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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is seeking to expand its technology exports by helping local companies compete for contracts in the United States&rsquo; $1.5 trillion state, local and education (SLED) procurement market, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Wednesday. Addressing the closing ceremony of a government-supported training program for Pakistani technology companies in Islamabad, the minister said the initiative is designed to improve Pakistan&rsquo;s access to one of the world&rsquo;s largest public-sector technology markets. &ldquo;The United States already is our largest export partner. Sixty-two percent of our exports are to the United States when you talk about tech exports, and the new initiative would help Pakistani technology companies accelerate export growth in the US market,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The US being the largest market that we have in terms of our tech trade, I think this particular project will help us accelerate our export growth in the US,&rdquo; she added. The US SLED market includes procurement by state governments, municipalities, public school districts, colleges and universities, covering spending on software, cybersecurity, cloud services, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies by nearly 90,000 government agencies and educational institutions. Highlighting the scale of the opportunity, the minister said, &ldquo;Opening of market to about 90,000 buyers&hellip; over $1.5 trillion, this is an economy, this is a market that is straight up open for you.&rdquo; Shaza Fatima said the government trained 74 Pakistani technology companies under a pilot program to help them compete for contracts in the US SLED market, adding that it invested approximately Rs6-7 million, or about $25,000, in the initiative. She said the program has already started producing early commercial results and emphasized that future government support for technology training initiatives would be linked to measurable outcomes. According to the minister, publicly funded technology programs will now be evaluated based on contracts secured, revenue generated and jobs created. She added that independent tracer studies would be conducted six months after the completion of such programs to determine whether participants had secured employment, launched businesses or won commercial contracts.

Economy

Pakistan has trained 74 Pakistani technology companies under a pilot program to help them compete for contracts in the US SLED market, which covers software, cybersecurity, cloud services, artificial intelligence, and other digital technologies by around 90,000 government agencies and educational institutions across the US.



Pakistan targets US public-sector technology market to boost tech exports significantly

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Post on Wednesday unveiled the world&#39;s longest commemorative postage stamp and a special souvenir sheet honoring legendary Pakistani artist, calligrapher and poet Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi during a ceremony at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in Islamabad. The inauguration brought together government officials, artists, philatelists, cultural figures, media representatives and art enthusiasts to celebrate the enduring legacy of one of Pakistan&#39;s most influential cultural icons. Widely regarded as one of the country&#39;s greatest modern artists, Sadequain earned international acclaim for his monumental murals, distinctive calligraphic style and poetry. His work helped redefine Islamic calligraphy in contemporary art and remains an enduring symbol of Pakistan&#39;s artistic heritage, making the commemorative issue both a tribute to his legacy and a celebration of the country&#39;s cultural identity. According to Pakistan Post, the commemorative issue recognizes Sadequain&#39;s outstanding contributions to art, calligraphy, literature and Pakistan&#39;s cultural heritage. The centerpiece of the ceremony was the unveiling of what Pakistan Post described as the world&#39;s longest commemorative postage stamp, calling it an unprecedented philatelic achievement that represents a unique fusion of art, culture and innovation. Pakistan Post said the issuance marks a significant milestone in the organization&#39;s philatelic history and reflects its continued commitment to preserving and promoting Pakistan&#39;s cultural heritage. The concept and design were developed by Abu Obaidah Ayyaz, Pakistan&#39;s youngest postage stamp designer, in collaboration with Hasnain Mahmud, whose shared vision transformed the project into what Pakistan Post described as &quot;a landmark philatelic tribute worthy of Sadequain&#39;s unparalleled artistic legacy.&quot; In addition to the commemorative stamp and souvenir sheet, Pakistan Post also released a specially designed First Day Cover, an informational philatelic leaflet and commemorative cancellation marks. Addressing the gathering, Pakistan Post officials emphasized &quot;the importance of commemorating national icons whose contributions have shaped Pakistan&#39;s artistic and intellectual identity.&quot; They said the issuance &quot;reaffirms Pakistan Post&#39;s dedication to celebrating individuals whose work has earned both national and international recognition.&quot; The commemorative stamp, souvenir sheet, First Day Cover, philatelic leaflet and other related collectibles are now available through designated Philatelic Bureaus and selected post offices across Pakistan. Pakistan Post also expressed appreciation to distinguished guests, participating organizations, members of the media, philatelists, artists and the public for contributing to what it described as the success of the historic event honoring Sadequain&#39;s enduring legacy.

Founder of Gallery 21 Islamabad, Dr. Farrukh Seir received the special commemorative stamp from Director General Pakistan Post Sqn. Ldr. (R) Maqsood Ahmed during the ceremony, a presentation that reflected a shared commitment to preserving and celebrating

Culture

Pakistan Post has issued the world's longest commemorative postage stamp and a special souvenir sheet celebrating Sadequain, honoring the renowned artist's lasting contributions to Pakistan's cultural heritage while marking a milestone in the country's philatelic history.

Pakistan Post unveils world's longest commemorative stamp honoring legendary artist Sadequain

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed federal and provincial authorities to strengthen coordination and accelerate preparedness measures ahead of the monsoon season, as officials warned of possible extreme weather, including above-normal rainfall and heatwaves in July. Chairing a high-level meeting on monsoon preparedness and climate change-related environmental risks, the prime minister stressed the need for timely action to safeguard lives, property and critical infrastructure, according to an official statement. Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, the prime minister said, emphasizing that effective cooperation between the federal government and provincial administrations is essential to respond to climate-related challenges. He directed the federal minister for climate change and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to undertake emergency visits this week to all provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to review and finalize monsoon preparedness arrangements. The prime minister also ordered the establishment of an Emergency Response Committee under the supervision of the federal minister for planning and development. &ldquo;The committee, comprising NDMA and relevant federal ministries, will work closely with provincial authorities and hold weekly meetings to monitor preparedness and response efforts,&rdquo; the statement said. To strengthen emergency response capacity, the prime minister instructed the finance minister to complete advance arrangements for an emergency fund to address potential losses caused by heavy rainfall and flooding during the monsoon season. Highlighting the government&#39;s focus on water security, he noted that an additional **Rs330 billion** had been allocated in the current federal budget to accelerate water-related development projects. &ldquo;He also stressed that foreign-funded initiatives should contribute to strengthening the institutional capacity of national and local agencies,&rdquo; the statement said. The prime minister further directed provincial governments to remove encroachments from river channels and flood pathways in vulnerable districts and implement preventive measures under a coordinated national roadmap. &ldquo;He also instructed all relevant institutions to utilize their full administrative and technical capacity for public facilitation during the monsoon season,&rdquo; the statement added. During the meeting, the NDMA chairman briefed participants on national preparedness measures and warned of possible extreme weather during the coming weeks, including intense heatwaves and above-normal rainfall in July, while outlining contingency plans already being implemented across the country.

Climate & Environment

Authorities have been directed to intensify flood preparedness, strengthen emergency response and protect vulnerable communities as Pakistan enters the monsoon season amid forecasts of above-normal July rainfall and extreme weather conditions.

PM Sharif orders monsoon readiness as Pakistan braces for extreme July weather

Trigger warning: This article contains details that some readers might find distressing. ISLAMABAD: Five-year-old Hind Rajab spent hours trapped inside a car surrounded by her relatives&#39; bodies while speaking to Red Crescent emergency dispatchers before, according to the United Nations, rescuers attempting to reach her were themselves killed. &nbsp; Her story went on to become one of the defining tragedies from Israel&rsquo;s war on Gaza. But a UN report titled &quot;The essence of childhood has been destroyed,&quot; by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, says Israel is &lsquo;deliberately targeting&rsquo; Palestinian children and that Hind&#39;s case is only one among thousands that show the systematic devastation of Palestinian childhood since October 2023. The individual accounts appear throughout the 94-page report, which examines the deaths of more than 20,000 children and the impact of the war on Palestinian children from October 7, 2023, to March 31, 2026.&nbsp; Brutal killings of childrenThe report contains details of the killing of a 15-year-old boy shot by a sniper while holding a white flag during an evacuation in Khan Younis in January 2024.&nbsp; According to the report, &quot;The boy was hit in the left foot, and he fell on his face. As he attempted to stand, two more gunshots were fired within seconds from the same direction. One shot hit the boy on his back and another on the left side of his neck&quot;. The report added that considering the accuracy of the guns used by the Israeli military, the shots were &quot;likely meant to ensure that he was dead,&quot; and that his 20-year-old brother was killed moments later, running to his aid. The commission said the killing of children continued even after a ceasefire took hold in Gaza in October 2025.&nbsp; Two brothers, aged 10 and nine, were shot by an Israeli drone in southern Gaza in November 2025 while collecting firewood for their wheelchair-bound father. Israeli forces said soldiers had identified two &quot;suspects&quot; approaching their position near a demarcation line dubbed the &quot;yellow line&quot;. After examining the incident, however, the Commission concluded the boys were gathering firewood and could not reasonably have posed an immediate threat. A doctor told the commission that the line was impossible for civilians to identify, adding that &quot;It is difficult for Palestinians to know where the yellow line is ... it is impossible for people, particularly children, to know or locate the line.&quot; The youngest child whose case is examined in detail was a 10-day-old baby who, according to the Commission, was shot in the head by a quadcopter while being breastfed inside a displacement tent in Nuseirat in April 2024. &quot;The mother was alone in the tent, breastfeeding her baby, when a single bullet from a quadcopter hit the baby in the head and exited through the back of his head, hitting the pillow behind her. The baby survived but sustained brain injuries and now suffers from seizures,&quot; the commission said. Lost both legsAnother case highlighted in the report is a three-year-old boy who survived an attack on a UNRWA school after losing both parents and a younger brother earlier in the war.&nbsp; The child lost both legs, and doctors told the Commission he is expected to require repeated surgeries throughout his childhood. &quot;However, this level of pediatric surgical care is not&nbsp;available in Gaza due to Israel&rsquo;s destruction of healthcare facilities,&quot; the report said.&nbsp; &quot;Based on the clustering of injuries and the targeted body parts, I assess that the Israeli soldiers have been deliberately shooting teenage boys in a game of target practice &ndash; a different body part being targeted on different days &hellip; There is a very clear pattern that suggests this is a deliberate aiming of different body parts [of children],&quot; a doctor said. Recalling the attack, the boy&#39;s uncle told the commission, &quot;I ran outside to find my three-year-old nephew ... covered in blood with his legs cut off, signaling with both his hands for me to pick him up and save him.&quot; As of 5 April, 2025, the Ministry of Health in Gaza recorded approximately 846&nbsp;cases of children with amputation, accounting for almost 18% of the 4,700 cases of&nbsp;amputation recorded. Far from isolated incidentsThe report goes on to mention hundreds of cases in less exhaustive detail: children abducted and tied to trees by settlers in the West Bank; newborns who died after incubators lost power during Israeli strikes on hospitals; and a 12-year-old girl with celiac disease who died of septic shock in October after a months-long blockade cut off access to the food she needed to survive, her medical evacuation approved only after her death. Doctors interviewed by the commission said they repeatedly treated children with severe gunshot wounds and blast injuries. One surgeon who worked in Gaza told investigators he observed &quot;a very clear pattern&quot; suggesting children were being deliberately shot. At the same time, another described seeing injuries that would leave children with lifelong disabilities. Scale of the tollThe report says more than 20,000 Palestinian children were killed and over 44,000 injured in Gaza between October 2023 and October 2025, adding that many more remain missing or buried beneath rubble.&nbsp; The commission said it found &quot;reasonable grounds&quot; to conclude that Israeli authorities and security forces have committed genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinian children, and called for an immediate halt to military operations, sanctions against officials found responsible, and enforcement of International Court of Justice orders.&nbsp; It said its findings were based on individual cases investigated using forensic pathology, ballistic analysis, satellite imagery, medical records and witness testimony from doctors, family members and children themselves.

TOPSHOT - A Palestinian man rushes with a child in his arms to a waiting vehicle following an Israeli airstrike on the Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on October 17, 2023 (File photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)

Middle East

UN report titled "The essence of childhood has been destroyed," by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, says Israel is ‘deliberately targeting’ Palestinian children and that Hind's case is only one among thousands that show the systematic devastation of Palestinian childhood since October 2023.

UN details Gaza's horror stories of Israel 'deliberately targeting' children

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India on Wednesday exchanged, through diplomatic channels,&nbsp;the lists of prisoners in each other&#39;s custody under an agreement signed in May 2008.&nbsp; Under the Agreement on Consular Access, both sides are required to exchange these lists on 1 January and 1 July each year. In a statement issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad shared a list of over 250 Indian prisoners &mdash; 52 civilian prisoners and 198 fishermen &mdash; with the Indian High Commission.&nbsp; Similarly, New Delhi provided a list of &ldquo;439 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners, including 386 civilian prisoners and 53 fishermen, who are in Indian jails,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said. Islamabad called on New Delhi to release and repatriate 97 Pakistani prisoners, 64 civilian prisoners and 33 fishermen, who have completed their sentences and their nationality has been confirmed, it said, urging India to ensure the safety, security and well-being of prisoners awaiting release and repatriation. &ldquo;Pakistan also called for expeditious consular access to all believed-to-be-Pakistani prisoners to facilitate the early confirmation of their nationality,&rdquo; FO said, adding that Islamabad would continue efforts to ensure the early return of all Pakistani prisoners.

Foreign Affairs

As per the Agreement on Consular Access, both sides are required to exchange these lists on 1 January and 1 July every year.



Pakistan, India exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody 

PARIS: France on Wednesday launched new paid leave for both mothers and fathers, as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to boost the country&#39;s sluggish birth rate. In 2024, Macron unveiled a plan to combat infertility and the declining birth rate, saying it would help pave the way toward what he described as France&#39;s &quot;demographic re-armament.&quot; Until now, paid maternity leave in France has been just under four months for a first child, while fathers have been entitled to 28 days of leave following a birth. Under the new rules, which came into force on Wednesday, mothers and fathers can now share an additional one or two months of leave on top of existing entitlements. New provisions&nbsp;Parents will receive 70% of their net salary during the first month and 60% during the second. The new provisions apply to parents of children born on or after January 1, 2026. Adoptive parents are also eligible. Fertility rates are declining across the European Union. France last year -- for the first time since the end of World War II -- recorded fewer births than deaths, according to the National Statistics Institute. Feminist groups say the reform falls short and is unlikely to improve gender equality. They note that the lower-earning partner -- typically the woman -- is more likely to take the additional leave.

Europe

Under the new rules, which came into force on Wednesday, mothers and fathers can now share an additional one or two months of leave on top of existing entitlements.

France introduces extra parental leave to boost birth rates

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Wednesday chaired the sixth meeting of the High-Level Committee overseeing preparations for the 9th Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), scheduled to be held in Pakistan on July 12-13. The meeting reviewed the final phase of arrangements for the conference, including the draft program, agenda, protocol, security and logistical planning, media and communication strategy, inter-ministerial coordination, and other organizational matters. According to a Foreign Office statement, the committee discussed measures to ensure the smooth and successful hosting of the conference, which is expected to bring together representatives from all 57 OIC member states.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; 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=2072202793621012528&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=286eae2935216bcadd5b9549885c41021b3ffda5&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2072202793621012528"></iframe></div></div>The conference aims to strengthen cooperation among member countries on women&#39;s empowerment, inclusion and sustainable development. Dar appreciated the progress made by the Ministry of Human Rights in organizing the event and directed all relevant ministries and departments to maintain close coordination and complete the remaining preparations on time. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Secretary Human Rights Abdul Khaliq Shaikh, and other senior officials. Pakistan will host the two-day ministerial conference in Islamabad from July 12 to 13, bringing together ministers and senior representatives from OIC member states to discuss policies and initiatives to advance the role of women across the Muslim world.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chairs a high-level committee meeting to review preparations for the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, which will be hosted by Pakistan from 12-13 July 2026. (Photo: X/@ForeignOfficePk)

Pakistan is set to host the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women in Islamabad on July 12-13, bringing together 57 member states.

Pakistan finalizes preparations for OIC women ministers' conference

ISLAMABAD: A student-led group continued its protest for the 12th day at New Delhi&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/cockroach-janta-party-sets-up-committee-for-sunday-protest" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jantar Mantar</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday over reported failures in India&rsquo;s national examination system, according to organizers. The <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/indias-gen-z-cockroaches-to-gather-in-delhi-today-against-exam-fraud" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cockroach Janta Party</a> (CJP) has been holding an indefinite sit-in since June 20 at the designated protest site in the Indian capital, according to the group and local reporting cited by The New Indian Express. The protest centers on allegations of irregularities in national medical and university entrance examinations. These include claims of paper leaks, grading concerns and administrative errors, according to Al Jazeera. The group has issued three demands: the resignation of the education minister, compensation for families of students who died by suicide linked to exam-related stress, and reforms to India&rsquo;s national examination system, according to statements by the group. The movement was launched by Abhijeet Dipke, a digital creator, who began mobilizing supporters in early June, according to the BBC. India&rsquo;s National Testing Agency faced allegations of paper leaks in the <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/indian-teacher-exam-cancelled-after-police-seize-leaked-papers" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">NEET-UG medical entrance examination</a> in Bihar, as well as reported irregularities and administrative issues in other national entrance exams, according to Al Jazeera. The agency has faced criticism in previous cycles over examination conduct and evaluation procedures, according to the same reporting. CJP created as protest groupThe group&rsquo;s name stems from remarks made by Chief Justice Surya Kant during a court hearing in which he compared some critics and unemployed youth to &ldquo;cockroaches&rdquo; and &ldquo;parasites,&rdquo; according to court reporting. The judge later clarified that the remarks referred to individuals with fraudulent credentials, as per The Hindu. Dipke later launched a social media campaign using the hashtag #MainBhiCockroach, which spread widely online and led to the formation of the protest group, according to BBC reporting. On June 20, the group began an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar, according to The New Indian Express. Protesters have staged demonstrations using loud public displays, including banging utensils, to draw attention to their demands. Participants have remained at the site during extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, according to The CSR Journal. Some participants have required medical assistance. Meanwhile, <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/india-detains-farm-leaders-to-break-youthfarmer-alliance" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian police</a> restricted access to parts of the protest area. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has participated in a solidarity hunger strike, according to DW News. Civil society figures, including advocate Prashant Bhushan, have also expressed support. India&rsquo;s education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, has criticized the protest, describing the group as disruptive, the BBC reported. Protest leader Dipke rejected the criticism in comments to the BBC.

Student protesters, including organizer Abhijeet Dipke, sit at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on the 12th day of a protest over reported failures in India’s national examination system. (Abhijeet Dipke/X)

India

The protest centers on allegations of irregularities in national medical and university entrance examinations. These include claims of paper leaks, grading concerns and administrative errors,

Student protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar enters second week

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, on Wednesday, rejected &ldquo;baseless statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Pakistan&rsquo;s legitimate, targeted and proportionate actions against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan,&rdquo; according to a statement shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X, attributed to the ministry spokesperson. India strongly condemned the air strikes by Pakistan on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-issues-strong-demarche-summons-afghan-charg-daffaires-over-karachi-attack" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Afghan territory</a>, in a statement issued by its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-says-four-afghan-drones-intercepted-over-balochistan-warns-taliban" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">External Affairs Ministry</a>&nbsp;on Monday. Tahir Andrabi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-minister-shares-footage-of-strikes-targeting-terrorist-camps-in-afghanistan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Foreign Affairs</a>, in response to a media question seeking Pakistan&rsquo;s reaction to the statement made by the Ministry of External Affairs of India on June 29, stated: &ldquo;Pakistan rejects the baseless statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Pakistan&rsquo;s legitimate, targeted and proportionate actions against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/karachi-attack-probe-points-to-afghanistanbased-support-networks-sources" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">terrorist infrastructure</a>&nbsp;in Afghanistan.&rdquo; <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=2072233123438534721&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=43930af7fe5408cf39859e7139c0bb62bba3beab&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 851px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;This preposterous statement has been made by a country that has historically interfered in and undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbouring countries, in contravention of the UN Charter, and continues to suppress the right to self-determination of the Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in violation of the relevant UN resolutions,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;India has also been actively aiding and sponsoring terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan, in violation of the relevant UN Security Council sanctions regime, and continues to play the role of a regional spoiler,&rdquo; it added. &ldquo;Its baseless accusations and inflammatory statements against Pakistan must not be entertained,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;Pakistan has been and will continue to take all appropriate measures to uphold the safety and security of its citizens in accordance with international law,&rdquo; it added.

Pakistan's FO spokesperson says, ‘Pakistan rejects the baseless statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Pakistan’s legitimate, targeted and proportionate actions against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan.’

Pakistan rejects India’s ‘baseless statement,’ defends actions against Afghanistan terrorist infrastructure

HONG KONG:&nbsp;Asian stocks mostly rose Wednesday as investors nervously awaited key US jobs data that could help determine the Federal Reserve&#39;s next interest rate decision, while the yen is in focus as it wallows around four-decade lows. Regional markets enjoyed a fruitful first half of the year thanks to a surge in tech stocks, but ructions in the sector over the past few weeks have raised concerns that a bubble has formed. The race by firms to get ahead of the curve in the AI boom has seen them pump trillions of dollars into the industry, sparking an eye-watering global rally that has sent some big names stratospheric, including US chip giant Nvidia and South Korea&#39;s SK hynix. But fears are growing that those valuations have now gone too far, investors might not see returns as early as expected and US interest rates could start to go up. While markets have endured such issues in the past, and bounced back to scale more heights, there is talk that the latest pullback might be more lasting. That puts Thursday&#39;s US non-farm payrolls (NFP) figures for June in focus, with a strong reading likely to ramp up expectations and deal a fresh blow to stocks, while a below-forecast reading could provide a fresh boost. &quot;While AI remains a long-term structural growth theme, investors are becoming increasingly focused on valuations and whether the enormous investment in AI infrastructure will translate into earnings growth quickly enough to justify current share prices,&quot; wrote City Index&#39;s Fiona Cincotta. &quot;At the same time, a more hawkish Federal Reserve has weighed on high growth stocks.&quot; She said markets were eyeing a 60% chance of a 25-basis-point increase in September, with some even predicting three before January. Fed boss Kevin Warsh is lined up to give a speech at a bankers&#39; conference in Portugal later in the day, which could provide fresh insight into the bank&#39;s thinking after it took a hawkish turn last month. The NFP report follows a blowout reading for May and comes after data Tuesday showed job openings were little changed and consumer confidence had picked up thanks to easing fuel costs. Wall Street&#39;s three main indexes ended Tuesday on a strong note, with the Dow at another record and the Nasdaq chalking up its best quarter in six years. In Asia, Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Manila, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta all rose. But Seoul sank two percent, extending a downward run that saw the Kospi take a battering last week. Still, the index is still up almost 100% since the turn of the year. There were also losses in Sydney, Wellington, London and Paris. Frankfurt opened higher. Hong Kong was closed for a holiday.&nbsp;The yen endured more selling pressure after hitting its weakest level against the dollar since 1986 owing to Fed hike bets and waning hopes for more tightening by the Bank of Japan. Traders are also looking for signs of intervention by the government after it pumped a record $72 billion into markets to support the unit in May.&nbsp; Officials have warned they are willing to step in again but have so far resisted. Oil prices inched higher after dropping further Tuesday on the back of optimism over the US-Iran talks. US President Donald Trump&#39;s envoys Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are in Qatar for more negotiations aimed at keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Key figures around 0715 GMT&nbsp;</h2>Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.6% at 70,474.96 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4% at 4,112.45 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2% at 10,476.59 Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: Closed for a holiday Dollar/yen: UP at 162.68 yen from 162.59 yen on Tuesday Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1403 from $1.1418 Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3242 from $1.3256 Euro/pound: DOWN at 86.11 pence from 86.13 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.2% at $69.61 a barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2% at $73.09 a barrel New York - Dow: UP 0.3% at 52,319.20 (close)

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 Asian stocks mostly rose Wednesday as investors nervously awaited key US jobs data that could help determine the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision, while the yen is in focus as it wallows around four-decade lows.

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