Pakistan, US agree to bolster bilateral ties in diverse fields

Pakistan and the United States have agreed to bolster bilateral relations between the two countries in diverse fields.

The understanding was reached at a meeting between Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan and Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee Senator Jack Reed in Washington D.C.

Masood Khan said that both the countries enjoyed close defense cooperation in the past and would like to build on their existing security bonds.

The Ambassador emphasized that many of the defense platforms used by Pakistan were American which required sustained support.

Talking about the future plans, he said that the two countries would continue to partner with each other in political and economic spheres.

Masood Khan briefed the US Senator about the situation of regional security and Afghanistan, including the latest efforts to create conditions for stability and prosperity in the neighbourhood.

He apprised the Senator that engagement with the US opened new channels and both sides are working to reinforce long-standing broad-based ties spanning more than seven decades.

The US Senator expressed the confidence that the long-standing ties between Pakistan and the US would continue to grow as the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

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Security forces kill four terrorists in North Waziristan

Security forces observed and engaged terrorists' movement in general area of Datta Khel, North Waziristan District.

During exchange of fire, four terrorists got killed. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists.

The killed terrorists remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces.

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Zardari says he wishes to see Bilawal as prime minister in his lifetime

Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari has said that he sincerely wishes to see Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as prime minister in his lifetime.

He said that when Bilawal went abroad as foreign minister he received calls from his old friends who told him Bilawal would brighten the name of the country.

He was speaking to newly-elected candidates of local government and PPP workers at Zardari House in Nawabshah on Tuesday evening.

He said that when he was president, he transferred power to the prime minister and the provinces through constitutional amendments. “Now, Islamabad says you have weakened us but I say I have strengthened the provinces,” he added.

He said that he would encamp in Punjab to patronise the party and strengthen it. “This land is mine, I am yours, you are mine. We all have to work hard for the betterment of Pakistan,” he said.

Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said Kashmiri people are facing unprecedented oppression, tyranny and barbarism and they are in dire need of diplomatic help at the time.

Congratulating Muslims around the world on the occasion of Eidul Azha, he said that Muslims of India-held Kashmir should be especially remembered on the occasion of Eid. All Muslims must remember them in their prayers, he said.

He said that Kashmiris were in dire need of diplomatic help at this time. Muslims around the world should raise their voice in support of their oppressed brethern and sisters, he said.

He asked people to help the poor and the helpless in the joys of Eid, ‘as the day teaches to love and sacrifice’.

He said that PPP had always raised its voice against political and social injustices, and would continue to fight against poverty and the darkness of ignorance

He said: “We are fighting for a society where every citizen has economic and social justice and the state is a paradise for them”.

He said that they must all work together to discourage those elements who were trying to mislead the people under the guise of religion.

The former president offered Eid prayers at Zardari House where he met with local party leaders and notables.

Later, he arrived at his ancestral graveyard Baloo Ja Quba where he offered fateha and laid wreaths on the graves of his father Hakim Ali Zardari and other family members.

PPP local leaders Mir Nadir Magsi, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Ali Hassan Zardari, Ashiq Ali Zardari and others were also present on the occasion.

Mr Zardari also contacted Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and directed him to drain out rainwater from rain-hit parts of Sindh, specially from Karachi.

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Zardari says he wishes to see Bilawal as prime minister in his lifetime

Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari has said that he sincerely wishes to see Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as prime minister in his lifetime.

He said that when Bilawal went abroad as foreign minister he received calls from his old friends who told him Bilawal would brighten the name of the country.

He was speaking to newly-elected candidates of local government and PPP workers at Zardari House in Nawabshah on Tuesday evening.

He said that when he was president, he transferred power to the prime minister and the provinces through constitutional amendments. “Now, Islamabad says you have weakened us but I say I have strengthened the provinces,” he added.

He said that he would encamp in Punjab to patronise the party and strengthen it. “This land is mine, I am yours, you are mine. We all have to work hard for the betterment of Pakistan,” he said.

Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said Kashmiri people are facing unprecedented oppression, tyranny and barbarism and they are in dire need of diplomatic help at the time.

Congratulating Muslims around the world on the occasion of Eidul Azha, he said that Muslims of India-held Kashmir should be especially remembered on the occasion of Eid. All Muslims must remember them in their prayers, he said.

He said that Kashmiris were in dire need of diplomatic help at this time. Muslims around the world should raise their voice in support of their oppressed brethern and sisters, he said.

He asked people to help the poor and the helpless in the joys of Eid, ‘as the day teaches to love and sacrifice’.

He said that PPP had always raised its voice against political and social injustices, and would continue to fight against poverty and the darkness of ignorance

He said: “We are fighting for a society where every citizen has economic and social justice and the state is a paradise for them”.

He said that they must all work together to discourage those elements who were trying to mislead the people under the guise of religion.

The former president offered Eid prayers at Zardari House where he met with local party leaders and notables.

Later, he arrived at his ancestral graveyard Baloo Ja Quba where he offered fateha and laid wreaths on the graves of his father Hakim Ali Zardari and other family members.

PPP local leaders Mir Nadir Magsi, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Ali Hassan Zardari, Ashiq Ali Zardari and others were also present on the occasion.

Mr Zardari also contacted Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and directed him to drain out rainwater from rain-hit parts of Sindh, specially from Karachi.

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Sri Lanka prime minister declares state of emergency

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country on Wednesday, hours before he was due to step down after a people's uprising over a devastating economic crisis ended his family's powerful grip on the island nation.

As news of the president's flight spread, thousands of people gathered at the main protest site in Colombo chanting "Gota thief, Gota thief", referring to him by a nickname.

Hundreds of others stormed the prime minister's office, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as acting president has declared a state of emergency and imposed curfew in the western province, the prime minister's media secretary Dinouk Colombage told Reuters.

The president's flight brings an end to the rule of the powerful Rajapaksa clan that has dominated politics in the South Asian country for the last two decades.

Protests against the economic crisis have simmered for months and came to a head last weekend when hundreds of thousands of people took over key government buildings in Colombo, blaming the Rajapaksas and their allies for runaway inflation, corruption and a severe lack of fuel and medicines.

Government sources and aides said the president's brothers, former prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa, were still in Sri Lanka.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his wife and two bodyguards left the main international airport near Colombo aboard a Sri Lankan Air Force plane early on Wednesday, the air force said in a statement.

A government source and a person close to Rajapaksa said he was in Male, the capital of the Maldives. The president would most likely proceed to another Asian country from there, the government source said.

Rajapaksa was due to step down as president on Wednesday to make way for a unity government after protesters stormed his and the prime minister's official residences.

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the speaker of Sri Lanka's parliament, told Reuters partner ANI he was yet to receive any communication from Rajapaksa. A source in the ruling party said the president would send in a letter of resignation later on Wednesday.

That would make Wickremesinghe the acting president, although he has also offered to resign. If he does, the speaker will be the acting president until a new president is elected, as per the constitution.

Protest leaders, however, say the prime minister is allied to the Rajapaksas and have warned of a "decisive fight" if he does not resign by Wednesday afternoon.

"If we don't hear of the resignation of the president and the prime minister by the evening, we may have to gather back and take over parliament or another government building," said Buddhi Prabodha Karunaratne, one of the organisers of recent protests.

"We are strongly against the Gota-Ranil government. Both have to go."

Amid the economic and political chaos, Sri Lanka's sovereign bond prices hit fresh record lows on Wednesday.

The US Embassy in Colombo, which is in the central district of the city, said it was cancelling consular services for the afternoon and for Thursday as a precautionary measure.

 

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President Alvi calls for accelerating operation of barter mechanism with Iran

President Dr. Arif Alvi has called for accelerating operation of barter mechanism with Iran in order to expand and facilitate trade exchange.

During a meeting with Iran's Consul General Hasan Nourian in Karachi, the President stressed the necessity of taking constructive measures to expand bilateral economic cooperation at the joint border crossings.

Iran's Consul General in his remarks said that the increase in exchange at border points is also stressed by Iran.

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President Alvi calls for accelerating operation of barter mechanism with Iran

President Dr. Arif Alvi has called for accelerating operation of barter mechanism with Iran in order to expand and facilitate trade exchange.

During a meeting with Iran's Consul General Hasan Nourian in Karachi, the President stressed the necessity of taking constructive measures to expand bilateral economic cooperation at the joint border crossings.

Iran's Consul General in his remarks said that the increase in exchange at border points is also stressed by Iran.

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