ISLAMABAD: US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the safety of journalists “around the world” on Tuesday after being asked about a recent verdict issued by a Kenyan court declaring the 2022 police killing of Pakistani anchor Arshad Sharif unlawful.
Sharif, who was widely viewed as critical of Pakistan’s powerful military and a staunch supporter of the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, left the country in August 2022 after sedition cases were filed against him.
He was fatally shot by the Kenyan police nearly two months later while traveling to Nairobi in a vehicle. The law enforcement officials in the African state described the shooting as a result of “mistaken identity.”
However, the Kenyan court ordered the authorities to launch criminal proceedings against the officers who shot the Pakistani journalist after examining the evidence in the case, according to the lawyer representing Sharif’s widow.
“I’m not aware of this case, so I’m not going to comment in any way specifically on it at all,” Miller said when asked about the Kenyan court’s verdict during his media briefing in Washington.
“But, of course, we support the work of journalists around the world,” he continued. “And we think that it’s important that they be able to do that job – their job safely.”
Sharif’s widow, Javeria Siddique, together with the Kenya Union of Journalists and Kenya Correspondents Association, filed a complaint last year against top Kenyan officials over the “arbitrary and unlawful killing” and their “failure to investigate.”
After a total of three hearings, the court reserved its verdict on May 8, which was subsequently announced on Monday.
US urges journalist safety after Kenyan court rules Pakistani anchor’s killing unlawful
https://arab.news/p5n9j
US urges journalist safety after Kenyan court rules Pakistani anchor’s killing unlawful
- Arshad Sharif was fatally shot by the Kenyan police in 2022 after he went into exile due to sedition charges against him
- Kenyan court asked authorities to launch criminal proceedings against officers who shot him after examining evidence
Pakistan warns Afghanistan of ‘necessary defense measures’ if it fails to rein in ‘terrorists’
- Pakistan’s UN ambassador accuses Afghan Taliban of supporting “terrorist” groups in Afghanistan at latest Security Council meeting
- Kabul denies Islamabad’s allegations it supports cross-border militancy, saying it cannot be responsible for Pakistan’s security issues
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad this week warned Afghanistan that Islamabad would take “all necessary defense measures” if Kabul failed to take action against militants that he alleged operate from Afghan soil.
Ahmad was speaking during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan during which he said Pakistan had lost 1,200 lives to “terrorism” this year that were planned, financed and orchestrated under the Afghan government’s watch.
The development takes place as tensions persist between Islamabad and Kabul after deadly October clashes between the two that killed dozens of people on both sides. Pakistan routinely blames Afghanistan for not taking action against Pakistani Taliban militants allegedly present on Afghan soil. Kabul denies the allegation and says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
Tensions escalated in late November after two rounds of failed talks in Doha and Istanbul between the two sides. Afghanistan accused Pakistan of carrying out strikes on its territory. Pakistan’s military denied the claims as the Taliban vowed to retaliate.
“The Taliban must take concrete and verifiable action against terrorist groups based on their soil, failing which; Pakistan will take all necessary defensive measures for the protection of its citizens, territory and sovereignty,” Ahmad said on Wednesday.
“We also expect UNAMA [United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan] to provide an objective assessment of the security situation at the border. Incidents related to border clashes are primarily an issue of terrorism and peace and security.”
https://x.com/PakistanUN_NY/status/1998837227053572565
The Pakistani UN ambassador hoped the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan would promote a “conducive environment for sincere dialogue” that addresses Islamabad’s security concerns instead of working at cross purposes.
He said elements within the Afghan Taliban rank and file are supporting “terrorist groups” in Afghanistan such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Balochistan Liberation Army, Al-Qaeda, Daesh and other outfits. He alleged that the Taliban were allowing these militants “safe passage” to operate with impunity.
“There is also credible evidence of collaboration among these terrorist groups through joint training, illicit weapons trade, refuge to terrorists, and coordinated attacks against Pakistan using the Afghan soil,” he said.
Heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan saw cross-border clashes between the two sides last week, which according to Afghan officials, claimed five lives. Both accused each other of violating the ceasefire via unprovoked firing.
