ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday that he had warned the United Nations of escalating tensions in South Asia, citing India’s “cease-fire violations on the Line of Control (LoC)” that are posing “serious risks for regional peace and security.”
Quershi said in a video message that over 3000 cease-fire violations that were “unprovoked and deliberate” have targeted “over 300 civilians, including women and children, since January 2019 alone.”
The minister said Indians had in five sections opened the LoC fence and deployed BrahMos cruise missiles and anti-tank Spike guided missiles “for use across” the border.
Qureshi demanded that the UN respond to the purported moves by India.
The Foreign Office said in a statement that in his most recent letter from Dec. 12, Qureshi apprised the UN Security Council and secretary general of “Indian actions that continue to escalate tensions in an already tense environment in South Asia.”
Qureshi urged the Security Council to play its role and reiterated Pakistan’s proposal to strengthen the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) presence in the region.
“Consistent with its responsibilities under the UN Charter and relevant Council resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the Security Council must remain seized of the matter and play a proactive role in peaceful resolution of this long-standing dispute on the Council’s agenda,” Qureshi’s letter read.
Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor, director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan Army’s media wing, said in a Twitter post on Thursday that any aggression by the Indian side will be answered.
“Provocative statements and preparations for escalation along LOC by Indian COAS (chief of army staff) appear to be an effort as usual to divert world attention from wide spread protests in India against CAB. Pakistan Armed Forces shall befittingly respond to any Indian misadventure or aggression,” he wrote.
India deploys ‘cruise missiles’ in disputed Kashmir, Pakistani FM warns UN
https://arab.news/5hjgg
India deploys ‘cruise missiles’ in disputed Kashmir, Pakistani FM warns UN
- FM Qureshi accuses India of cease-fire violations, warns of escalation
- Pakistani forces ready to respond to aggression, says military spokesman
Pakistan sells Multan Sultans for record $8.7 million ahead of PSL 11th edition
- New owner Walee Technologies plans to change franchise’s name to Rawalpindi
- PCB chairman says ‘Multan Sultans still dear to my heart, will think of something’
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday sold Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Multan Sultans for a record Rs2.45 billion ($8.7 million), ahead of the 11th edition of the Twenty20 tournament.
The 11th edition of the tournament will kick off on March 26, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday, which will feature eight franchises competing across multiple venues.
The previous owner of Multan Sultans, Ali Tareen, announced in Dec. he was walking away from the ownership of the franchise. The PCB said earlier said it will run the Multan Sultans team for the 11th edition before looking for a potential buyer.
Walee Technologies, which specializes in media, finance and technology, bought the rights for the franchise for $8.7 million at an auction held in Lahore, with local media reporting the new owner planned to change its name to Rawalpindi.
“I cannot ask the person paying Rs2.45bn to keep the name Multan Sultans,” Naqvi told reporters after the auction. “Multan Sultans is still dear to my heart, but we will think of something.”
Walee Technologies was among five bidders that participated in the auction, which came a month after Hyderabad and Sialkot joined the PSL 11th edition.
FKS, an aviation and health care conglomerate based in the US who also run the Chicago Kingsmen team, bought the Hyderabad franchise for a whopping Rs1.75 billion ($6.2 million). The other winner was OZ
Developers, a real estate consortium, which bought the Sialkot franchise for Rs1.85 billion ($6.55 million) at the auction.
The PSL has become a key pillar of the country’s cricket economy, providing financial stability to the PCB and serving as a talent pipeline for the national team.
The league, which features a mix of local and international players, already had six city-based teams, including Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators.
