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ISLAMABAD: Former defence minister and PML-N leader Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday lashed out at Indian army chief Bipin Rawat’s statement in which he said Pakistan should turn secular if it wants good ties with India. In a tweet, the PML-N stalwart said: “Behind the facade of secularism Hindutva rules..state sponsored terrorism reigns from Kashmir to Manipur & Nagaland..where minorities r burnt alive..caste system brutally practised..life of cow is sacred & humans are lynched..” Behind the facade of…

WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday warned Russia that "outlaw actions" like the seizure of Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov are preventing normal relations from developing between Washington and Moscow. US Ambassador Nikki Haley told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that "the United States would welcome a normal relationship with Russia. But outlaw actions like this one continue to make that impossible." Tensions have flared after the Russian navy on Sunday boarded and seized three Ukrainian ships…

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Friday formally endorsed the proposal to develop the Kartarpur corridor to facilitate the Sikh community of India.  Briefing media following a meeting of the cabinet in Islamabad, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said Prime Minister Imran Khan will perform groundbreaking of the Kartarpur border corridor on Wednesday. He said Kartarpur is a sacred place for the Sikh community living across the globe. The minister said it was a longstanding desire of the Sikh…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to continue efforts to promote the shared objectives of peace and stability in the region and diversify bilateral relations. The understanding came during the delegation level talks between the two countries in Islamabad on Tuesday. Additional Secretary (Americas) Aftab Khokher led the Pakistan side while the US delegation was headed by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells. The Pakistani side emphasized the need to diversify the relationship with…

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday dismissed reports of an Israeli jet landing in Pakistan, saying the government is not establishing any sort of relations with Israel.  Speaking to media at Islamabad airport before his departure for Turkey, the president said the report about the alleged arrival of the plan is baseless and unfounded. He denied in categorical terms that the PTI government is considering establishing ties with Israel. The president said Turkey is an important friend of Pakistan and had…

Japan and China signed $2.6 billion in business deals and touted their warmer ties on Friday during a rare visit to Beijing by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as both face trade challenges from US President Donald Trump. Abe met Chinese President Xi Jinping after a full day of activities that included talks with Premier Li Keqiang and an honour guard with Japan's flag raised outside the Great Hall of the People across from Tiananmen Square. Relations between Asia's two biggest economies have improved in recent years…

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said relations between Pakistan and the United States should not be seen in context of Afghanistan. "Any kind of development in Afghanistan is not possible without Pakistan," he said while addressing a news conference in Washington. This should be noted that few days ago a high-level delegation of the Afghan government called on the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Chief Maulana Sami ul Haq at Akora Khattak seeking assistance in paving way and arranging peace talks with the…

BEIJING: Any plots to sow discord in China’s ties with Pakistan will not prevail, the Chinese government’s top diplomat has said as Beijing fends off criticism of its economic projects in Pakistan and a clampdown in China’s western Xinjiang region. China has pledged $57 billion to build power stations, major highways, new railways and high capacity ports along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a key part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road plan to further tie China to Eurasia. The sustainability of…

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday chaired a high-level meeting with top civil-military brass in presence and reviewed security situation of the country. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt General Naveed Mukhtar, secretary foreign ministry and other high officials were also present. Sources privy to the meeting said PM Imran stated that Pakistan wished for peace, stability and…

RAWALPINDI: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters here on Friday. A statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the focus of the discussion between the visiting Turkish minister and the COAS remained on Pak-Turkey relations, regional security including emerging situation in the Middle East, management of defence and security cooperation between both the countries. Turkish FM acknowledged and appreciated…