ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's foreign office listed a number of diplomatic engagements with Arab countries since the beginning of the year in its weekly media briefing on Thursday.
The country has always enjoyed close defense, diplomatic and economic relations with Middle Eastern nations, though it has tried to further strengthened these ties under the current dispensation.
Addressing a news conference, the ministry's spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Secretary General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajraf visited Pakistan on the invitation of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on January 5.
"Besides delegation-level talks with the foreign minister, the secretary general met with the minister for finance and revenue, and prime minister’s advisor for commerce and investment," he said. "The visit provided an opportunity to review Pak-GCC relations and foster enhanced collaboration in diverse fields, with a renewed focus on trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and GCC member states."
Ahmad said a "strong business delegation" led by the chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industries also visited the country and met the president, prime minister and other senior government functionaries, adding the interactions "imparted further impetus to bilateral economic relationship" between the two countries.
Apart from that, the Pakistani foreign minister inaugurated an international seminar on combating corruption, human rights and sustainable development which was organized in collaboration with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission and the United Nation in Islamabad.
"The international seminar was attended by more than 200 international and national stakeholders," said the foreign office spokesperson. "Based on its deliberations, the Islamabad Declaration on Combating Corruption for the full realization of all Human Rights and Sustainable Development was adopted. The Seminar was part of Pakistan’s persistent efforts to strengthen international framework against corruption, recovery of stolen assets, promotion and protection of all human rights, and achievement of inclusive and sustainable development."
He added a 25-member delegation of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College from Saudi Arabia also visited the foreign ministry on January 10.
"The delegation was briefed on key aspects of Pakistan’s foreign policy including our commitment to forge deeper cooperation with Saudi Arabia," he continued.
The Pakistani foreign minister recently announced that the country was scheduled to hold the next OIC meeting in its federal capital on March 22, adding that delegates from Muslim countries would also be invited attend the country's 75th Republic Day parade the next day as state guests.
Pakistan starts new year with diplomatic push with Arab nations
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Pakistan starts new year with diplomatic push with Arab nations
- The country hosted the secretary general of Gulf Cooperation Council to 'foster enhanced collaboration in diverse fields'
- The Pakistan foreign office also briefed a Saudi armed forces delegation on its commitment to forge deeper cooperation with the kingdom
Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate
- Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
- Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.
“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.
The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”
He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.
The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.
The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.
The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
