plans for the 5G spectrum auction.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, IT minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and senior government officials.
