Pakistani PM seeks ‘immediate’ restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza following ceasefire accord

This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke plumes rising from explosions above destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip on January 16, 2025. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 16 January 2025
Follow

Pakistani PM seeks ‘immediate’ restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza following ceasefire accord

  • Deal between Hamas and Israel outlines six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip
  • In 15 months of war, Israel has laid to waste much of Gaza, pre-war population of 2.3 million people has been displaced multiple times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday called for humanitarian assistance to be restored “immediately” to Gaza and other war-torn areas, a day after a ceasefire accord was reached between Israel and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.

The deal comes after months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the US and 15 months of war during which Israel has laid to waste much of Gaza and the pre-war population of 2.3 million people has been displaced multiple times. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave as “catastrophic.”

A six-week initial ceasefire phase includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. The deal requires 600 truckloads of humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza every day of the ceasefire, 50 of them carrying fuel, with 300 of the trucks allocated to the north. 

“It is imperative that provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance is immediately restored to Gaza and other war-torn areas,” Sharif wrote on X, welcoming the ceasefire and thanking the US, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other nations who helped broker the deal.

“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and pays homage to the sacrifices of tens of thousands of innocent people who lost their lives as victims of Israeli atrocities over the past several decades.”

If successful, the ceasefire will halt fighting that has razed much of heavily urbanized Gaza and killed over 46,000 people, according to Gaza authorities. That in turn could defuse tensions across the wider Middle East, where the war has stoked conflict in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and raised fears of all-out war between arch regional foes Israel and Iran.

“It is hoped that the truce would lead to permanent ceasefire and help in scaling up humanitarian assistance,” Pakistani foreign office spokesman, Shafqat Ali Khan, said at a weekly press briefing, calling for the “immediate and full implementation” of the ceasefire accord. 

Islamabad, which does not recognize nor have diplomatic ties with Israel, said “indiscriminate” use of force by Israeli forces had caused unprecedented loss of lives and property and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians while its “expansionist designs” had destabilized the entire Middle East region.

“Pakistan reiterates its support for a just, comprehensive, and durable solution to the Palestinian issue, leading to the establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” Khan added. 

SALIENT FEATURES OF CEASEFIRE DEAL

Under the deal, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (soldiers and civilians), children, and men over 50. Hamas will release female hostages and under 19s first, followed by men over 50. 

Meanwhile, Israel will release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli female soldier Hamas released. Israel will also release all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained since Oct. 7, 2023, by the end of the first phase. The total number of Palestinians released will depend on hostages released, and could be between 990 and 1,650 Palestinian detainees including men, women and children.

Hamas will release the hostages over a six-week period, with at least three hostages released each week and the remainder of the 33 before the end of the period. All living hostages will be released first, followed by remains of dead hostages. 

The implementation of the agreement will be guaranteed by Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

Negotiations over a second phase of the agreement will begin by the 16th day of phase one and are expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli soldiers.

A third phase is expected to include the return of all remaining dead bodies and the start of Gaza’s reconstruction, supervised by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.

At a news conference in Doha on Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the ceasefire would take effect on Sunday. Negotiators were working with Israel and Hamas on steps to implement the agreement, he said.

“This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the [Israeli] hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” US President Joe Biden said in Washington.

Israel’s acceptance of the deal will not be official until it is approved by the country’s security cabinet and government, with votes slated for Thursday, an Israeli official said.

While people celebrated the pact in Gaza and Israel, Israel’s military escalated attacks after the announcement, the civil emergency service and residents said.

Heavy Israeli bombardment, especially in Gaza City, killed 32 people late on Wednesday, medics said. The strikes continued early on Thursday and destroyed houses in Rafah in southern Gaza, Nuseirat in central Gaza and in northern Gaza, residents said.

Israel’s military made no immediate comment and there were no reports of Hamas attacks on Israel after the ceasefire announcement.

A Palestinian official close to the ceasefire negotiations said mediators were seeking to persuade both sides to suspend hostilities ahead of the ceasefire going into effect, Reuters reported.

With inputs from Reuters


WWF says Pakistan’s pangolin population down 80 percent, urging immediate action

Updated 8 sec ago
Follow

WWF says Pakistan’s pangolin population down 80 percent, urging immediate action

  • Population of pangolin has “drastically declined” due to poaching, illegal trade, habitat loss, retaliatory killings, climate change
  • Pakistan is believed to be transit route for international smuggling of pangolin scales primarily to China and Southeast Asia

KARACHI: The World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) said on Friday Pakistan’s pangolin population was “drastically” declining, saying it was down at least 80 percent from previously recorded numbers.

The Indian pangolin is the only pangolin species found in Pakistan, which is classified as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Species.

“In Pakistan, particularly in the Potohar region, the species has disappeared from 80 percent of its former range,” WWF-Pakistan said in a press release on World Pangolin Day, observed on the third Saturday of February.

“While exact population estimates are challenging to determine, the overall population has drastically declined.”

According to the IUCN, other population models predict that the global Indian pangolin population may decrease by approximately 50 percent over the next 20 years.

The Indian pangolin is protected under both federal and provincial wildlife laws in Pakistan. Since 2016, it has also been listed in Appendix I of CITES, which legally prohibits any international trade of the species and its products, including scales. 

However, the pangolin faces several challenges, especially poaching, retaliatory killing and illegal trade activities. They are heavily hunted for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine and illegal trade. Urbanization, agricultural expansion, and deforestation are also reducing their natural habitat. Further, studies indicate that Pakistan is a transit route for the international smuggling of pangolin scales, primarily to China and Southeast Asia. All these challenges are putting the survival of pangolins at risk.

WWF-Pakistan has proposed that provincial wildlife departments and other law enforcement authorities take immediate actions to halt the illegal trade of the species and increase penalties for poaching and illegal trade. There is also an urgent need to enhance the monitoring of trade routes to prevent the smuggling of pangolin scales.

“As these species play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance, we must combat illegal wildlife trade, protect their habitats, and ensure a future where these unique creatures can thrive,” Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry, Senior Manager Research and Conservation, WWF-Pakistan, said, proposing reforestation projects and protection of pangolin habitats in key regions like the Potohar Plateau, Margalla Hills, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. 

The establishment of community-based pangolin protection zones (PPZs) in priority population hotspots in Rawalpindi (Punjab) and Mirpur (AJK) should be improved, Chaudhry said. 

“Scientific studies to assess pangolin population trends and distribution in Pakistan should be conducted,” he added.

WWF-Pakistan also appreciated efforts taken for the development of the Pangolin Conservation and Management Plan for Pakistan (2018-23). SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) has been implemented in key habitats of the pangolin in Punjab, and a coordination system with Rescue 1122 has been developed to encourage community engagement in reporting illegal pangolin trade to the wildlife authorities. Furthermore, SAFE Systems strategies have also been developed for human-pangolin conflict management.

Currently, WWF-Pakistan is working in collaboration with the KP and Punjab provincial wildlife departments for pangolin conservation. The project “Saving the Pangolin of Pakistan” is being implemented in the KP Province, and surveys for species distribution have been completed in the region. 

Further, a Pangolin Protection Zone, enforced with community-based watch and ward, is being established in the southern districts of the KP province. 

WWF-Pakistan has also planned a joint venture with Tikki Hywood Foundation (Zimbabwe) for radio transmitter installation to study the habitat of the pangolin and help in establishing a rehabilitation center.


Pakistan win the toss and bat against New Zealand in the tri-nation series final

Updated 22 min ago
Follow

Pakistan win the toss and bat against New Zealand in the tri-nation series final

  • Final is a dress rehearsal for both teams ahead of next week’s opening game of the Champions Trophy
  • Pakistan eliminated South Africa from final with epic run-chase of 355-4 at same venue on Wednesday

KARACHI: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat against New Zealand in the tri-nation series final on Friday in a dress rehearsal for both teams ahead of next week’s opening game of the Champions Trophy.
Pakistan eliminated South Africa from the final with its epic run-chase of 355-4 at the same venue on Wednesday with captain Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha scoring centuries.
Pakistan brought in fast bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf for his first ODI since his last appearance against Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup in 2023.
Ashraf replaced fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain, who went wicketless in his eight overs for 72 runs during Pakistan’s highest ever successful run-chase in ODIs two days ago.
“The pitch looks a little dry, and we want to put runs on the board,” Rizwan said at the coin toss.”The ODI win in the last game was massive and it has given us the momentum.”
New Zealand, which beat both Pakistan and South Africa at Lahore last week, made two changes and brought in Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy. Smith replaced fast bowler Matt Henry while Duffy came in place of Ben Sears, who has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy with a hamstring injury.
“The boys have played here a lot and we had two trainings on similar wickets,” New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said. “In Pakistan, the wickets are good. You always want to win, but there’s a bigger picture.”
Lineups:
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke.


Islamabad slams Israeli PM for attempting to undermine Saudi Arabia’s ‘unwavering’ position on Palestine

Updated 14 February 2025
Follow

Islamabad slams Israeli PM for attempting to undermine Saudi Arabia’s ‘unwavering’ position on Palestine

  • Netanyahu’s remarks about the establishment of a Palestinian state on the Saudi territory drew widespread backlash this month
  • Pakistan has reiterated its call to summon an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the issue

Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for attempting to undermine Saudi Arabia’s “unwavering” position on Palestine by calling for the relocation of millions of Palestinians and establishing a Palestinian state in the Kingdom.
Israeli officials have proposed establishing a Palestinian state on the Saudi territory after Netanyahu seemingly joked about the idea during an interview on Israel’s Channel 14 on Feb. 16, according to Reuters.
Netanyahu’s comments came amid a six-week truce announced on Jan. 19 between Hamas and Israel that ended 15 months of war, involving the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to the north.
Shafqat Ali Khan, a spokesperson for the Pakistani foreign office, said Islamabad “condemns in unequivocal terms” the recent statement by the Israeli prime minister, suggesting the Palestinian people should establish their state in Saudi Arabia.
“The remarks by Israel are irresponsible, provocative and thoughtless, and are offending, undermining and disregarding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and an independent state on their own, historical and legitimate territory,” he said at a weekly press briefing.
“Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and any attempt to undermine Saudi Arabia’s unwavering position and misrepresentation of its commitment to the Palestinian cause is deeply regrettable.”
Pakistan has strong economic, defense and cultural ties with the Kingdom, while Islamabad does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
The remarks by the Israeli PM followed a suggestion last month by US President Donald Trump that Palestinians in Gaza should be resettled in Egypt, Jordan, or other countries — a proposal rejected by Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, and other nations apart from being condemned by international rights groups.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry responded sharply to Netanyahu’s remarks on Sunday, saying it rejected “such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian brothers in Gaza.”
Speaking further at the briefing, Khan shared Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had spoken with foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Türkiye, Malaysia and Iran about summoning an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the issue.
“During these calls, the deputy prime minister [and] foreign minister termed the proposal to displace the people of Gaza deeply troubling and unjust,” the foreign office spokesman said.
“He also conveyed Pakistan’s support for convening of an extraordinary OIC meeting of the foreign ministers to deliberate upon this issue.”
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 45,000 people, including children and women, according to the Palestinian health ministry, with at least more than 100,000 others wounded. The war began after Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel.


Pakistan hits out at India after Trump-Modi meeting 

Updated 49 min 41 sec ago
Follow

Pakistan hits out at India after Trump-Modi meeting 

  • Washington and New Delhi issue joint statement calling on Pakistan to ensure its territory not used to carry out cross-border attacks
  • Trump said the US will increase military sales to India starting in 2025 and will eventually provide F-35 fighter jets

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad on Friday criticized the United States and India after President Donald Trump met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House and both leaders called on Pakistan to ensure its territory was not used as a base for militant attacks.

Trump rolled out the red carpet for Modi on Thursday, with both leaders touting deals their countries had reached on defense, energy and commerce. Washington and New Delhi also issued a joint statement following the meeting in which they called on Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of two militant attacks and ensure that its territory was not used to carry out cross-border assaults. Later, speaking at a press conference, Trump said the United States will increase military sales to India starting in 2025 and eventually provide F-35 fighter jets.

“We consider the Pakistan specific reference in the Indo-US joint statement on Feb. 13, 2025 as one sided, misleading and contrary to diplomatic norms,” Foreign Office Spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said at a weekly press briefing. 

“We are surprised that the reference has been added to the joint statement notwithstanding Pakistan’s counterterrorism cooperation with the US.”

Relations between India and Pakistan have been fraught for years. Since independence from Britain in 1947, the two nations have fought three wars, two of them over the Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part.

New Delhi has for years accused Pakistan of launching militant attacks in India, including the one in 2008 in Mumbai that killed over 165 people. India also says Pakistan has helped militants who have battled Indian security forces in its part of Kashmir since the late 1980s. Pakistan denies the accusation and says it only provides diplomatic and moral support for Kashmiris seeking self-determination.

The joint US-India declaration said: “The leaders further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, and Pathankot attacks and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks.”

“Such references cannot cover up India’s sponsorship of terrorism, subversion and extrajudicial assassinations in the region and beyond, nor can they shift international attention from the stark reality of India being a safe haven for the perpetrators of hate crimes against Muslims and other minorities,” the Pakistani foreign office spokesman responded. 

Khan also said Pakistan was “deeply concerned” over the planned transfer of advanced military technology to India. 

“Such steps accentuate military imbalances in the region and undermine strategic stability. They remain unhelpful in achieving the objective of a durable peace in South Asia,” he added. 

“We urge our international partners to take a holistic and objective view of the issues of peace and security in South Asia and refrain from endorsing positions that are one sided and divorce from ground realities.”

India has agreed to buy more than $20 billion of US defense products since 2008. Last year, India agreed to buy 31 MQ-9B SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian drones after deliberations that lasted more than six years.

According to the US Congressional Research Service, New Delhi is expected to spend more than $200 billion over the next decade to modernize its military.


Pakistanis, Afghans among 119 migrants deported on US flight to Panama

Updated 14 February 2025
Follow

Pakistanis, Afghans among 119 migrants deported on US flight to Panama

  • Migrants from China, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan, among others, were aboard
  • Trump administration taking Panama up on offer to act as stopover for expelled migrants

PANAMA CITY: Panama has received the first US flight carrying deportees from other nations as the Trump administration takes Panama up on its offer to act as a stopover for expelled migrants, the Central American nation’s president said Thursday.

“Yesterday a flight from the United States Air Force arrived with 119 people from diverse nationalities of the world,” President José Raúl Mulino said Thursday in his weekly press briefing. He said there were migrants from China, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan, among others, aboard.

The president said it was the first of three planned flights that were expected to total about 360 people. “It’s not something massive,” he said.

The migrants were expected to be moved to a shelter in Panama’s Darien region before being returned to their countries, Mulino said.

Asked later Thursday why Panama was acting as a stopover for these deportations, Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Ruiz Hernández said that it was something the US government had requested. He also said the US government was paying for the repatriations through UN immigration agencies.

The migrants who arrived Wednesday, had been detained after crossing the US border and did not have criminal records, he said.
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Mulino in Panama. While US President Donald Trump’s demands to retake control of the Panama Canal dominated the visit, Mulino also discussed Panama’s efforts to slow migration through the Darien Gap and he offered Panama as a bridge to send US deportees back to their countries.

Rubio secured agreements on the trip with Guatemala and El Salvador as well, to accept migrants from other nations in what was seen as the laying groundwork for expanding US capacity to speedily deport migrants.

Migration through the Darien Gap connecting Panama and Colombia was down about 90 percent in January compared to the same month a year earlier.

Since Mulino entered office last year, Panama has made dozens of deportation flights, most funded by the US government.

Ruiz said Thursday that Panama “has been completely willing to participate and cooperate in this request they have made of us.”