Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Secretary General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), Major General Mohammed Bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, on Monday met Pakistan&rsquo;s Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir at military headquarters in Rawalpindi to discuss regional security and cooperation in counter-terrorism, the Pakistani military&#39;s media wing said. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, Al-Moghedi called on the field marshal and discussed matters of mutual interest. The meeting focused on regional security dynamics and ways to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts, according to the statement. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism and extremism through collaborative strategies, including intelligence sharing and capacity building among member states. Field Marshal Munir appreciated the role of the IMCTC in fostering stability and promoting coordinated counter-terrorism initiatives across the Islamic world, the statement added. Al-Moghedi, in turn, acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s contributions and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and praised the professionalism of Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces. The meeting underscored both sides&#39; resolve to further strengthen institutional collaboration to support peace, stability, and security in the region, ISPR added. According to the statement, the IMCTC delegation is visiting Pakistan Feb. 2-6 and is scheduled to conduct a one-week training program at the National University of Sciences &amp; Technology focused on the reintegration and rehabilitation of extremist elements.

Security

A delegation of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is visiting Pakistan Feb. 2-6, and is scheduled to conduct a one-week training program at a local university focusing on the reintegration and rehabilitation of extremist elements.

IMCTC secretary general meets Pakistan army chief to boost counterterror cooperation

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan on Thursday expressed serious concern at the UN over the presence of militant groups operating from Afghan territory, saying they were responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told the council that Afghan soil was being used by groups including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the Majeed Brigade, Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), and Al-Qaeda to plan and orchestrate attacks. &ldquo;These groups have been responsible for some of the most heinous terrorist attacks against Pakistan and incidents of hostage-taking,&rdquo; Ahmad said. He said recent attacks claimed by the BLA and Islamic State had resulted in the deaths of 80 Pakistanis, describing them as &ldquo;dastardly and cowardly.&rdquo; Pakistan voted in favor of a UN resolution extending the mandate of the monitoring team overseeing sanctions against the Taliban for another 12 months, Ahmad said, welcoming the unanimous adoption of the measure and praising US efforts to build consensus. Ahmad reiterated Islamabad&rsquo;s call for Afghan territory not to be used for attacks against neighboring countries and urged efforts to prevent external actors from exploiting the situation. He said the resolution sent a clear message to Afghanistan&rsquo;s Taliban authorities that their territory should not be used to threaten other countries and that Afghan groups or individuals should not support militants operating abroad. The resolution also urged member states to prevent kidnappers and militant groups from benefiting from ransom payments or political concessions and to ensure the safe release of hostages, he added. Ahmad called on the Taliban to honor their counter-terrorism commitments and take sustained and verifiable action against militant groups. He also pointed to broader challenges facing Afghanistan, including a humanitarian crisis, deteriorating human rights conditions, particularly for women and girls, economic difficulties, natural disasters, political exclusion, and drug trafficking. Ahmad said the UN monitoring team played an important role in providing the council with insights on Afghanistan&rsquo;s security landscape and expressed hope it would continue to support the sanctions committee&rsquo;s work. &ldquo;It is for the Taliban to decide what path they wish to choose for Afghanistan, whether isolation or peace and prosperity as a responsible member of the international community,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;

Pakistan told the UN Security Council that militant groups operating from Afghan territory are responsible for deadly attacks in Pakistan, urging the Taliban to curb terrorism and uphold counter-terrorism commitments

Pakistan raises concern over militant groups in Afghanistan at UN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reaffirming the strategic defense partnership between the two countries and commitment to promoting global peace and security, the Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman said in a statement on his official X account. According to the statement, both sides reaffirmed their strong relations and strategic partnership. <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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 678px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2021970225579847828&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b2d3bb253e2877972197c2a97e787a0a9da6ac4c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> They also discussed joint efforts to promote global peace and security in ways that serve their shared interests. Earlier today, while responding to a question about the crown prince&rsquo;s visit to Pakistan, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the visit would take place this year, though its timing had not yet been decided, according to a Foreign Office statement. &ldquo;There was a reference to the visit in one of the joint statements that this visit will take place this year, but I am not aware of its timing yet,&rdquo; he added. Over the past several years, bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, particularly in the defense sector, have reached an all-time high. Last year, on Sept. 17, Islamabad and Riyadh signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, establishing a robust security partnership. The pact declared that any aggression against either country would be considered an attack on both, aiming to strengthen regional stability, joint deterrence, and military cooperation.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their strategic defence partnership during a meeting between Field Marshal Asim Munir and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, highlighting military cooperation, regional stability, and plans for a future Saudi visit

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia reaffirm strategic defense partnership

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Pakistan&rsquo;s central bank chief has projected economic growth of up to 4.75% in the next fiscal year, citing strengthening activity as inflation eases and financial conditions loosen.&nbsp;According to the State Bank of Pakistan, Governor Jameel Ahmad said on Thursday that gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to expand by 3.75%-4.75% in fiscal year 2026, following a 3.7% growth rate in the first quarter.&nbsp;The remarks were made during a meeting of the Agricultural Credit Advisory Committee (ACAC), where officials reviewed the performance of agri-lending. The projection marks a gradual recovery for an economy that only recently stabilized after a balance-of-payments crisis that forced Islamabad into a $7 billion IMF bailout programme.&nbsp;Inflation eases, stability returnsJameel Ahmad said macroeconomic conditions had &ldquo;significantly improved,&rdquo; with overall inflation falling to 5.8% in January, a sharp decline from the double-digit levels seen in recent years, and reiterated that Pakistan had regained macroeconomic stability and was now moving toward sustainable growth.&nbsp;The governor attributed part of the recovery to aggressive monetary easing. The statement comes after Ahmad noted that financial conditions had eased considerably following cumulative policy rate cuts of 1,150 basis points since June 2024.&nbsp;He added that the full impact of those reductions was still feeding through the economy, supporting growth while maintaining price stability.&nbsp;Despite market expectations for more easing, the State Bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 10.5% last month, signaling caution as it balances domestic recovery with IMF commitments.&nbsp;Agriculture lending hits record high&nbsp;Agriculture, a sector that accounts for nearly a fifth of GDP and employs a large share of the workforce, remains central to the State Bank&rsquo;s recovery strategy. The SBP governor said banks disbursed a record Rs2.58 trillion ($9.2 billion) in agricultural loans during FY25, up 16% year-on-year. In the first half of FY26 alone, lending reached Rs1.41 trillion, while the number of borrowers rose to 2.97 million.&nbsp;The governor stressed the importance of expanding financial inclusion among small and underserved farmers, urging banks to make full use of the central bank&rsquo;s Risk Coverage Scheme for Small Farmers and Underserved Areas, as well as Zarkhez-e, the SBP&rsquo;s flagship digital agricultural lending platform.&nbsp;The ACAC also reviewed progress under Zarkhez-e, which officials describe as a key component in digitalizing agricultural credit delivery.&nbsp;Boosting post-harvest liquidityThe committee discussed expanding electronic warehouse receipt financing, a system that allows farmers to store crops and access credit against warehouse receipts, rather than resorting to distress sales immediately after harvest.&nbsp;Officials say the move could strengthen agricultural market linkages and improve post-harvest liquidity. Ahmad underlined that agriculture remains critical not only for farm productivity but also for rural livelihoods and food security.&nbsp;Strengthening agricultural financial intermediation, he said, is essential to promote value addition and ensure long-term sectoral sustainability.&nbsp;Balancing growth and IMF oversightThe SBP&rsquo;s cautious stance reflects the delicate stage of Pakistan&rsquo;s recovery. The country is still operating under IMF oversight after narrowly avoiding default in 2023.&nbsp;While inflation has eased and foreign exchange pressures have stabilized, policymakers remain wary of reigniting external imbalances. By holding rates at 10.5% despite expectations of a cut, the central bank signaled that monetary easing will proceed gradually.&nbsp;For now, the SBP&rsquo;s message is clear: macroeconomic stability has been restored, inflation is moderating, credit is expanding, particularly in agriculture, and growth is set to strengthen. The challenge will be sustaining that momentum without undermining hard-won stability.

Economy

Pakistan’s central bank governor, Jameel Ahmad, projects 3.75%-4.75% GDP growth in 2026, citing eased inflation, record agricultural loans, and financial inclusion efforts, while cautiously balancing recovery with IMF commitments and macroeconomic stability.

Pakistan’s central bank sees growth picking up as inflation slows  

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan said Thursday that a recent United Nations sanctions committee report supports its longstanding position that militant groups operating from Afghanistan continue to pose a serious security threat to Pakistan and the wider region. Speaking at the weekly media briefing, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the UN Security Council&rsquo;s 1267 Sanctions Committee report highlighted the continued presence and activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaeda, and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) in Afghanistan. &ldquo;The report extensively supports Pakistan&rsquo;s narrative regarding terrorist threats,&rdquo; the spokesperson told a weekly media briefing. The spokesperson said the report indicated that Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim authorities had provided a &ldquo;permissive environment&rdquo; for militant groups, particularly TTP. According to the report, TTP has gained greater operational freedom and support, enabling it to launch attacks inside Pakistan, he said. The spokesperson added that Al-Qaeda continues to function as a &ldquo;multiplier and service provider&rdquo; to militant organizations by offering training and operational guidance, especially to TTP. He said the report pointed to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) remaining active in southeastern Afghanistan, while ISKP has maintained a presence in the northern parts of the country. The spokesperson said concerns were raised by several UN member states regarding increased cooperation among militant groups, including alleged collaboration between TTP, ISKP, and Baloch militant factions through shared training facilities and coordinated attacks. &ldquo;Pakistan is the main target of TTP attacks, and the report validates Pakistan as a victim of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-warns-ttp-emerging-as-significant-regional-threat-from-afghan-soil" style="color:#0073e6;">terrorism</a>&nbsp;originating from Afghanistan,&rdquo; he said, adding Islamabad would continue engaging with the UN, Security Council members, and international partners on the issue. Responding to a question about a recent Islamabad&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-condemns-mosque-blast-orders-probe" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">bombing</a>&nbsp;allegedly linked to ISKP, the spokesperson said Pakistan was coordinating with international partners and utilizing diplomatic channels to address the threat. He added that Pakistan maintained diplomatic contact with Afghan authorities through embassies but emphasized that counter-terrorism concerns were being raised at multiple international forums. The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan reserved the right to defend itself under Article 51 of the UN Charter and said security forces remained vigilant against cross-border militant threats. He added that the instability in Afghanistan had affected Pakistan&rsquo;s broader regional connectivity ambitions with Central Asia. However, he added that improved governance and stronger action against militant groups in Afghanistan would benefit regional stability and economic cooperation.

According to the report, TTP, Al-Qaeda, and ISKP operating from Afghanistan are posing threats and launching cross-border attacks against Pakistan's interests.

Pakistan says UN report confirms militant threats emanating from Afghanistan

MUMBAI:&nbsp;Spinners Crishan Kalugamage and Ben Manenti helped debutants Italy to a historic first win at the cricket T20 World Cup with a 10-wicket hammering of Nepal on Thursday.&nbsp;Kalugamage (3-18) and Manenti (2-9) combined to bowl out Nepal for 123, a total Italy&#39;s openers overhauled with 44 balls to spare in their second match at Mumbai&#39;s Wankhede Stadium.&nbsp;Brothers Justin Mosca, who made 60, and Anthony Mosca, who hit 62, tore into the opposition attack with fours and sixes to fire their team to a win.&nbsp;A nation better known for its football, Italy are cricket minnows and the lowest-ranked side in the 20-team tournament.&nbsp;They lost their opener to Scotland in Group C but bounced back.&nbsp;Nepal were a far cry from the team that ran England close on Sunday at the same venue as they collapsed from 93-3 to be bundled out in 19.3 overs.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s pretty extraordinary really. It&#39;s something a lot of people in Italy, a lot of people in this group, have dreamed of,&quot; Italy&#39;s stand-in skipper Harry Manenti said.&nbsp;&quot;We didn&#39;t quite nail it the other day but we backed up today and showed the world what we&#39;ve got.&quot;&nbsp;Italy were without skipper Wayne Madsen, who dislocated his shoulder in the first loss, but came out roaring after they won the toss and elected to field first.&nbsp;Leg-spinner Kalugamage sent back skipper Rohit Paudel for 23 and Manenti, who opened the bowling attack, took down Aasif Sheikh, for 20, with his off-spin.&nbsp;&quot;I always wanted to help the team to win a match and do my best for my nation, Italy -- I&#39;m happy,&quot; player of the match Kalugamage said. &quot;These are my brothers. I&#39;m really happy.&quot;&nbsp;Aarif Sheikh attempted to rebuild in 27 but Italy bowlers were unrelenting in their pursuit of wickets and the Nepal batting came crashing down.&nbsp;&quot;We need to be more consistent and today was the day to prove that, but not taking away the credit from Italy,&quot; said Paudel. &quot;They played really well today and credit must go to them.&quot;&nbsp;The Mosca brothers then struck eight fours and nine sixes between them to leave the Nepal bowlers in agony.&nbsp;The win made Italy jump to third and England slip to fourth in the group led by the West Indies.

Cricket

Debutants Italy secured their first T20 World Cup win in Mumbai, crushing Nepal by 10 wickets. Spinners Kalugamage and Manenti restricted Nepal to 123, which Italy comfortably chased down with 44 balls remaining in their second group match.

Italy thrash Nepal for first cricket T20 World Cup win

&nbsp;ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday confirmed its participation in the Board of Peace meeting in Washington on Feb. 19, during the weekly Foreign Office media briefing. Speaking at the briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed Islamabad&rsquo;s decision to take part in the upcoming Gaza Board of Peace meeting, which will be attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. &ldquo;We confirm Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s participation in the Board of Peace meeting in Washington, United States,&rdquo; he added. He said that Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to join the meeting reflects its &ldquo;sincere intent&rdquo; to support diplomatic efforts and contribute toward regional peace initiatives. The spokesperson added that the &ldquo;collective voice&rdquo; of eight Muslim countries is &ldquo;resonating&rdquo; in the Board of Peace. He said Pakistan will continue to strive for the &ldquo;rights, peace and prosperity&rdquo; of the Palestinian people, aimed at achieving a long-term solution to the Palestine issue through the creation of an independent Palestinian state. &ldquo;Our engagement is aimed at short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions to the plight of the Palestinian people,&rdquo; he added. National Control Lists updated for items requiring an export licenseTalking about the Export Control on Goods, Technologies, Materials, and Equipment Related to the Nuclear and Biological Weapons and Their Delivery Systems Act, 2004 (SECA-2004), the spokesperson said Pakistan has notified its updated National Control Lists of items requiring an export license from the Strategic Export Control Division (SECDIV). He said the Control Lists were first issued in 2005 and were subsequently revised in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2022. &ldquo;The latest update ensures continued harmonization with the control lists maintained by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and the Australia Group,&rdquo; he said. He added that the notification underscores the country&rsquo;s &ldquo;resolve&rdquo; to strengthen its export control regime while reaffirming its role as a &ldquo;responsible technology holder state.&rdquo; He underscored that Pakistan remains &ldquo;firmly committed&rdquo; to the objectives of non-proliferation and to fulfilling its international obligations. Iran-US talksSpeaking about talks between Tehran and Washington, the spokesperson said Pakistan &ldquo;welcomes&rdquo; the talks taking place in Oman and appreciated the &ldquo;positive statement&rdquo; by the Iranian Foreign Minister. &ldquo;We support all initiatives of dialogue and diplomacy to settle outstanding issues, including the nuclear talks you referred to,&rdquo; he said, responding to a question. Andrabi stated that the negotiations were initially supposed to be held on a &ldquo;large scale in Istanbul.&rdquo; However, the scope of the negotiations was later scaled down, he added. &ldquo;As regards Pakistan&rsquo;s participation, initially these talks were to be held in Istanbul, where the format was broader. In that broader format, Pakistan was invited. Later, the format narrowed down to three sides &mdash; Iran and the United States, facilitated by Oman,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;However, we still welcome these talks,&rdquo; he said. The spokesperson expressed hope that the parties would carry forward optimism and positivity during the talks. He also encouraged the relevant parties to adopt the most direct negotiation framework possible.

During the weekly Foreign Office media briefing, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi spoke on a range of issues, saying that Pakistan reaffirms its support for Palestinian statehood, the updated export control lists, and welcomes Iran-US talks in Oman.

Pakistan confirms participation in Board of Peace meeting

MOSCOW: Russia has blocked the popular messaging service WhatsApp over its failure to comply with local legislation, the Kremlin said Thursday, urging its 100 million Russian users to switch to a domestic alternative.&nbsp;Moscow has for months been trying to shift Russian users onto Max, a domestic messaging service that lacks end-to-end encryption and that activists have called a potential tool for surveillance.&nbsp;&quot;As for the blocking of WhatsApp such a decision was indeed made and implemented,&quot; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.&nbsp;Peskov said the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russia-threatens-total-ban-on-whatsapp" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">decision</a> was due to WhatsApp&#39;s &quot;reluctance to comply with the norms and letter of Russian law&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;Max is an accessible alternative, a developing messenger, a national messenger. And it is an alternative available on the market for citizens,&quot; he said.&nbsp;WhatsApp, owned by US social media giant Meta, said Wednesday that it believed Russia was attempting to fully block the service in a bid to force users onto Max.&nbsp;&quot;We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected,&quot; it said.&nbsp;Critics and rights campaigners say the restrictions are a transparent attempt by the Kremlin to ramp up control and surveillance over internet use in Russia.&nbsp;Russia&#39;s internet watchdog said Tuesday it would slap &quot;phased restrictions&quot; on the Telegram messaging platform, which it also accused of not complying with local legislation.

Artificial Intelligence

Russia has blocked WhatsApp for failing to comply with local laws, urging users to switch to the state-backed messenger Max. Critics warn the move increases surveillance, while authorities also plan phased restrictions on Telegram for allegedly violating Russian legislation.

Russia confirms WhatsApp ban, says it failed to abide by law

LONDON: Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe apologized Thursday for his &quot;choice of language&quot; after saying the &quot;UK has been colonized by immigrants.&quot; The billionaire businessman, founder and chairman of the Ineos chemicals company, made the remarks in a television interview in which he suggested &quot;huge levels of immigration&quot; to the UK had harmed the economy. But following calls for Ratcliffe to apologize, including from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the 73-year-old said, &quot;I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern, but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth. &quot;My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where I was discussing the importance of economic growth, jobs, skills, and manufacturing in the UK.&quot; He added, &quot;My intention was to stress that governments must manage migration alongside investment in skills, industry, and jobs so that long-term prosperity is shared by everyone. &quot;It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK.&quot; Inflammatory and divisive&nbsp;A spokesman for Starmer reacted by saying, &quot;The Prime Minister asked for an apology, and one&#39;s been issued, and it&#39;s absolutely right that Jim Ratcliffe has apologized for that language.&quot; Pressed on whether Ratcliffe&#39;s apology went far enough, the spokesman said, &quot;It&#39;s for Mr Ratcliffe to speak to his apology ... It&#39;s not for me.&quot; He added, &quot;We are, of course, of the view that there should be a serious debate about immigration, but the Prime Minister believes in a Britain built for all, and that those comments were inflammatory and divisive.&quot; Ratcliffe told Sky News on Wednesday, &quot;You can&#39;t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK is being colonized. It&#39;s costing too much money. The UK has been colonized by immigrants.&quot; Ratcliffe&#39;s comments could lead to a possible disciplinary charge of &quot;bringing the game into disrepute&quot; by England&#39;s governing Football Association. During his Sky interview, Ratcliffe, who said his &quot;unpopular&quot; decisions at Old Trafford were now bearing fruit, cited erroneous statistics, claiming the UK population was 58 million in 2020 and &quot;now it&#39;s 70 million.&quot; Population estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the country&#39;s population was 67 million in mid-2020 and just under 70 million in mid-2024. Hours later, Starmer urged Ratcliffe to apologize for the &quot;offensive and wrong&quot; comments, with Kick It Out, a UK-based body seeking to counter racism in football, reacting strongly to the &quot;disgraceful and deeply divisive&quot; remarks on Thursday. &quot;In addition to the inaccurate figures mentioned, it&#39;s worth reminding him that Manchester United has a diverse fan base and plays in a city whose cultural history has been enriched by immigrants,&quot; Kick It Out said in a statement. &quot;This type of language and leadership has no place in English football, and we believe most fans will feel the same.&quot; Several United supporters&#39; groups did indeed criticize the comments, while the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said that while calling for immigration curbs was &quot;one thing,&quot; portraying those who arrived in Britain &quot;as a hostile invading force is quite another.&quot;

British INEOS Group chairman Jim Ratcliffe poses upon his arrival for the 73rd edition of the Red Cross Gala at the Casino in Monte Carlo on July 18, 2022. Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe apologised on February 12, 2026 for his "choice of languag

Europe

The condemnation comes hours after Ratcliffe made the remarks in a television interview in which he suggested 'huge levels of immigration' to the UK had harmed the economy.

Man Utd's Ratcliffe apologizes for 'language' on immigration

Ali Andaz Haider

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Ali Riaz, special assistant to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, has said participation of more than 50 political parties in the parliamentary elections reflects their enthusiasm, pointing out that New Delhi has not been able to recognize the change in Bangladesh. Talking exclusively to Pakistan TV in Dhaka, Ali Riaz said the broad political participation demonstrates that Bangladesh is entering a new political phase following years without a credible electoral process. He said many Bangladeshis had not previously had the opportunity to participate in a free and fair vote. &ldquo;So far the voters have been very much enthusiastic because they did not have an opportunity to participate in a free and fair vote,&rdquo; he said, adding that nearly one-fourth of the electorate is under the age of 37, meaning they have never voted in what is widely regarded as a genuinely competitive election. Ali Riaz went on to say that around four million voters are casting ballots for the first time, making this their &ldquo;first test of democracy&rdquo;. With nearly 130 million registered voters, Riaz described the polls as one of the largest electoral exercises globally in 2026, saying that the elections follow a popular uprising that ended a 16-year autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina. The special assistant said the elections offer an opportunity to establish an accountable democratic government, adding that proposed constitutional reforms placed before the electorate could usher in a more accountable governance structure. He said the interim government had inherited a &ldquo;hollowed-out&rdquo; economy and focused on stabilizing it, leaving longer-term reforms to the next elected administration. Ali Riaz was critical of Sheikh Hasina regime&rsquo;s approach toward India, saying it was overly aligned with Indian interests. He said the Indian establishment has not been able to recognize the change and accept the change in Bangladesh. &ldquo;But this cannot continue. India will have to rethink its policies,&rdquo; he added. He said any incoming government would have to prioritize Bangladesh&rsquo;s national interest in its foreign policy, stressing that relations should be based on mutual respect and benefit. While acknowledging potential post-election challenges, including economic pressures and destabilizing forces, Riaz said he remains optimistic that a government emerging from strong voter participation would pursue accountable governance at home and a balanced, sovereign foreign policy abroad. He further said the parliamentary elections represented both a democratic reset within Bangladesh and a signal to regional actors that the country is charting a new direction.

SAT News Desk

Ali Riaz, special assistant to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, has said participation of more than 50 political parties in the parliamentary elections reflects their enthusiasm, pointing out that New Delhi has not been able to recognize the change in Bangladesh.

BD chief adviser’s aide says political parties show enthusiasm for polls

ISLAMABAD: US Deputy Assistant Secretary John Mark Pommersheim and Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie A. Baker have expressed appreciation for Pakistan&rsquo;s partnership in countering terrorism and advancing shared security priorities during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, according to a statement posted by the US Embassy in Islamabad. The statement, posted on the official X account, said the US officials also acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s cooperation in countering illegal migration and addressing regional security challenges.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 344px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2021821816692490447&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=6e6f8404a25ca1cf8004d0d0ff18de7118695f09&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in internal security, counterterrorism, and law enforcement.&nbsp;The US delegation reaffirmed Washington&rsquo;s commitment to continued engagement with Pakistan and pledged to work closely with Pakistani authorities to promote US investment, especially in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/exim-bank-to-lend-125b-for-pakistans-coppergold-project-ft" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan&rsquo;s energy sector</a>.&nbsp;They also stressed the importance of creating safe, secure operating environments for US businesses in Pakistan, noting that stronger security and regulatory frameworks would help attract more foreign investment.&nbsp;Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to enhancing cooperation with the United States on security and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-to-join-usled-global-initiative-on-critical-minerals" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">economic matters</a>&nbsp;and highlighted ongoing efforts to improve law and order and facilitate foreign investors.&nbsp;The meeting underscored the continued engagement between Pakistan and the United States on issues of mutual interest, including security cooperation and economic development.

The US officials also acknowledge Pakistan’s cooperation in countering illegal migration and addressing regional security challenges.

IMCTC secretary general meets Pakistan army chief to boost counterterror cooperation

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