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Founder of Pakistan  Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah  141st Birthday Celebrated With Zeal And Fervour

25 Dec. 2017: The day dawned with recitation of Holy Quran and later a change of guard ceremony was held at Quaid’s mausoleum. A smartly turned out contingent of cadets from the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul mounted ceremonial guard at Mazar of Quaid-e-Azam here as part of celebrations to mark the Father of Nation’s birthday. Major General Abdullah Dogar, commandant of the Pakistan Military Academy, reviewed the parade, laid wreaths, presented a salute and offered fateha at the mausoleum.

The governor and chief minister of Sindh also visited the Mazar-e-Quaid, and laid floral wreaths and offered fateha. They were accompanied by representatives from all three Armed Forces of Pakistan and Deputy DG Rangers. Moreover, special programmes were arranged at the head offices of various organisations and political parties to mark the 141th birthday of the Quaid-e-Azam.

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US Defence Secretary James Mattis Arrived Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (December 04, 2017) : US Defence Secretary James Mattis held talks with the Pakistani civil and military leadership on Monday and the outcome of the meetings suggests that the way is being paved for the two sides to find a “common ground” for cooperation in the war in Afghanistan.

A US embassy statement issued after Mattis’ meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and separate talks with Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters (GHQ), the defence secretary reiterated that Pakistan must “redouble its efforts to confront militants and terrorists operating within the country”.

The ISPR statement was reflected Mattis’ concern, but the choice of words was different. It said Mattis highlighted concerns that a few elements continued to use Pakistan’s territory to further their terrorist agenda in Afghanistan. The military’s media wing said Mattis made it clear that the aim of his visit was not to make any demands but find common grounds to work together.

The ISPR said the meeting focused on regional security with particular emphasis on Afghanistan as well as other matters of mutual interest. While insisting that Pakistan had eliminated safe havens from its soil, the army chief told Mattis: “We are prepared to look into the possibility of miscreants exploiting Pakistan’s hospitality to Afghan refugees to the detriment of our Afghan brothers.”

The army chief acknowledged the history of US engagements with Pakistan, especially the on-going efforts for peace in the region. He said Pakistan had done much more than its due share despite the capacity constraints and would remain committed to peace as a responsible member of international community. Bajwa reiterated Pakistan’s support for peace and stability in the region and highlighted Pakistan’s concerns over Indian use of Afghan soil, the need for Afghan refugees’ respectable and early repatriation and the existence of terrorist safe havens across the border in Afghanistan.

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United States  Vice President Mike Pence surprise visit to Kabul

By: AFP |  Dec 21, 2017 :  US Vice President Mike Pence on a surprise visit during which he met with Afghan leaders in Kabul addressing to 15,000 US personnel at Bagram Airfield, Pence warned Pakistan against offering safe havens to terrorists. He reiterated word for word President Donald Trump’s warning that Pakistan must stop offering cross-border safe havens to Taliban factions and armed militant groups fighting US troops and their Afghan allies.  “Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with the United States, and Pakistan has much to lose by continuing to harbour criminals and terrorists,” Pence said.

 His visit from Bagram to central Kabul, where he met President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah ─ both of whom the United States is counting on to help rebuild this war-shattered country ─ was in doubt until the last moment, when a White House official said he countermanded a decision that the weather was not clear enough to travel. Even then, Pence’s helicopter flight took place in near total darkness, moving low and fast and with a heavy phalanx of secret service and Special Forces.

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Terrorist safe havens exist in ungoverned areas of Afghanistan, not Pakistan

23 Dec, 2017: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi on Saturday 23 Dec, 2017 emphasised that peace in Afghanistan cannot be restored by the continuing resort to military force. She said neither Kabul and the NATO coalition, nor the Afghan Taliban, could impose a military solution on each other.

“The promotion of a political settlement and the pursuit of a military solution are mutually incompatible. You cannot kill and talk at the same time,” the Pakistani envoy told the UN Security Council during an open debate on the situation in Afghanistan.

“Another resort to the military option will not produce a result different from the past. It will not break the impasse much less yield a political solution,” Lodhi said, urging the Taliban to give up violence and stressing that the other side, too, must display a genuine desire for dialogue.

She said the violence and terrorism afflicting Afghanistan are the consequences of foreign military interventions, occupation and an imposed war. Sustainable peace in Afghanistan is only achievable through a negotiated end to the war, a course long advocated by Pakistan. The envoy said 16 years of war, waged by the world’s most powerful forces against an “insurgency of irregulars”, had not yielded a military solution.

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US not to threaten or blame Pakistan –  (FO)

Allies do not put each other on notice, Pakistan tells Pence

Commenting on the US Vice President Mike Pence’s statement that Trump administration has put Islamabad on notice to act against alleged terrorist safe havens, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif has said “Frustrations on diplomatic front in UN & war in Afghanistan are reflected in statements of US administration.”

“Don’t blame or threat us, learn from our experiences in war against terror if that is our common objective.”

The Foreign Office (FO) responded to comments of US Vice President Pence by stating that allies do not put each other on notice. FO spokesperson told that the statement is at variance with the extensive conversations we have had with the US administration. Pakistan’s leadership had conveyed a clear-cut message during the visit of US defence secretary James Mattis during his visit to the country earlier this month that if the Trump administration did not change its policy of demanding ‘do-more’ and blame game, Pakistan will also change its policy of relations and cooperation with the US.

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Pakistan ‘needs US trust not funds’ ;

We cannot go and fight for US inside Afghanistan: ISPR

Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor has said that Pakistan does not need help from the US, except in the form of trust, stressing that the Afghan war has been imposed on Pakistan, and no country has done as much as Pakistan has done for the war-torn country.

In a befitting response to US VP Mike Pence’s threatening remarks against Pakistan, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor responded that Pakistan was looking forward to a trust-based relationship with Trump administration, instead of money.  The US could not have achieved the success in war against terrorism and al-Qaeda without the cooperation of Pakistani forces.

Pakistan had dismantled the terrorist networks from the motherland and now it was the responsibility of the allied and Afghan forces to eliminate the TTP and other militant organisations from Afghanistan.

 Gen Asif Ghafoor suggested that Afghanistan should share intelligence with Pakistan and “we are ready to cooperate and coordinate” with the neighbour to eradicate terrorism. He made it clear that Pakistan will not allow any country to fight Afghan war from its soil. The ISPR DG said the US cooperates with many countries in the field of defence including Pakistan.

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US won’t pay Pakistan military reimbursements this year: Pentagon

By Reuters : July 21, 2017| WASHINGTON: The Pentagon will not make the remaining military reimbursements to Pakistan for fiscal year 2016 after US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis Rtold Congress that Islamabad had not taken sufficient action against the Haqqani Network, a US official said.

 “The funds could not be released to the Government of Pakistan at this time because the secretary could not certify that Pakistan has taken sufficient action against the Haqqani Network per the requirement in the FY 2016 National Defence Authorization Act,” Adam Stump, a Pentagon spokesman, said. The decision comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is exploring potentially hardening its approach towards Pakistan to crack down on militants launching strikes in neighbouring Afghanistan.

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Pakistan views Palestine issue at par with Kashmir issue

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa  reassured the Ambassador of the State of Palestine His Excellency Walid A.M. Abu Ali that Pakistan views the unresolved Palestine issue at par with the Kashmir issue. The ambassador called on General Bajwa at the General Head Quarters,  the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. General Bajwa said that both, the Palestine and Kashmir issues, have unequivocal public, moral, and political support of the Pakistani nation and the country will continue to support the principled stance on both regardless of the so-called reality of occupation. Abu Ali thanked the COAS for Pakistan’s support to the Palestinian cause.

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Indian convicted spy Kulbhushan Jadhav’s held a meets his Mother & Wife in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: On Monday 25 Dec. 2017 As Indian convicted spy held a 40-minute meeting with his wife and mother in Islamabad, Pakistan. Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad JP Singh and other embassy officials were also present during Jadhav’s meeting with wife Chetankul and mother Avanti Jadhav, which was conducted in a specially prepared room via an intercom through a glass partition.

After the meeting, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr. Mohammad Faisal in a press conference said the Indian diplomat was not allowed to speak or listen to the conversation between the convicted spy and his family, and could only observe the meeting. “We upheld our promise and all of our commitments.

 The meeting was promised for 30 minutes and was extended to 40 minutes after Jhadav requested 10 more minutes, hence we increased it,” the spokesman said. “They talked openly

 “I will state this categorically: this meeting was not consular access given to Commander Jadhav. Let me be very clear that Pakistan permitted the Indian request totally on humanitarian grounds in line with the Islamic principles and teachings.

 Islam is a religion of peace … and it was a gesture of good faith and compassion,” the spokesman clarified, as he reiterated that Jadhav was a terrorist, spy and a saboteur who was caught ‘red-handed’ and had been involved in terror attacks in Balochistan and Karachi.

Jadhav’s wife and mother also reportedly brought a gift for him which will be handed over to him after necessary security checks.

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Roadside bomb targeting military vehicle kills 6 in North Waziristan

05 Dec | PESHAWAR:  The military vehicle was carrying three potential recruits in the town of Mir Ali, a main  town of NWA, when it was targeted, administration officials said. The improvised explosive device (IED) was fitted to a motorcycle which was parked at a roadside. It was remotely detonated when the military vehicle drove past.

Second Lieutenant among two soldiers martyred

 in North Waziristan Agency  attack

12 Dec | Two soldiers, including an officer, were martyred when militants attacked a vehicle of security forces in then Dattakhel area in North Waziristan Agency.

 The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) through a statement said that Second Lieutenant Abdul Moeed and Sepoy Basharat were martyred after terrorists fired on their vehicle from the surrounding mountains.

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Three FC troops martyred in landmine blast near Pak-Afghan border

24 Dec: Three Frontier Corps personnel were martyred in a landmine explosion near Pakistan Afghanistan border. The FC personnel were busy constructing a new border post when the attack took place in the Shunkrai area of Mohmand agency.

At least five terrorists were killed by retaliatory fire from Pakistani forces and another 11 were injured, added ISPR. The Army’s media wing further said that Pakistan is paying the cost for lack of capacity in the Afghan armed forces and ungoverned spaces on the Afghan side of the border.

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3 Pakistani soldiers martyred in ‘unprovoked’ cross-LoC firing by Indian army: ISPR

December 25, 2017: – The development came hours after Pakistan allowed convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav’s mother and wife to meet the spy in Islamabad, in what the Foreign Ministry said was a “humanitarian gesture”.

The shelling occurred at Rukh Chakri sector in Rawlakot and received a strong response from Pakistani forces on Monday Evening. India has breached the ceasefire agreement on more than 1,300 occasions since the start of this year and at least 52 civilians have lost their lives, while 175 have been injured.

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Nine killed, over 50 wounded in suicide attack on Quetta church

QUETTA (Sun 17 Nov ) According to officials, the two suicide bombers were between the ages of 16 and 20. The suicide jacket which was defused contained 15 kilogrammes of explosive material. Police guards stationed at the church entrance and on its roof killed one of the bombers, but the second attacker detonated his suicide vest outside its prayer hall just after Sunday services began. “The terrorists had weapons and it seems they wanted to take hostages inside the church. The police and FC guards present stopped this from happening”.

According to provincial police chief Moazzam Jah, there were nearly 400 worshippers  majority of them women and children  in the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church located on Quetta’s Zarghoon Road for the pre-Christmas service.

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Pak Navy fully prepared to safeguard maritime frontiers: PM Abbasi

 (Dec 23, 2017) Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says Pakistan Navy is fully prepared and committed to make the defence of our maritime borders impregnable.  He was addressing 108th Midshipmen and 17th Short Service Commission Course passing out parade at Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi. He said Pakistan believes in peaceful co-existence but our desire for peace must not be construed as our weakness.

Earlier on his arrival at Academy, Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi received the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was presented guard of honour at the start of the parade. Total of one hundred and twenty-nine cadets were passed out including cadets from friendly countries of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Maldives, Bahrain and Qatar.

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PAF inaugurates new operational air base at Bholari near Karachi

KARACHI (25 Dec. 2017) The establishment of PAF’s new operational airbase would play a key role in safeguarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, said Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman.

“Indeed, PAF Base Bholari is a project of strategic significance for capacity enhancement of Pakistan Air Force in operational domain both overland as well as at sea. With the establishment of the Base, PAF would be able to support the land operations of Pak Army more efficiently.

 More so, PAF Base Bholari would also augment and supplement the very important maritime operations carried out by Pak Navy,” Aman said while addressing the inauguration ceremony.

The air base  located northeast of Karachi  is a significant milestone that will not only strengthen the defence of Karachi and coastline but also provide aerial support to the Pakistan Army and Navy for their land and operations respectively

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Ex-CJCSC Gen (retd) Khalid Shameem Wynne dies in road accident

ISLAMABAD: 30 Dec, 2017: General (retd) Khalid Shameem Wynne, the 14th chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC), died along with a friend on Saturday 30 Dec, afternoon in a road crash near the federal capital.

The accident occurred near Chakri Interchange on the Islamabad-Lahore motorway when Wynne’s Land Cruiser toppled over after one of its tyres burst. The Motorway Police claimed that the driver had been speeding and appeared to have lost control of the vehicle. One of the general’s close friends, Muhammad Zubair, who was accompanying him in this journey to Lahore also died, but his son, Umer, and driver, Basheer, received minor injuries.

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22 die as boat carrying 50 people capsizes in Thatta-Sindh

December 8, 2017| Tragedy struck when a boat carrying pilgrims capsized in the sea near the coast of Bohara town, claiming the lives of as many 22 people while over 60 others were reported missing till late night. The passengers were on their way to attend an Urs at Dargah Mir Shah, located in Bohara. Women and children were also among the devotees. The boat reportedly overloaded with large number of devotees gave in due to gusty winds.

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17 commanders among 313 Ferraris surrender in Quetta

QUETTA: 9 Dec, 2017: As many as 313 Ferraris, including 17 commanders of banned outfits, laid down arms before the government and security force.

The Ferraris belonging to various banned groups surrendered before Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri and Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa during a ceremony held at the Balochistan Assembly. Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Khan Bugti and other high-level officials were also present on the occasion.

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Imran Khan cleared, Jahangir Tareen disqualified by Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: Friday Dec 15, 2017: The Supreme Court disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Jahangir Tareen but ruled in favour of PTI Chairperson Imran Khan in its judgment on the disqualification case against the two party leaders.  The three-member bench had reserved the verdict in the disqualification petition against the two PTI leaders on November 14.

The judgment states that Imran wasn’t bound to declare his offshore company, declared his London flat in an amnesty scheme and that his former wife Jemima gave Imran the funds for buying the Bani Gala estate. However, the apex court disqualified Jahangir Tareen under Article 62(1)(f) because of his blatant misstatement regarding the ownership of the Hyde House property and failure to declare it in his nomination papers.

The case : The case was heard by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar, who headed the three-member bench, which included Justices Umar Ata Bandial and Faisal Arab.  On Oct 18, the chief justice had remarked that the verdict of both the cases will be given together.

The petition, filed by PML-N’s Abbasi, sought Tareen and Imran’s disqualification over non-disclosure of their assets and ownership of offshore companies. Abbasi had filed the petition in November last year. It accused the PTI leaders of not declaring their assets to the Election Commission of Pakistan and violations of the lncome Tax Ordinance, 1979, and Peoples Act, 1974. It also claimed that the PTI is a ‘foreign-funded’ party.

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China wants Afghan govt. to hold talks with Taliban

By: Javed Hamim Kakar : KABUL Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for the Afghan government to hold peace negotiations with the Taliban. Wang issued the call at the first-ever trilateral meeting On Dec 26, 2017 among Chinese, Afghan and Pakistan foreign ministers in Beijing. While reiterating support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconstruction process, the Chinese minister urged the government to hold peace talks with the Taliban. He also highlighted potential areas for practical cooperation with both Afghanistan and Pakistan, hoping the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative would bring more opportunities for both countries.

Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani praised China’s efforts to promote cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and help improve security in the region. He said that while the terror threat remained, his country had pledged a zero-tolerance approach Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said securing a stable and prosperous future for Pakistan and Afghanistan was vital. He added the two countries shared a border and enjoyed the same culture. Pakistan was the largest trade partner of Afghanistan, he added. Asif hoped with the trilateral mechanism in place, a synergised effort would be made to stabilise bilateral relations, sort out differences and achieve tangible outcomes.    ‘Pajhwok Afghan News agency’.

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