WASHNIGTON: White House official John Kirby has clarified on Wednesday that Pakistan was never a technical or tactical ally of the United States, emphasing that no treaty of alliance existed between the two countries. During a press briefing in Washington, Kirby responded to a question about the Biden administration’s actions regarding Pakistan’s appeal over rising cross-border terrorism. He noted, “Well, …
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi hosted a farewell meeting with outgoing US Ambassador Donald Blome on Thursday. Donald Armin Blome took over the charge of the US mission in Pakistan in 2022 at a time of unique challenges and opportunities. He was the first full-time American envoy in Islamabad after a gap of almost four years, assuming charge of his …
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday asserted that the recent sanctions placed by the United States on four Pakistani firms for their alleged involvement in the country’s ballistic missile programme had “no justification”. The statement came after the US imposed sanctions on the Islamabad-based National Development Complex and three Karachi-based entities last week, saying that the White House will …
WASHINGTON: After the European Union and the United Kingdom, the United States has also raised concerns over the recent sentencing of 25 civilians by military courts for their involvement in the nationwide May 9 riots last year. The series of concerns come after a military court last week sentenced 25 PTI activists to imprisonment ranging from two to 10 years …
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has made substantial progress in countering terrorist financing and addressing regional extremist networks, a US State Department report states while also highlighting significant security challenges including a sharp rise in terrorist attacks in 2023. The report released this week commends Pakistan for completing its updated National Risk Assessment (NRA) on money laundering and terrorist financing in 2023. This …
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has asked the United States to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and supporting its ongoing democratic reforms rather than adopting ‘unconstructive’ resolutions. Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, with Senator Irfanul Haq Siddiqui in the chair, on Tuesday. The officials were referring to foreign …
WASHINGTON: Since Donald Trump’s election to the White House, US media have highlighted the global issues the new president may prioritize during his early days in office and Pakistan has been notably absent from this discussion, while both opposition and government leaders in Pakistan are embroiled in a heated debate over whether Trump will pressure Islamabad to release Imran Khan …
ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has dismissed claims of US pressure for the release of the founding chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, stating it was a “baseless assumption.” He added that if the US wished, it could exchange Imran for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. In an interview, Rana Sanaullah suggested that if …
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday emphasised that ‘non-interference’ should be the cornerstone of Pakistan-United States ties, expressing the hope for a strengthened relationship under the Trump administration. Speaking at the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch commented on Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election. She conveyed that Pakistan anticipated its longstanding ties with the …
LAHORE: Former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday congratulated US president-elect Donald Trump for winning the US presidential election, as conflicting narratives prevailed in the PTI regarding the impact of Mr Trump’s victory on the fate of the incarcerated party founder. A statement posted on Imran Khan’s X account said: “Congratulations on behalf of myself and PTI to Mr Trump …