蹤獲弝け

蹤獲弝け, other nations welcome news of India-Pakistan ceasefire

蹤獲弝け, other nations welcome news of India-Pakistan ceasefire
A partially damaged wall of the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project is pictured following Indian strikes in Nausari, about 40kms from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, on May 8, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 10 May 2025

蹤獲弝け, other nations welcome news of India-Pakistan ceasefire

蹤獲弝け, other nations welcome news of India-Pakistan ceasefire
  • Pakistan appreciates 蹤獲弝けs positive role in promoting regional peace and stability
  • Western powers say dialogue is key, hoping both sides to respect the ceasefire agreement

ISLAMABAD: 蹤獲弝け, China, the United Arab Emirates, and several other countries on Saturday welcomed the ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India, following a week of military escalation that raised fears of a full-blown war between the two South Asian neighbors.

The ceasefire, brokered with US support after missile and drone exchanges between the nuclear-armed neighbors, has drawn a wave of diplomatic endorsements after many countries called for restraint and renewed dialogue.

Pakistan has credited the international community for playing a constructive role in defusing tensions, while also emphasizing its own measured response to what it described as Indian aggression.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, received a call from the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel Aljubeir @AdelAljubeir, who welcomed the ceasefire understanding between

Pakistan and India, Pakistans foreign office said in a post on social media platform X.

DPM appreciated 蹤獲弝けs positive and constructive role in promoting peace & security in South Asia, it added.

Dar also spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, briefing him on the regional situation following Indian attacks and Islamabads carefully calibrated response.

According to Pakistans foreign office, Wang acknowledged Pakistans restraint and described its actions as responsible under challenging circumstances.

China reaffirmed its support for Pakistans sovereignty and territorial integrity and pledged continued coordination.

The UAE also expressed support for the ceasefire.

In a separate call, UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed welcomed the development, and Dar commended the Gulf states diplomatic engagement in fostering regional peace.

Germanys foreign office described the ceasefire as a first, important step out of the escalation spiral and stressed the importance of dialogue.

Dialogue is key, it said. The German government has been in contact with both sides in the past days.

Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, said she had spoken with both Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers and called the truce a vital step toward de-escalation.

All efforts must be made to ensure it is respected, she wrote on X, reaffirming the EUs commitment to peace, stability and counter-terrorism in the region.

The flare-up between Pakistan and India, one of the most serious in recent years, followed a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month and escalated into missile strikes, drone attacks and cross-border fire over the past week.

The ceasefire, announced Saturday, has temporarily halted hostilities, with both sides trading blame for the conflict.


Pakistans first post-Hajj flight to arrive in Karachi on June 11

Pakistans first post-Hajj flight to arrive in Karachi on June 11
Updated 7 sec ago

Pakistans first post-Hajj flight to arrive in Karachi on June 11

Pakistans first post-Hajj flight to arrive in Karachi on June 11
  • Air Blue flight PA-1766 scheduled to arrive in Karachi with 148 pilgrims on board, says religion ministry
  • Pakistan concluded pre-Hajj flight operations last month, with over 115,000 pilgrims arriving in 蹤獲弝け

KARACHI: Pakistans first post-Hajj flight carrying pilgrims back to the country is scheduled to arrive in the southern port city of Karachi on June 11, a letter issued by the religion ministry said this week.

Pakistan concluded its 33-day pre-Hajj flight operation last month, with more than 115,000 pilgrims transported to 蹤獲弝け for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.

Every year Pakistan arranges special Hajj flights to facilitate thousands of Pakistani Muslims traveling to the Kingdom for the pilgrimage and back. The operation involves both government and private schemes, as well as coordination with multiple airlines to ensure smooth transit.

The first Hajj flight of Air Blue Airline, PA1766, is scheduled to arrive at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, on 11th June 2025 at 13:35 hours from Jeddah, Kingdom of 蹤獲弝け, carrying 148 Hujjaj, a letter written addressed to the airport manager at Karachis Jinnah International Airport by the religion ministry said.

The letter said Riaz Hussain Shah Shirazi, the provincial minister for Auqaf, will welcome the pilgrims upon their arrival at the airport.

You are kindly requested to make the necessary arrangements in accordance with past practices and provide intimation to this Directorate accordingly, the letter added.

As many as 88,260 Hajj pilgrims arrived in 蹤獲弝け via the government scheme through 342 flights from various cities of Pakistan this year while over 27,000 arrived via private tour operators.

The Hajj flights were operated by a range of air carriers including Pakistan International Airlines, Saudi Airlines, SereneAir, Airblue and AirSial.


From Pakistan to Spain via Canaries, smugglers using more dangerous migration routes

From Pakistan to Spain via Canaries, smugglers using more dangerous migration routes
Updated 14 min 29 sec ago

From Pakistan to Spain via Canaries, smugglers using more dangerous migration routes

From Pakistan to Spain via Canaries, smugglers using more dangerous migration routes
  • Forty-four fellow Pakistani migrants died during 10-day failed crossing in January from Mauritania to Spains Canary Islands
  • Nearly 47,000 people disembarked in the Canaries in 2024, an increase from the nearly 40,000 in 2023, as per Spain

DERA BAJWA, Pakistan: It was supposed to be the final leg of Amir Alis monthslong journey to Europe. But he was nowhere near his destination, with only death in sight.

The 21-year-old Pakistani had been promised a visa and a flight to Spain. Yet six months, four countries and $17,000 later, he found himself crammed in a fishing boat in the Atlantic Ocean alongside 85 others, screaming for their lives as seawater sloshed over the gunwales.

Forty-four fellow Pakistani migrants perished during the 10-day failed crossing in January from Mauritanias coast toward Spains Canary Islands.

The deadly journey cast a spotlight on how globalized and sophisticated smuggling networks on the West African coast and specifically Mauritania have become. Interviews with survivors and relatives of migrants who died revealed how smugglers have adapted to tighter border controls and anti-migration policies across the Mediterranean and North Africa, resorting to lengthier, more dangerous routes.

Alis odyssey began last July. After making an initial deposit of 600,000 Pakistani rupees ($2,127), he went to Karachi airport, where he was told to wait for a shift change before approaching the immigration counter.

The smugglers had inside help, he said. He and other migrants were swiftly put on a flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

From there Ali boarded a second flight to Dakar, Senegal, where he was told someone would be waiting for him.

Instead, when he arrived he was told to go to the Senegal River bordering Mauritania, a seven-hour taxi ride north. He joined other Pakistanis traveling to the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. In each country he passed through, bribes were demanded for visas, Ali said.

Imran Iqbal, 42, took a similar journey. Like Ali, he flew from Karachi to Senegal via Ethiopia before reaching Mauritania. Other Pakistanis Iqbal met, he said, traveled through Kenya or Zimbabwe enroute to Mauritania.

WAITING GAME

Once in Mauritania, the migrants were taken to cramped safe houses where smugglers took their belongings and deprived them of food. Our passports, our money everything, Iqbal said. I was essentially held captive, Ali said.

During the six months Iqbal and Ali were in Mauritania, smugglers moved them repeatedly, beating them to extract more money.

While he managed to get some money sent from Pakistan, Iqbal did not tell his family of his dire situation.

Our parents, children, siblings ... they wouldve been devastated, he said.

Ali said the smugglers lied to their families in Pakistan, who asked about their whereabouts and questioned why they hadnt called from Spain.

Finally, on Jan. 2, Iqbal, Ali and the other Pakistani migrants were transferred to an overcrowded boat that set course for Spains Canary Islands.

On the day of departure, 64 Pakistanis from various safe houses were brought to the port, Ali recalled. The Mauritanian police and port officials, who were complicit, facilitated our transfer to the boats.

What followed were the hardest 15 days of my life, Iqbal said.

Mauritanian authorities have launched several investigations into smuggling networks and, in the past two months, heightened surveillance at the countrys borders and ports, according to a Mauritanian embassy official in Madrid who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to comment publicly.

While migration to Europe has been falling steadily, the Atlantic Ocean crossing from West Africa to Spains Canary Islands has reemerged since 2020.

Nearly 47,000 people disembarked in the Canaries in 2024, an increase from the nearly 40,000 in 2023, according to Spanish Interior Ministry figures.

Until recently, the route was mostly used by migrants from West African nations fleeing poverty or violence. But since last year, migrants from far-flung countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan have increasingly embarked on the fishing boats used to reach the European archipelago.

Smugglers connect with migrants locally in Pakistan and elsewhere, as well as on social media. Migrants post videos of their voyages on TikTok. Although some warn of the dangers, they also share idyllic videos of life in Europe, from Canary Island beaches to the bustling streets of Barcelona and Madrid. For many, Spain is just an entry point for continuing to France, Italy and elsewhere.

Chris Borowski, spokesperson for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex, believes smuggling networks bringing Pakistanis and other South Asian migrants through the Canaries are still testing the waters to see how profitable it is.

However, experts at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Crime warn the route is here to stay.

With the conflict landscape showing no sign of improvement, movement on the Canary Islands route looks set to increase, the group warned.

Because it remains the deadliest migration route in the world, this has severe humanitarian implications.

The Atlantic Ocean crossing can take days or weeks. Dozens of boats have vanished.

Exact figures dont exist, but the International Organization for Migrations Missing Migrants Project recorded at least 1,142 deaths and disappearances last year, a number it calls a vast understatement. Spanish rights group Walking Borders reported nearly 9,800 victims on the Canaries route last year which would make it the worlds deadliest migration route.

Only a tiny fraction of bodies are ever recovered. Some shipwrecked vessels have appeared hundreds of thousands of miles away, in the Caribbean and South America.

The boat Ali and Iqbal boarded had a 40-person capacity but was packed with more than double that. Immediately, there were fights between the Pakistanis and the Africans on board, they said.

The Associated Press wasnt able to locate non-Pakistani survivors to verify the accusations, but reports of violence on the Canaries journey are frequent even among those of the same nationality and ethnicity. Dehydration can cause hallucinations, exacerbating tensions.

The weather was terrible, Ali said. As water entered the boat, the crew threw our belongings and food into the sea to keep the boat afloat.

On the fifth day, a man died of a heart attack, Ali and Iqbal said. More people perished every day, their bodies thrown overboard; while some died from hunger and thirst, the majority were killed.

The crew attacked us with hammers, killing 15 in one night, Ali said. Both men showed photos of injuries others sustained, although AP couldnt verify what caused them.

The beatings were mostly to the head so brutal that people started losing their sanity, Iqbal said. They prayed for a merciful death, convinced they had little chance of survival.

On the 10th night, after dozens had died, lights appeared on the horizon. They shouted for help. At daybreak, a fishing vessel approached, handing them food and water before eventually towing them to the West African coast two days later. Forty-four Pakistanis had died.

Only twelve bodies returned to Pakistan, Ali said. The rest were lost at sea.

BACK AT SQUARE ONE

News of the failed journey made international headlines, prompting a pledge by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to go after smugglers.

Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency has arrested dozens of people suspected of arranging the journey or connections to the smugglers.

A nationwide crackdown was already underway, but smugglers change locations to evade capture. In Europe and Pakistan, smugglers who are caught are primarily low-level operatives, resulting in limited impact on the overall business.

Staring at the mansions being built around his modest brick home in the Pakistani village of Dera Bajwa, Ali reflected on his wasted journey.

These are the houses of those who made it abroad, Ali said. People like me see them and dream without thinking.


Adornment of Eid meals: Meaty celebrations begin with aroma and activity at Quetta spice bazaar

Adornment of Eid meals: Meaty celebrations begin with aroma and activity at Quetta spice bazaar
Updated 43 min 32 sec ago

Adornment of Eid meals: Meaty celebrations begin with aroma and activity at Quetta spice bazaar

Adornment of Eid meals: Meaty celebrations begin with aroma and activity at Quetta spice bazaar
  • Spice makers at Quetta Sabzi Mandi prepare spices for kebabs, rice dishes, barbecue items and meat stews
  • Orders for spices pour in from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab provinces, merchants say

QUETTA: Hajji Shair Ali moved around his shop, using a griddle scoop to collect generous amounts of cinnamon, black pepper, garlic, ginger and an array of colorful herbs. He then put them all into a grinder, the old machine churning out a bright orange spice mix, the key ingredient for marinating meat during the Eid Al-Adha religious festival.

Alis shop is in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, in what is commonly called Sabzi Mandi, its alleys lined with shops selling mostly fresh fruit and vegetable but also spices and other condiments.

Each year, ahead of Eid Al-Adha, the market comes alive as city residents throng to buy spices to add a fiery zing to their meat-based dishes.

The daily rush has kept Ali, 41, busy and working 15 hours a day since the Dhul Hijjah moon, which helps determine the date for Eid, was sighted last month. Eid will be celebrated in Pakistan on June 7 after the end of the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah.

For us the season lasts all year but during Eid Al-Adha, demand for spices increases, particularly for barbecue and Pashtun rosh [slow cooked mutton or lamb] spices, Ali told Arab News.

Spices are the adornment of dining. If you cook meat without spices, it tastes bland. Thus, the dishes all depend on spices.

Ali said ahead of Eid, there was also a surge in the demand for his special barbecue sauce made by blending papaya and kachri powder, a distinctive spice derived from a type of wild melon and known for its tangy and slightly sour taste, acting as a natural meat tenderizer and adding flavor to various dishes.

Along with kachri powder, we add black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, coriander and garlic, Aali said., explaining the recipe of his meat tenderizer.

Shaharyar Khan, a customer searching for spices as he was planning to host an Eid barbeque, praised the quality of spices at the market.

During Eid Al-Adha the quality is a little better, Khan told Arab News.

Normally its already good, but for Eid, they make it even better so the taste of the food is enhanced.

But many customers also complained of the rising prices of spices in recent years, which spice shop owners blamed on the higher prices of imported ingredients.

Essential ingredients required to make the products are imported from Vietnam, China, India and Iran, merchants explained, and the persistent devaluation of the rupee against the US dollar over the years had caused imports to surge in value.

The prices of the spices had also subsequently increased over the years.

But customer Hajji Ajmal from Kuchlak town near Quetta, said the increase was not substantial compared to the quality of spices one was getting.

Last year I bought one kilogram of barbecue spice for Rs900 ($3.20) and this year, it is [being sold] for Rs950 ($3.38), he said.

At the bazaar this week, curry mixes were being sold for Rs1,200 ($4.27) a packet while the price of biryani rice spice mix was higher at around Rs1,400 ($4.98).

Despite the price hikes, customers who trust the quality of the product continue to shop and orders have even been coming in from various cities in the Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

I have prepared different spices for this Eid season, weighing more than 3,000 kgs because we have received many online orders from other cities through our social media page, Ali, the spice merchant, said.

During Eid Al-Adha season, we work until midnight, even skipping meals. Ten people work in a single shop to prepare the spice orders in time.


PM Sharif urges nation to remember Palestinians as Pakistan marks Eid Al-Adha

PM Sharif urges nation to remember Palestinians as Pakistan marks Eid Al-Adha
Updated 07 June 2025

PM Sharif urges nation to remember Palestinians as Pakistan marks Eid Al-Adha

PM Sharif urges nation to remember Palestinians as Pakistan marks Eid Al-Adha
  • Palestinians enduring ruthless and inhumane oppression and hunger, says Shehbaz Sharif in his Eid Al-Adha message to nation
  • President Asif Ali Zardari calls for supporting underprivileged segment as Pakistan military vows to defend countrys sovereignty

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday urged the nation to remember the people of Palestine suffering ruthless occupation at the hands of Israel, state-run media reported, as millions of Pakistanis celebrated Eid Al-Adha.

Eid Al-Adha is one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar. Muslims mark the Eid Al-Adha holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats, and the meat is shared among family and friends and donated to the poor.

The day began with Sharif and senior officials across the country offering Eid Al-Adha prayers in mosques and praying for Pakistans progress and prosperity.

He [Sharif] said today, we must especially remember our Palestinian brothers and sisters who are enduring ruthless and inhumane oppression and hunger, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.

The Pakistani premiers message comes as the Israeli military presses on with its intensified military campaign in Gaza, issuing an evacuation order for residents of parts of the city on Friday as the Middle East celebrated Eid Al-Adha.

The Pakistani prime minister also urged the masses to remember the people in Indian-administered Kashmir, saying that they were involved in a just and courageous struggle for their right to self-determination for decades.

In his message to the nation, President Asif Ali Zardari said there was a pressing need to support the underprivileged and marginalized segments of our society.

Asif Ali Zardari said as a nation, we must support each other, share in each others sorrows, and work together to build a prosperous and great Pakistan, Radio Pakistan reported.

Pakistan Armys military leadership paid tribute to the unwavering resilience of the Pakistani nation, recognizing the sacrifices of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and citizens who continue to uphold the security of the country.

The Pakistan Armed Forces stand resolutely with the people, united in purpose and steadfast in their sacred duty to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, the Inter-Services Public Relations, the militarys media wing, said.


Pakistani PM, Saudi Crown Prince hold wide-ranging talks on political, economic, security matters

Pakistani PM, Saudi Crown Prince hold wide-ranging talks on political, economic, security matters
Updated 06 June 2025

Pakistani PM, Saudi Crown Prince hold wide-ranging talks on political, economic, security matters

Pakistani PM, Saudi Crown Prince hold wide-ranging talks on political, economic, security matters
  • Sharif arrived in the Kingdom on Thursday on a two-day visit to enhance trade and investment, discuss regional security
  • Leaders discuss investment ties, latest military standoff with India and worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held bilateral talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today, Friday, and discussed a range of issues, including political, trade and investment ties, the latest military standoff with India and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Sharif arrived in the Kingdom on Thursday on a two-day visit aimed at enhancing cooperation in trade and investment and to discuss regional security concerns. 

The meeting reaffirmed the deep-rooted, strategic, and fraternal ties between Pakistan and the Kingdom of 蹤獲弝け, said a statement released by Sharifs office after his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction on the growing momentum of bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and security domains. 

Both leaders agreed to further elevate this strategic partnership in accordance with the shared vision of the leadership and the aspirations of the brotherly people of the two countries.

Last month, following the worst military confrontation between India and Pakistan in decades, 蹤獲弝け, along with other Gulf nations, played a key role in mediating between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, helping to avert a potential war. 

The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the Kingdoms proactive role during recent tensions between Pakistan and India, and its steadfast commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond, the statement added. 

The two leaders also discussed the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling on the international community to fulfill its moral and legal obligations. They reiterated their unwavering support for a just and durable resolution to the Palestinian question, grounded in the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Earlier in the day, Sharif held informal talks with the Crown Prince at a special luncheon at the royal court. 

A statement from Sharifs office said the Crown Prince gave a special welcome to the PM and personally drove him to attend the lunch.

The Saudi Crown Prince warmly welcomed Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at the lunch and informal talks were held between the two leaders, the statement said. 

The lunch was attended by important leaders from the Middle East, including members of the Saudi cabinet and top Saudi civil and military leadership.

STRENTHEN BILATERAL COOPERATION

Sharif reached Jeddah on Thursday evening and departed for Makkah to perform Umrah, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) had said in an earlier statement.

The two leaders will discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment, welfare of the Muslim Ummah, and regional peace and security, PMO said about Sharifs meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince.

The visit comes amid deepening economic ties between Pakistan and 蹤獲弝け. 

In recent months, the two countries have signed multiple agreements aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment. Notably, 蹤獲弝け has committed to a $5 billion investment package to support Pakistans economy, which has been grappling with a balance of payments crisis.

Last year, Saudi and Pakistani businessmen signed 34 memorandums of understanding worth $2.8 billion, covering sectors such as industry, technology, and agriculture. Additionally, 蹤獲弝けs Manara Minerals is in talks to acquire a 10-20 percent stake in Pakistans $9 billion Reko Diq copper and gold mining project, one of the largest of its kind globally.

Defense cooperation is also a key component of the bilateral relationship. The two nations have a history of military collaboration, with 蹤獲弝け providing support to Pakistan during times of regional tension and Pakistan training Saudi forces. 

Pakistan has a 2.7 million-strong diaspora in 蹤獲弝け, which accounts for the highest remittance inflow, a crucial lifeline for the countrys economy.