Monday, July 19th, 2021
Russia to hold military drills near Afghanistan border next month
Russia says that it will stage military drills next month with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan near the border with Afghanistan. In a statement today (Monday), the Russian defence ministry said that the joint drills will take place from 5th to 10th of August at the Kharbmaidon training ground in Tajikistan near the Afghan border.
Israeli spyware used to target journalists, activists: Report
An investigative report has revealed that rights activists, journalists and lawyers around the world have been targeted with phone malware sold to authoritarian governments by an Israeli surveillance firm. According to the report published by The Guardian, the Washington Post and 15 other media outlets, authoritarian governments abused the Pegasus software for hacking smart phones. Meanwhile, In India, congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi after phone numbers of Indian ministers, leaders in the opposition, and journalists were also found in the hacking list.
Durable peace in Afghanistan to open avenues for regional economic connectivity: PM
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan says durable peace in Afghanistan would open avenues for regional economic connectivity. Talking to U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad in Islamabad today (Monday), he said the escalation of conflict and instability in Afghanistan is not in Pakistan’s interest and it would lead to serious challenges for Islamabad regarding security and influx of refugees. He highlighted Pakistan’s constructive efforts for facilitating peace efforts for achieving an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement to end over four decades long conflict in Afghanistan. HeRead More
Pakistan welcomes joint statement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations (IAN) in Doha
ISLAMABAD, JUL 19 /DNA/ – Pakistan welcomed the ongoing engagement between the two Afghan sides in Doha. The joint statement issued at the conclusion of the two-day talks in Doha, is a positive development. Pakistan believes that there is no military solution to the Afghan conflict and that a negotiated political settlement through Afghan-owned and Afghan-led Process is the only way forward. Pakistan hopes that the Afghan sides would continue their engagement in future in a meaningful manner. This will help in reduction of violence, weaken the hands of spoilersRead More
People boarding local flights will be served meals now, CAA confirms
KARACHI, JUL 19 (DNA) – The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has Monday allowed the flights operating domestically to serve packed meals to their passengers in a new development amid Covid times. The aviation regulator has released its new directives today noting updated Covid SOPs wherein it has been allowed for flights to serve food to the passengers which had been barred since November last year during high Covid incidence. In the notification today, wherein adherence to SOPs has been stressed, the aviation authority has noted that new SOPs will beRead More
Ambassador Khalilzad’s statement on Pakistan visit
Islamabad, July 19 /DNA/ – U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad visited Islamabad on July 19. In meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Ambassador Khalilzad emphasized the urgency of a comprehensive political settlement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban, one that leads to a sustainable peace and preserves Afghanistan’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Continued war in Afghanistan poses a risk to the entire region and holds back its development. Peace, by contrast, will enableRead More