US in contact with Pakistan over Afghanistan issue, says State Dept

US State Department Thursday said that Washington was in regular touch with Pakistan over Afghanistan’s issue.

Addressing a media briefing, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, “We have been in regular touch with Pakistani counterparts as well as Pakistani leadership. We’ve discussed Afghanistan in some detail.”

Responding to a question about US State Secretary Antony Blinken’s statement in which he had said that the US will assess its ties with Pakistan, the spokesperson said, “Pakistan was represented at the ministerial that Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Maas convened last week at Ramstein Airbase in Germany. Pakistan contributed to that forum, echoed much of what we heard from other participants.”

“And as I said before, there was a good deal of consensus that the gains of the past 20 years, especially on the part of Afghanistan’s women and girls and minorities, is – preserving those is in everyone’s interests.,” he added.

He said that easing the humanitarian plight of the people of Afghanistan is in everyone’s interest, adding that includes Pakistan as well as countries that may be farther afield.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan has frequently advocated for an inclusive government with broad support in Afghanistan.

He said, ”What the Secretary was referring to yesterday is that we are going to continue to look to Pakistan and to other countries in the region to make good on their public statements, to in different ways step up to support the people of Afghanistan and to work constructively not only with us but the international community to see to it that the priorities that we share – and that includes the humanitarian concerns, it concerns the rights and the gains of the Afghan people over the past 20 years, as well as the counterterrorism concerns that we all have-to ensure that we are all walking in the same direction.”

Earlier on September 14, US Secretary of State Blinken had said that Washington will reassess its relationship with Pakistan in the coming days.

According to Reuters, the US had made it clear to Pakistan that it did not want Islamabad to recognise the Taliban government until it doesn't give women their due rights and allows Afghans who want to leave the country, to do so.

In the first public hearing in Congress about Afghanistan since last month's collapse of the US-backed Afghan government, US Secretary of State Blinken had told the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee that Pakistan has a "multiplicity of interests, some that are in conflict with ours."

"It is one that involved hedging its bets constantly about the future of Afghanistan, it's one that's involved harboring members of the Taliban ... It is one that's also involved in different points cooperation with us on counterterrorism," Blinken had said.

Asked by lawmakers if it is time for Washington to reassess its relationship with Pakistan, Blinken had said the administration would soon be doing that.

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Ashraf Ghani’s abrupt exit scuttled deal on power-sharing, Zalmay Khalilzad

Former president Ashraf Ghani’s abrupt exit last month scuttled a deal under which the Taliban would hold off entering Kabul and negotiate a political transition, the US negotiator on Afghanistan said on Wednesday.

In his first interview since the collapse of the 20-year Western-backed government, Zalmay Khalilzad, who brokered a deal with the Taliban last year to withdraw US troops, told the Financial Times that the insurgents had agreed to stay outside the capital for two weeks and shape a future government.

“Even at the end, we had an agreement with the Talibs for (them) not to enter Kabul,” he told the newspaper in the interview.

But Ghani fled on Aug 15 and the Taliban, in a previously arranged meeting that day with Gen Frank McKenzie, chief of Central Command, asked if US troops would ensure security for Kabul as government authority crumbled.

“And then you know what happened, we weren’t going to take responsibility,” Khalilzad said.

President Joe Biden had insisted that US troops would only work to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies and not extend America’s longest war. Asked about Khalilzad’s remarks, State Department spokesman Ned Price said it was not an option to stay “a moment longer” in Kabul.

“There was never a realistic, there was never a viable, there was never a practical option for the United States to stay,” Price told reporters.

“We were left with a very clear and stark impression that if the United States sought to prolong our presence on the ground, our service members... would again be targets of Taliban violence, not to mention terrorist attacks by groups like IS (the militant Islamic State group).”

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Babar Azam says has 'no idea' about any threats to captaincy

Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Thursday denied any knowledge of any potential change in the team's leadership amid rumours that new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board — Ramiz Raja — was monitoring the situation and could wield his proverbial axe if his expectations were not met.

Raja, in his first press conference after taking over the board, had shied away from endorsing Azam as the all-format captain, saying that it was "too early" to give his assessment but also adding: "My expectations for Babar are the same as I had with Imran Khan."

Addressing a press conference today, Azam was asked whether the new PCB chief had hinted of any changes, to which he replied: “I have no idea about it so far.”

Regarding reports of his alleged differences with the team management over squad selection for next month's World T20, Azam explained that the chairman and the chief selector had clarified those reports, before adding: “I had an input that I gave. This is not anyone’s team, this is Pakistan’s team. I am backing it and others should also do so.”

Talking about the New Zealand ODI series commencing Friday, Azam refused to take the Black Caps lightly despite them missing a host of regulars.

“You cannot take any team easy," he said. "[Of course], if they (New Zealand) had their main players, we would have enjoyed more.".

Azam said the conditions in the upcoming series will be similar to the ones likely to encounter during the World Cup in the Middle East.

He said work was being done to improve the team's middle order. “We will try to go with our best combination,” he added.

To a question about the chances of the team picking three spinners in the first ODI against New Zealand, Azam said the decision in this regard would be taken on the match day after pitch assessment.

“Our World T20 matches are in the UAE, and we are forming a team keeping in view that aspect as well. The more we utilise our spinners, it will be good for us,” the skipper said.

Responding to a question about newcomer Abdullah Shafiq, Azam said the player had made significant improvement, adding he could replace any underperforming opener in time to come.

He admitted the team was struggling in the field, saying the players were working on it and assured there would be some improvements in the upcoming series.

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Pakistan will provide every possible help to foreign investors, says PM Imran Khan in Dushanbe

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that Pakistan was providing facilities and ease of doing business opportunities to foreign investors.

The prime minister is in Dushanbe to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. Addressing an event where businessmen from Pakistan and Tajikistan were in attendance, the premier said he wanted to speak to a joint gathering of businessmen from both countries.

"I believe we have representatives of 67 Pakistani companies here in Dushanbe. They come from different fields, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, and logistics," he added.

The prime minister lamented that the cost of electricity was too high in Pakistan. "We want the KASA 1,000 energy project to be completed soon," he said. "There are lots of opportunities related to the clean energy projects in Tajikistan."

He extended an invitation to Tajikistan's businessmen to invest in Pakistan, adding that the Pakistani government was creating opportunities and removing hurdles for its own business community as well.

"We will provide every help possible to investors in Pakistan," said the prime minister.

PM Imran Khan briefly spoke on the Afghanistan issue, saying that peace in the country was vital for the region's progress.

Afghanistan in focus as PM Imran Khan arrives in Dushanbe

The prime minister arrived in Tajikistan Thursday on a two-day official visit to attend the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) meeting in Dushanbe.

Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda received PM Imran Khan at the airport.

Accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation, the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.

The SCO summit is the first meeting of the heads of states since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul and all eyes will be on the Afghan representative at the meeting. Afghanistan has an observer status and has been striving for full membership of the organisation.

After attending the SCO-CHS, the prime minister will have the bilateral segment of the visit.

His talks with the Tajik president will cover the entire gamut of bilateral relations, especially enhancing trade, economic and investment ties with a particular focus on regional connectivity.

The two countries have earlier expressed a strong commitment to enter into a formal strategic partnership.

"Pakistan and Tajikistan enjoy close brotherly relations underpinned by the bonds of common faith, history and culture. The two countries have shared perceptions and a common desire to promote economic development, peace, security and stability in the region", the Foreign Office had said earlier.

"The prime minister has been invited by President Emomali Rahmon and this will be his third visit to Central Asia underlying Pakistan’s enhanced engagement with the region,” said the Foreign Office while announcing the visit.

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Educational Institutions across country reopen

All public and private educational institutions in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) reopened today (Thursday), According to a notification issued by the education department, only 50% of students are allowed in schools. All the concerned authorities have been asked to ensure strict adherence to coronavirus-related restrictions and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as well as 100% vaccination of all the teaching and non-teaching staff, and students.

On the other hand, educational institutions in eight districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have also reopened under strict health-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The teaching process will continue in Mardan, Peshawar, DI Khan, Malakand, Haripur, Swabi, Abbottabad and Mansehra with 50pc attendance after declining in COVID-19 cases.
It may be noted that the educational institutions in Punjab and KP were from Sep 6 to 11 but due to continuous rise in cases the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) extended the closure of institutions till Sept 15.

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Corona claims 66 more lives in pakistan within a day

With the 66 more COVID-19 deaths in Pakistan during the past 24 hours, the country has passed the grim milestone of 27,000 by the pandemic,on Thursday, quoting the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC).

The daily tests conducted during the period to determine COVID-19 infections were 56,778 out of which 3,012 turned up positive.
Overall 1,112,236 people have recovered their health back from the pandemic, including 3,897 in the past 24 hours.

5,039 people are still in critical condition. The COVID-19 positivity rate remained 5.30 per cent during the last 24 hours.
Sindh remains the worst-hit province with 447,678 COVID-19 cases, followed by Punjab with 418, 196 infections.
slamabad has registered 103,549 cases so far, while 169,972 cases have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Balochistan has registered 32,671 cases. Azad Jammu and Kashmir 33,551 cases and GB has reported 10,204 infections so far.

Yesterday, Pakistan begun free of cost administration of Russia’s Sputnik vaccine at a Lahore COVID vaccination centre as previously private health institutes were charging fees for its jabs.

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Educational Institutions across country reopen

All public and private educational institutions in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) reopened today (Thursday), According to a notification issued by the education department, only 50% of students are allowed in schools. All the concerned authorities have been asked to ensure strict adherence to coronavirus-related restrictions and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as well as 100% vaccination of all the teaching and non-teaching staff, and students.

On the other hand, educational institutions in eight districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have also reopened under strict health-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The teaching process will continue in Mardan, Peshawar, DI Khan, Malakand, Haripur, Swabi, Abbottabad and Mansehra with 50pc attendance after declining in COVID-19 cases.
It may be noted that the educational institutions in Punjab and KP were from Sep 6 to 11 but due to continuous rise in cases the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) extended the closure of institutions till Sept 15.

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