Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday vowed to establish the rule of law and ensure equal rights for all citizens as he outlined his government&rsquo;s priorities in his maiden televised address to the nation after assuming office, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported. In the address, the premier said, &ldquo;Not party or political influence or force, but the rule of law will be the final word in governing the state.&rdquo; Rahman said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-minister-terms-meeting-with-bangladesh-opposition-leader-very-cordial-meaningful" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">government </a>believes that although party, opinion, religion and philosophy may differ, the state belongs to all.&nbsp;&nbsp;Equal rights&nbsp;He said every citizen, regardless of whether they voted for <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-minister-signals-pm-visit-intent-as-bangladeshs-new-government-takes-office" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">BNP</a> or not, has equal rights in the country. The <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/planning-minister-to-represent-pakistan-at-bangladesh-oathtaking-ceremony" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">prime minister</a> said the government&rsquo;s goal is to build a self-reliant, secure, humane and democratic Bangladesh, where Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, irrespective of party affiliation, opinion, religion or ethnicity, can live safely in both hills and plains. He said all constitutional, governmental and non-governmental institutions will operate according to established laws and regulations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Law and order&nbsp;Improving law and order and strictly controlling corruption to restore peace and security are the government&rsquo;s top priorities, he added, noting that gambling and drugs have contributed to deteriorating law and order. Rahman said law enforcement agencies are taking strict measures to control gambling and drugs and that the government is working to ensure peace in public life.&nbsp; He also pledged to dismantle syndicates of wrongdoing and irregularities in every sector.&nbsp;Economic challenges&nbsp;Addressing economic and social challenges, he highlighted the need to transform the large population into a skilled workforce, particularly as the world enters the era of artificial intelligence.&nbsp; He assured students and youth of full government support for intellectual and scientific development and reiterated commitments to employment and a supportive work environment. The premier also called for austerity, responsible governance, and public cooperation as his government begins implementing its commitments.

Bangladesh

Improving law and order and strictly controlling corruption to restore peace and security are the government’s top priorities, Tarique Rahman added, noting that gambling and drugs have contributed to deteriorating law and order.

Bangladeshi PM vows to establish rule of law, equal rights

GENEVA:&nbsp;Israel&#39;s increased attacks and forcible transfers of Palestinians &quot;raise concerns over ethnic cleansing&quot; in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the United Nations said Thursday. The UN human rights office said the cumulative impact of Israel&#39;s military conduct during the war in Gaza, plus its blockade of the territory, had inflicted living conditions &quot;increasingly incompatible with Palestinians&#39; continued existence as a group in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israel-conducting-gradual-de-facto-annexation-of-west-bank-un-official" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gaza</a>&quot;. &quot;Intensified attacks, the methodical destruction of entire neighborhoods and the denial of humanitarian assistance appeared to aim at a permanent demographic shift in Gaza&quot;, the office said in a report. &lsquo;Ethnic cleansing&rsquo;&nbsp;&quot;This, together with forcible transfers, which appear to aim at a permanent displacement, raise concerns over ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israel-accused-of-move-expanding-jerusalem-borders-for-first-time-since-1967" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">West Bank</a>.&quot; The report looked at Nov. 1, 2024 to Oct. 31, 2025. In the occupied West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem, the report said the &quot;systematic use of unlawful force&quot; by Israeli security forces, &quot;widespread&quot; arbitrary detention and the &quot;extensive unlawful demolition&quot; of Palestinian homes was being carried out to &quot;systematically discriminate, oppress, control and dominate the Palestinian people&quot;. &quot;These violations were &quot;altering the character, status and demographic composition of the occupied West Bank, raising serious concerns of ethnic cleansing&quot;, it said. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;Inhumane choice&#39;&nbsp;</h2>In Gaza, the report condemned the continued killing and maiming of &quot;unprecedented numbers of civilians&quot;, the spread of famine, and destruction of the &quot;remaining civilian infrastructure&quot;. During the 12 months covered in the report, at least 463 Palestinians, including 157 children, starved to death in Gaza, it said. &quot;Palestinians faced the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risking being killed while trying to get food,&quot; said the report. &quot;The situation of famine and malnutrition was the direct result of actions taken by the Israeli government,&quot; with the deaths and suffering from hunger &quot;foreseeable and repeatedly foretold&quot;. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Impunity &#39;kills&#39;&nbsp;</h2>Last week, UN rights chief Volker Turk warned that the world was witnessing &quot;rapid steps to change permanently the demography of the occupied Palestinian territory&quot;. On Tuesday, Israel&#39;s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vowed to encourage &quot;emigration&quot; from the Palestinian territories. And on Wednesday, UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo&nbsp;warned the Security Council that steps by Israel to tighten control of areas of the West Bank administered by the Palestinian Authority amount to &quot;gradual de facto annexation&quot;. Thursday&#39;s rights office report concluded that considered together, Israeli practices &quot;indicated a concerted and accelerating effort to consolidate annexation of large parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to deny Palestinians&#39; right to self-determination&quot;. The report said there was a pervasive climate of impunity for serious violations of international law by the Israeli authorities in the Palestinian territories. &quot;Impunity is not abstract -- it kills. Accountability is indispensable. It is the prerequisite for a just and durable peace in Palestine and Israel,&quot; Turk said in a statement.

Middle East

‘Intensified attacks, the methodical destruction of entire neighborhoods and the denial of humanitarian assistance appeared to aim at a permanent demographic shift in Gaza,’ UN human rights office says in a report.

UN says Israeli actions raising 'ethnic cleansing' fears in West Bank, Gaza

NEW DELHI: Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, told a global artificial intelligence conference on Thursday that the world &quot;urgently&quot; needs to regulate the fast-evolving technology. An organization could be set up to coordinate these efforts, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said. Altman is one of a host of top tech CEOs in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit, the fourth annual global meeting on how to handle advanced computing power. &quot;For an obvious example, there&#39;ll be extremely capable biomodels available open-source that could help people create new pathogens, he said on stage. &quot;We need a society-wide approach about how we&#39;re going to defend against this.&quot; Frenzied demand for generative AI has turbocharged profits for many companies while fuelling anxiety about the risks to individuals and the planet. &quot;Democratisation of AI is the best way to ensure humanity flourishes,&quot; Altman said, adding that &quot;centralisation of this technology in one company or country could lead to ruin&quot;. &quot;This is not to suggest that we won&#39;t need any regulation or safeguards,&quot; he said. &quot;We obviously do, urgently, like we have for other powerful technologies.&quot; Many researchers and campaigners say stronger action is needed to combat emerging issues, ranging from job disruption to sexualised deepfakes and AI-enabled online scams. &quot;We expect the world may need something like the IAEA for international coordination of AI,&quot; with the ability to &quot;rapidly respond to changing circumstances&quot;, Altman said. &quot;The next few years will test global society as this technology continues to improve at a rapid pace. We can choose to either empower people or concentrate power,&quot; he added. &quot;Technology always disrupts jobs; we always find new and better things to do.&quot;

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attends the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 19, 2026. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Artificial Intelligence

Sam Altman urges global coordination and safeguards for advanced AI, warning of biosecurity risks, power concentration, and rapid societal disruption.

OpenAI's Altman says world 'urgently' needs AI regulation

ISLAMABAD: The United States has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East in recent days ahead of what Israeli media reports describe as &quot;preparations for a potential joint US-Israeli military campaign against Tehran.&quot;&nbsp; Israeli outlets, including The Times of Israel, cited security sources as saying the emerging plan would likely go beyond limited, symbolic strikes and instead involve coordinated American and Israeli action. Sources quoted in the reports indicated the operation could surpass the scale of the 12-day Israeli-led bombing campaign carried out last June, the operation the US later joined under the codename Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to the Israeli reports, the confrontation could begin sooner than many anticipate and may be far broader in scope than previous escalations. US media echoes the sameIt is not only the Israeli media; the US media have also echoed similar reports about a potential campaign against Iran.&nbsp; CBS News was the first major American outlet to report on Wednesday that top national security officials have told President Donald&nbsp;Trump the military is ready for potential strikes on Iran as soon as Saturday. CNN also reported on Thursday that the US military has been placed on high readiness to strike Iranian targets this weekend. Still, President Trump has not yet made a final call on authorizing military action. But one source cautioned that Trump has privately argued both for and against military action and has polled advisers and allies on the best course of action, CNN said. Military buildup and strategic postureOver the past week, US military assets in the Middle East have increased. Reports indicate deployments include aircraft&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-aircraft-carrier-located-near-iran-as-washington-increases-military-pressure" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">carrier</a>&nbsp;strike groups, advanced fighter aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, and support units, a buildup reports describe as one of the most significant in the region in years. The New York Post reported that President Trump is sending the USS Gerald R Ford, along with F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft and refuelling tankers, toward the region. The naval news outlet US Naval Institute (USNI News) reported that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its strike group departed the Atlantic and were heading toward the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar. BBC Verify said on Tuesday it has tracked 12 US ships in the Middle East in recent weeks, including destroyers positioned in Bahrain, the eastern Mediterranean near the Souda Bay base, and the Red Sea. Iran&#39;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday posted on X, saying, &quot;The US President constantly says that the US has sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware&quot;. &quot;However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2023707826011378060&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4286%2F&sessionId=95318898e0030ebf9e8668c5941f779cfe26e718&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2023707826011378060"></iframe></div></div>The USS Gerald R Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups, along with accompanying vessels, would provide both offensive and defensive capabilities if operations are authorized. CBS also reported that the Pentagon is temporarily relocating some US personnel from parts of the Middle East, primarily to Europe or back to the United States, as a precautionary measure ahead of potential Iranian retaliation should military action proceed. Diplomacy still in playDespite the heightened military posture, there has been no public confirmation from the White House or Pentagon of an imminent strike order. US officials&nbsp;have maintained that diplomatic engagement remains the preferred course. Indirect talks in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-us-hold-new-geneva-talks-as-khamenei-warns-of-sinking-us-warship" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Geneva</a>&nbsp;between US negotiators and Iranian representatives concluded this week, with Iranian officials saying progress was made on broad principles, though significant differences remain. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on Wednesday that there are &ldquo;many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran,&rdquo; but stressed that diplomacy remains President Trump&rsquo;s first option. &ldquo;Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration,&rdquo; she said. As of Thursday, no formal declaration of military action had been issued by Washington, and the situation remains fluid.

STOCKSHOTS: World's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (AFP)

Americas

The United States is increasing its military presence in the Middle East amid reports of a possible joint US-Israeli strike on Iran; media outlets are citing operational readiness, while President Trump has not yet officially authorized any action.

US builds up forces in Middle East as Israeli media report possible joint strike on Iran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has stated that the terrorist attacks in the country are the result of a &quot;proxy war&quot; waged by India in complicity with the Taliban government in Kabul. In an interview with FRANCE 24, he also spoke about the situation in Gaza, saying that Pakistan is ready to contribute to an international peace force if the conditions are ripe. Addressing the security situation in Pakistan and the recent bombing of a mosque in the capital Islamabad, the country&#39;s defense minister stated that &quot;almost all the franchises of terrorism&quot; are present in Pakistan &quot;because of the non-seriousness of the Kabul government toward curbing terrorism&quot;, adding that complicity would be a better word. &lsquo;Won&rsquo;t hesitate&rsquo;Asif went on to say that Pakistan &quot;won&#39;t hesitate&quot; to conduct new strikes on Afghanistan, unless someone in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-russia-discuss-security-threats-from-afghanistanbased-groups" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kabul </a>can &quot;underwrite peace&quot;. He also stated that India was waging a <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/four-facilitators-of-islamabad-mosque-attacker-afghan-mastermind-arrested-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">&quot;proxy war&quot;</a> against Pakistan and that New Delhi and Kabul were &quot;on the same page&quot; when it came to striking Pakistan. Asif emphasized that war with India was still &quot;a possibility&quot;. &#39;Not even being considered&#39;Asked about a possible contribution of Pakistan to an international stabilization mission in Gaza, Asif stressed that this would depend on &quot;what sort of terms of reference are drafted for that peace force&quot;. He pointed out that Pakistan has significant experience as a contributor to United Nations peacekeeping forces and said that participating in the Gaza force would be a &quot;good opportunity&quot; to try to reach a two-state solution in the Middle East. Despite the normalization of relations between several Muslim countries and Israel, Asif said that he doesn&#39;t see &quot;this option being even considered by Pakistan&quot; unless Palestinians are granted &quot;the right of self-determination in their own homeland&quot; within the framework of a two-state solution.

Foreign Affairs

Security

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has stated that the terrorist attacks in the country are the result of a 'proxy war' waged by India in complicity with the Taliban government in Kabul.

New Delhi, Kabul 'on the same page' for striking Pakistan, says Khawaja Asif 

WASHINGTON: The United States is planning to withdraw all of its approximately 1,000 troops from Syria over the next two months, according to US media reports on Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington intends to end its military presence in the country following significant political and military developments inside Syria.&nbsp; The report said the Syrian government has consolidated control over much of the country, while the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) once a key US partner in the fight against the Islamic State group have pledged to integrate into state structures. The CBS News also cited unnamed US officials confirming the planned withdrawal. US forces have recently pulled back from several bases in Syria, including Al-Tanf and Al-Shadadi, which were central to operations conducted by the US-led international coalition against Islamic State (IS). The reported decision follows shifting dynamics in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.&nbsp; Since then, Washington has sought closer engagement with Syria&rsquo;s new authorities and has transferred thousands of suspected IS fighters from detention facilities in Syria to more secure locations in Iraq. At the same time, the United States has increased its military capibilities near Iran amid rising regional tensions. Iranian officials have warned that any attack on Iranian territory would be met with retaliatory measures targeting American military positions in the region. US media outlets reported Wednesday that Washington could be prepared to launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend, although President Donald Trump has not made a final decision, according to the reports.&nbsp;

The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington intends to end its military presence in the country following significant political and military developments inside Syria.

US to withdraw all troops from Syria: Reports

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Deep concern and visible unease have gripped government, diplomatic and policy circles in New Delhi amid reports that US President Donald Trump may raise the long-standing dispute of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at an upcoming meeting of the US-backed Peace Board in Washington. President Trump has invited India to join the newly formed Gaza Board of Peace.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024319015250747495&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c084efd8f4348f649f0e3a17f370cfd09a458fee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 720px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2024319015250747495"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan, along with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has accepted membership of the board, which was formally signed into existence by President Trump on January 22. Indian media flags &ldquo;red alert&rdquo;Leading Indian daily The Hindu publicly flagged concerns over India&rsquo;s potential association with President Trump&rsquo;s Board of Peace. In a strongly worded editorial, the newspaper warned that the body&rsquo;s peace mandate could extend beyond Gaza and potentially include Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Kashmir. &ldquo;For India, Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to join the board is a red-flag, particularly if Mr Trump decides to include the Kashmir dispute in peace plans the BoP will seek to resolve,&rdquo; the editorial cautioned. The remarks underscore mounting anxiety within India&rsquo;s strategic community over the scope and long-term intent of the US-backed initiative, particularly as Pakistan has formally joined the platform. Former diplomats voice alarmThe apprehensions have been echoed by former Indian ambassador to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, who recently wrote in The Times of India that the UN Security Council resolution governing the arrangement sets its term until December 31, 2027, with mandatory reporting to the Security Council every six months. He stressed that such oversight ensures the mechanism remains temporary and does not evolve into a permanent global model. In contrast, he warned that President Trump&rsquo;s peace plan appears open-ended and &ldquo;could be used outside Gaza as well,&rdquo; raising concerns that it may be extended to other conflict regions including the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Akbaruddin further noted indications from some UN officials that the framework could potentially be applied to other disputes &mdash; a possibility that has intensified fears in New Delhi. Similarly, former Indian diplomat Jayant Prasad cautioned that India should be wary of the board&rsquo;s evolving role and its possible implications for South Asia. Writing in The Times of India, Prasad observed that the Board of Peace is expected to comprise 60 nations in a tiered structure, overseen by an executive body. He warned that while Gaza may be the initial focus, the mandate may not remain confined there. Referring directly to India-Pakistan relations and the Kashmir dispute, Prasad expressed concern that the board could expand its scope to address other conflicts, &ldquo;perhaps not excluding the one between India and Pakistan, one that Trump seems so fixated on.&rdquo; Prasad further remarked that India &ldquo;cannot expect fair treatment&rdquo; regarding Jammu and Kashmir under the chairmanship of President Trump, particularly in light of what he termed a re-hyphenation of US relations in the subcontinent. Growing unease in New DelhiAnalysts observe that India&rsquo;s unease reflects its deep-seated apprehension about the potential internationalisation of the Kashmir dispute.&nbsp; The prospect of the issue being raised at a high-level international peace platform chaired by the US president has triggered visible concern across Indian political and diplomatic circles.

India

Deep concern and visible unease have gripped government, diplomatic and policy circles in New Delhi amid reports that US President Donald Trump may raise the long-standing dispute of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at an upcoming meeting of the US-backed Peace Board in Washington.

Panic in New Delhi over fears Trump may raise IIOJK issue at Board of Peace meeting

WASHINGTON DC: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, said participation in the Board of Peace (BOP) as a founding member would deepen US-Pakistan cooperation, emphasizing that the inaugural BOP meeting is a defining moment in shaping its future framework. The envoy expressed these views in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV&rsquo;s anchor person Sana Maqbool a day before the highly anticipated Gaza Board of Peace meeting, being attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.&nbsp; The first-of-its-kind meeting, convened at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, aims to define new international dynamics on critical peace issues, particularly Palestine.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024251240788697394&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c084efd8f4348f649f0e3a17f370cfd09a458fee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 649px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Ambassador Sheikh underscored the historic significance of the Board of Peace, describing it as a defining moment in shaping its future framework. &quot;This meeting of the Board of Peace is actually the first following the signing ceremony in Davos. Since Pakistan has been one of the founder members, and since Pakistan has had a principled position on the issue of Palestine, which actually predates our independent existence, we have been at the forefront of standing up and advocating the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.&quot; He noted that Pakistan&#39;s inclusion among the eight Muslim nation states reflects its steadfast advocacy. He added that Prime Minister Sharif&rsquo;s presence signals commitment at the highest level. &quot;Pakistan being a founding member, Prime Minister&#39;s presence is certainly significant and indicates Pakistan&rsquo;s interest and commitment at the highest level.&quot; A &#39;good looking&#39; phase in US&ndash;Pakistan relationsTurning to bilateral relations, Ambassador Sheikh described the current moment as particularly promising. &quot;Over almost the past eight decades, the relationship has seen its ups and downs, twists and turns, but it has withstood multiple tests of time.&quot; Referring to recent developments, including the India-Pakistan conflict, he stated:&nbsp;&quot;While this relationship has been better in history in terms of the actual situation on ground, I would say that it has never ever been so good looking.&quot; He stressed, however, that positive intent must now translate into action. &quot;It is looking good. We have to make good on it. If last year was the time of improvement in relations, this year is the time for action.&quot; On leadership engagement, he highlighted unprecedented diplomatic momentum. He said, &quot;The leadership&hellip; has come together on a number of occasions, which is the ideal of any diplomatic effort. A personal rapport, a personal chemistry&hellip; is what makes difference.&quot; &nbsp;Economic partnership and investment push&nbsp;Ambassador Sheikh also announced a major upcoming initiative. &quot;We are having an unprecedented Pakistan Investment Conference in Washington DC on the 31st of March&hellip; fully hosted and organised by the United States Chamber of Commerce.&quot; The conference will focus on minerals, energy, and IT sectors and is expected to be the first in a three-part series. Emphasising sustainability, he remarked, &quot;Challenges are a fact of life&hellip; but surmounting challenges is the act of life.&quot; He further stressed that long-term ties must be economically grounded. &quot;A strategic partnership entrenched in economic ties would outlast me as an ambassador&hellip; it would outlast us as a generation,&rdquo; he added. Ambassador Sheikh framed the relationship in strategic terms, saying, &quot;The Pakistan-United States relationship has been a fact of history. It will be&hellip; a very consequential fact of future.&rdquo; With Prime Minister Sharif&rsquo;s visit and the Board of Peace meeting underway, Pakistan appears poised to expand its diplomatic footprint, both in advancing Palestinian advocacy and deepening strategic ties with the United States. Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic position and UN roleHighlighting Pakistan&#39;s geopolitical standing, Ambassador Sheikh pointed to its current position at the United Nations. He said, &quot;Pakistan happens to be on the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council. We are an elected member and this is the second and final year of our term&hellip; We also have to carry some extra responsibility in terms of taking everybody along.&quot;&nbsp;Addressing criticism from some countries hesitant to join the Board, he said, &quot;The Board is at its nascent stage&hellip; tomorrow&rsquo;s meeting would incrementally lay out perhaps the next few steps and define the contours of not just the way forward but the modus operandi.&quot;

 Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, says participation in the Board of Peace (BOP) as a founding member will deepen US-Pakistan cooperation, emphasizing that the inaugural BOP meeting is a defining moment in shaping its future framework.

Trump’s Board of Peace sets stage for deeper US-Pakistan cooperation: Envoy

NEW DELHI: Bill Gates has cancelled a scheduled keynote address at a major artificial intelligence summit in India, his foundation confirmed on Wednesday, after the Microsoft co-founder was named in newly released documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement, the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation said the decision was made to ensure the focus of the event remained on its central themes. &ldquo;After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit&#39;s key priorities, Mr&nbsp;Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,&rdquo; the foundation said. It added that the president of its Africa and India offices would speak in his place. The cancellation comes after the US Justice Department released a new tranche of documents linked to investigations into Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Among the documents is a draft email in which Epstein allegedly claimed that Gates had engaged in extramarital affairs. The email, which was not sent, included unverified allegations about Gates&rsquo; personal conduct. Gates has strongly denied the claims. &ldquo;Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize,&rdquo; Gates told 9News Australia in a recent interview, referring to his past meetings with Epstein. &ldquo;That email was never sent. The email is false. I don&#39;t know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?&rdquo; A spokesperson for Gates also rejected the allegations following the document release, saying the files demonstrate Epstein&rsquo;s &ldquo;frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.&rdquo; Gates&rsquo; former wife, Melinda French Gates, told US National Public Radio that the release of the documents revived painful memories from their marriage. &ldquo;Whatever questions remain there &mdash; I can&#39;t even begin to know all of it &mdash; those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;They need to answer to those things, not me.&rdquo; The couple divorced in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. The Gates Foundation reiterated its commitment to its work in India, particularly in health and development initiatives, despite the controversy surrounding the document release.

'After careful consideration, and to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit's key priorities, Mr. Gates will not be delivering his keynote address,' the foundation said; it added that the president of its Africa and India offices would speak in his place.

Bill Gates cancels India summit speech to 'ensure focus' on AI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said that the Israeli government&rsquo;s recent approval to consolidate control over the West Bank was &ldquo;gravely disturbing.&rdquo; Since last week, Israel has approved a series of initiatives backed by far-right ministers to consolidate control over the West Bank, where the Palestinians exercise limited autonomy under past deals. The UN missions for 85-member states, including Pakistan, issued a joint statement Tuesday condemning Israel&#39;s encroaching control of the West Bank. While referring to the joint statement, Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign minister affirmed that these illegal measures were &ldquo;null and void,&rdquo; constituting a clear violation of international law. DPM Dar said that a successful peace process required a &ldquo;conducive environment built on trust, restraint, and good faith.&rdquo; Talking about Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s visit to Washington, the foreign minister said that Pakistan will participate in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace.&nbsp; &ldquo;We engage in this process with the firm conviction that sustained diplomacy, anchored in international law, including the UN Charter, and guided by accountability, provides the only viable pathway to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,&rdquo; he said while addressing the UNSC. Pakistan is ready and willing to contribute to all diplomatic initiatives, including President Trump&#39;s peace plan, FM Dar said.&nbsp;

Israel has approved a series of initiatives backed by far-right ministers to consolidate control over the West Bank, where the Palestinians exercise limited autonomy under past deals; UN missions for 85-member states, including Pakistan, issue joint statement condemning Israel's encroaching control of the West Bank.

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