Gaitty Ara Anis

WASHINGTON: While Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of a long-awaited peace agreement, analysts urge &ldquo;necessary caution,&rdquo; warning that without addressing the core political questions of Palestinian sovereignty and statehood, the ceasefire risks becoming yet another short-lived truce. The deal, announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, includes a temporary pause in fighting, a swap of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The announcement sparked cautious optimism across global capitals, but also deep skepticism among regional experts interviewed by Pakistan TV Digital. Canada-based decolonial scholar and activist Dr Sabreena Ghaffar said the euphoria surrounding the truce overlooks painful lessons from the past. &ldquo;In January, we saw a deal made and people rejoiced, but the bombardment didn&rsquo;t stop,&rdquo; she said, noting that over 30 Palestinians had been killed since the latest announcement. &ldquo;Even now, airstrikes continue. Until the root causes are addressed, no ceasefire will hold.&rdquo; According to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, one of the deal&rsquo;s key mediators, an immediate ceasefire must precede the agreement&rsquo;s implementation to prevent further loss of life. Arif Ansar, chief analyst at PolitTact, shared cautious optimism, saying, &ldquo;A ceasefire at all costs saves lives.&rdquo; But he emphasized that the underlying challenges, particularly disarmament and governance, could derail the process. Under the agreement, Hamas and Israel have pledged to begin phased de-escalation. The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages. Israel&rsquo;s military aggression in Gaza has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 170,000, according to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry, with roughly half of the casualties being women and children. Dr Ghaffar noted that the agreement makes no mention of Hamas disarming.&nbsp; &ldquo;Hamas will disarm when there is a Palestinian state,&rdquo; she stated, arguing that the demand for unilateral disarmament is unrealistic. Ansar agreed, describing Hamas&rsquo;s weapons as &ldquo;an existential and ideological symbol of resistance.&rdquo; Disarmament without a roadmap for statehood, he said, would be seen by Hamas as &ldquo;total moral and political surrender.&rdquo; Analysts also expressed concern over reported plans for a foreign-led &ldquo;Board of Peace&rdquo; to administer Gaza. &ldquo;An externally imposed trusteeship, featuring figures like Tony Blair, will lack legitimacy and fuel resentment,&rdquo; Ansar warned. &ldquo;Any unelected authority risks being branded a new occupation.&rdquo; Dr Ghaffar added that Blair&rsquo;s role would be &ldquo;deeply problematic,&rdquo; recalling his controversial record during the 2003 Iraq War. Both experts stressed that true peace requires addressing fundamental political issues. Sovereignty, self-determination, and justice. &ldquo;Ignoring these in favor of reconstruction or investment-only deals turns peace into a real estate project,&rdquo; said Ansar.&nbsp; Dr Ghaffar concurred, describing Israel&rsquo;s approach as &ldquo;colonial and PR-driven,&rdquo; warning that global opinion may be shifting but &ldquo;not fast enough to save unarmed Palestinians.&rdquo; The analysts agreed that without confronting the legacy of occupation and ensuring accountability, any peace plan would be doomed to repeat history. &ldquo;The Oslo Accords failed for the same reasons,&rdquo; said Ansar. &ldquo;Key questions, statehood, refugees, Jerusalem, were postponed, and that &lsquo;later phase&rsquo; never arrived.&rdquo; As the world cautiously welcomes the latest truce, regional observers insist the real test lies not in ending the violence, but in addressing the injustices that fuel it.

Middle East

Experts caution that the Gaza ceasefire, while a welcome pause in bloodshed, risks collapse without concrete guarantees on Palestinian sovereignty, disarmament terms, and legitimate post-war governance free from external control.



Skepticism clouds Gaza truce as analysts warn of deeper fault lines

MARYLAND: Students in the United States (US) gathered in solemn silence on the campus lawns today, Tuesday, marking two years since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The peaceful protest, held on the anniversary of the conflict that began on October 7, 2023, was a stark reminder of the ongoing violence that has claimed over 67,000 lives in Gaza. Though Washington D.C. is typically a hub for large-scale protests, the capital city has seen fewer demonstrations in recent years due to stricter law enforcement measures. As National Guard troops now patrol the city, protests have shifted to universities like the University of Maryland, where students continue to speak out against the war. &quot;We&#39;ve been protesting against this war from day one,&quot; said Khaula T. (name changed for privacy), an engineering student who was arrested in April 2024 for participating in a similar protest. &quot;Today, we reflect on how far we&#39;ve come, but also on the lives lost.&quot; The protest took a quieter, more reflective form today, with students sitting together in peaceful solidarity. Rather than chanting or marching, they participated in interactive discussions with experts and faculty members, focusing on the call for universities in the US to sever financial and academic ties with institutions in Israel. Zahid Khan, a Pakistani-American student, echoed the sentiments of many in attendance. &quot;We can&rsquo;t let the world forget what&rsquo;s happening in Gaza,&quot; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &quot;This isn&rsquo;t just another headline. It&rsquo;s real lives that are being lost every day.&quot; The event also included discussions on the history of Palestine, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and efforts to raise awareness among their peers. Eric, a Jewish political science graduate student, shared his personal perspective: &quot;I know what&rsquo;s right and wrong. This isn&rsquo;t about politics; it&rsquo;s about humanity.&quot; As the day progressed, some students worked on artwork while others sat in quiet contemplation. Maliha, one of the participants, created a piece that read &ldquo;Falasteen,&rdquo; a tribute to the Palestinian people. &quot;This is about honoring the martyrs and standing for peace,&quot; she explained. The University of Maryland has been a focal point of student activism, notably for its role in challenging administrative restrictions. In August 2025, the university settled a lawsuit filed by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group after it attempted to ban a vigil for Gaza victims. A judge ruled the ban unconstitutional, and the university agreed to a $100,000 settlement. Dr. Joe Frank, an activist and researcher, noted that the history of student-led protests in the US is long and storied. &quot;From Vietnam to Gaza, students have always been at the forefront of calling for peace, even when their voices have been silenced,&quot; Frank told Pakistan TV Digital. As the protest came to a close, many students expressed hope that a newly announced peace plan might bring an end to the conflict, though skepticism remained among others. Regardless of the outcome, the students at the University of Maryland made one thing clear: their fight for peace will continue.

Americas

University of Maryland students stage a silent protest, calling for an end to the conflict, urging US universities to sever ties with Israeli institutions supporting the war.

US students protest as Gaza war marks two-year anniversary

US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s newly announced 20-point plan to end Israel&rsquo;s war in Gaza and release hostages held by Hamas has sparked mixed reactions across the Middle East. It was initially widely praised but was soon followed by criticism from key regional allies. Pakistan issued a joint statement with seven other Muslim countries during the announcement of the 20-point peace plan, praising President Trump&#39;s sincere efforts to end the war. Later, Pakistan, along with Qatar, noted that changes had been made to the originally-proposed draft. The changes are being called out as benefiting Israel rather than the Palestinians and requiring the inclusion of other points that were previously discussed with the US. &lsquo;Lack of Palestinian input&rsquo;Experts on the Middle East believe there are many obstacles to implementing the plan, from the supposed disagreement within the Hamas leadership to doubts about Israel&rsquo;s intentions to carry it out. Dr Jason Campbell, an expert on defense and regional security at The Middle East Institute, called it a sign of &ldquo;general frustrations&rdquo; that seem to center on a handful of factors stipulated in the plan. &ldquo;Lack of Palestinian input in the drafting has been a justifiable criticism,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Particularly given that it was Israel&#39;s unwarranted attack on Hamas negotiators in Doha that derailed previous collaborative discussions.&rdquo; This is a view shared by Areig Elhag, Arabic Content Editor at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. She says that the plan was shaped mainly around US and Israeli priorities. &ldquo;Without solid guarantees for Palestinian sovereignty, regional actors recognized that implementation depends on reforms within the Palestinian Authority and the disarmament of Hamas&rdquo; &mdash; conditions she believes seem highly unrealistic to materialize in the near term. &lsquo;Product of extensive consultation&rsquo;Trump described his plan as the product of &ldquo;extensive consultation with friends and partners throughout the region.&rdquo;&nbsp; Under the plan, hostilities would end immediately once both parties accepted. Israeli forces would withdraw to agreed positions, and all military operations would be frozen. Within 72 hours, all hostages would be returned, and Israel would release Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and those detained. Hamas members who agree to disarm and &ldquo;commit to peaceful co-existence&rdquo; would receive amnesty, while those wishing to leave Gaza would be granted safe passage to third countries. As proposed by President Trump in the draft, a &ldquo;Peace Board&rdquo; would take over control of the administration in Gaza, headed by President Trump himself; however, the rest of the composition remains unclear. A few names have been floated, said Dr Campbell, such as Tony Blair&rsquo;s.&nbsp; However, many consider the former British prime minister a controversial figure, often questioned for his allegedly misleading policies during the Iraq War. Blair&#39;s decision to lead the UK into the 2003 Iraq War remains one of the most controversial events of his career. Given that context, analysts believe this is also drawing criticism, particularly from Palestinians. Elhag notes that concerns in such a situation are justified. She explains that they stem from a lack of clear mechanisms for enforcing the plan, causing the 20 points to seem more like a &ldquo;political gesture than a practical roadmap.&rdquo; Accept now. Discuss details later?Dr Campbell considers it a concern that the peace draft does not specify conditions for fully removing Israeli forces from Gaza. Despite this flaw, he says, reports indicate that key mediators, including Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, are &ldquo;recommending&rdquo; that Hamas negotiators accept the plan &ldquo;in principle&rdquo; and iron out the details during implementation. This approach aligns with the stance many Islamic countries are also adopting, as Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, pointed out the absence of several critical points from the peace plan but expressed hope that they will be included in the future.Is there any alternative to this plan? There have been numerous ceasefire deals that were tabled over the past two years of Israel&rsquo;s war against Palestine, but none of those have borne any fruit. &ldquo;The reality is that there are no other alternatives currently on the table, and the continuation of the war is in no one&#39;s interest.&rdquo; Regarding whether Hamas and Israel will follow the plan, Elhag said, &ldquo;It is difficult to imagine both sides fully committing. Hamas remains divided &mdash; some leaders are pragmatic, while others are hardline. This internal split weakens the chances of success.&rdquo; On the Israeli side, the government faces significant domestic political pressure. Prime Minister Netanyahu may publicly support the plan, but he must proceed cautiously to avoid alienating his coalition partners. Over the past two years, there remain strong doubts about the seriousness of this proposal. While Dr Jason Campbell also shares this skepticism, he said that predicting anything is impossible. However, based on recent history, he believes both sides will try to follow the plan in words, if not in practice. There is sufficient ambiguity in the points to allow each side to claim they are following the agreement, even if no real progress is being made.What does this plan mean for a common Gazan? Both Elhag and Dr Campbell agree that the world is exhausted from witnessing the widespread devastation and human suffering in Gaza, and the priority is to stop it immediately. &ldquo;The reported sentiment is one of ending the incessant attacks, even if the points presented are imperfect.&rdquo; Elhag believes that &ldquo;many Gazans are likely to see it less as a genuine peace agreement and more as a managed truce, one that temporarily improves daily life but postpones core political issues such as statehood and sovereignty.&rdquo; &ldquo;Without addressing the fundamentals,&rdquo; she fears, &ldquo;the plan risks becoming just another transitional arrangement rather than a lasting solution.&rdquo;While the plan gains momentum as more Western nations acknowledge Palestine&#39;s statehood, President Trump has made it clear that he &ldquo;will be the one deciding when Hamas has run out of time.&rdquo;

The plan was initially widely praised but was soon followed by criticism from key regional allies.

Gaza peace plan faces Mideast skepticism

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. He was accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir NI (M), HJ, Pakistan&rsquo;s Chief of Army Staff.&nbsp; The meeting, which lasted more than 90 minutes, focused on regional security and trade relations between the two countries. PM Sharif lauded President Trump&#39;s efforts to bring about an immediate end to the war in Gaza and his initiative to bring together key leaders of the Muslim world in New York earlier this week for an exchange of views for the restoration of peace in the Middle East, according to a press release from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. The PM thanked the US president for the tariff arrangement that was concluded between Pakistan and the US earlier this year. He invited American companies to invest in Pakistan&#39;s agriculture, IT, mining, mineral, and energy sectors. During the meeting, the prime minister described President Trump as a &quot;man of peace&quot; who was engaged in sincere efforts to resolve conflicts around the world. He appreciated President Trump&#39;s decisive leadership that had facilitated the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, thereby helping to avert a major catastrophe in South Asia, according to the press release. The two leaders discussed regional security, including counter-terrorism cooperation. The PM thanked the president for his public endorsement of Pakistan&#39;s role in counter-terrorism and stressed the need to enhance cooperation in security and intelligence further. PM Sharif also extended an invitation to President Trump to undertake an official visit to Pakistan. The cordial atmosphere was clear in the photos from the meeting, where PM Sharif, President Trump, and Field Marshal Munir looked relaxed. Ahead of his visit, security around the White House was heightened, and many roads leading to the White House were closed or diverted to accommodate traffic. Before the talks, Trump praised both Sharif and Munir as &ldquo;very great people.&rdquo;&nbsp; It was the first time Trump had hosted Sharif at the White House since he resumed office last year. The meeting comes at a juncture when the relations between the US and Pakistan have started to take off, following years of tensions. Regional security and trade deal&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s meeting with President Trump is being described by observers as a major reset of Pakistan-US bilateral ties. PM Sharif is in the US to attend and lead Pakistan&#39;s delegation at the United Nations General Assembly session. The US halted military aid to Pakistan in 2018 following its exit from Afghanistan, and relations further sank over Washington&rsquo;s drone strike program and India&rsquo;s increasing influence in DC. Under the Biden administration, relations between Pakistan and the US reached a new low, with virtually no high-level engagement between the two countries. The meeting, therefore, has set a new frequency for both countries to pursue their new common goals that were discussed today. New York-based Farwa Aamer, who is the Director of South Asian Initiatives at the Asia Policy Institute, while speaking with Pakistan TV Digital, said, &ldquo;Now with trade, crypto, regional security, and critical minerals on the table, there is an opportunity for Islamabad to develop a win-win, forward-looking partnership with Washington.&rdquo; She added that, &ldquo;Washington cares for deliverables, so all eyes would be on how well Pakistan can leverage the current critical minerals potential, especially.&rdquo; Significant developmentField Marshal Asim Munir&rsquo;s earlier visit to the US was seen as a major development, especially by South Asian analysts, following his meeting with the US president last June, which included a private lunch at the White House. His second visit to the Oval Office is even more significant in terms of the changing &ldquo;geo-political situation&rdquo; globally, Farwa added. An Islamabad-based journalist, Anas Malick, who was covering the PM&rsquo;s visit, said that &ldquo;India keeps denying all peace efforts made by President Trump, something he believes has negatively impacted US-India relations.&rdquo; While announcing the trade deal in July, Trump stated that the US would work with Pakistan on developing &ldquo;their massive oil reserves,&rdquo; adding that the US was in the process of selecting an oil company to lead the partnership. On Tuesday, Trump and Sharif had met briefly when the US president and the emir of Qatar hosted a meeting of Arab-Islamic leaders on the sidelines of the 80th UNGA session, which focused on establishing peace in the Middle East, especially in Gaza.

Shehbaz calls Trump a man of peace; meeting lasts more than 90 minutes; accompanied by Field Marshal Asim Munir. Analysts term it opportunity for Islamabad to develop a win-win, forward-looking partnership with Washington.

Trump, Sharif discuss regional security, trade at White House meeting

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Thursday that progress could soon be made toward agreements on Gaza, signaling that talks with key Middle Eastern partners were moving forward even as he prepared for a high-profile meeting with Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.&nbsp;&ldquo;It could be today,&rdquo; Trump told reporters, stressing that discussions with regional leaders had been &ldquo;very strong.&rdquo;&nbsp;He pointed to meetings with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan as particularly productive.&nbsp;&ldquo;We had a really great meeting. I think a lot was determined at that meeting. And I have to meet with Israel, and I have to do that also. They know what I want, and we think, I think we can get that one done. I hope we can get it done.&rdquo;&nbsp;Trump&rsquo;s comments come at a time of renewed urgency in addressing the Gaza conflict, with Washington seeking to position itself as a broker in the region while balancing its relationships with Arab states, Israel, and NATO ally Turkey.&nbsp;Talks with ErdoganTrump hosted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House for a two-hour meeting focused on defense cooperation and Turkey&rsquo;s role in the broader Middle East.&nbsp;The discussion centered in part on Ankara&rsquo;s push to rejoin the US-led F-35 fighter jet program, from which it was expelled after purchasing Russia&rsquo;s S-400 missile defense system.&nbsp;Trump suggested a resolution might be close.&nbsp;&ldquo;He needs certain things, and we need certain things, and we&rsquo;re going to come to a conclusion. You&rsquo;ll know by the end of the day,&rdquo; Trump said, adding to Erdogan: &ldquo;And I think you&rsquo;ll be successful with buying the things you would like to buy.&rdquo; While calling the meeting &ldquo;good,&rdquo; Trump also pressed Erdogan to scale back Turkey&rsquo;s reliance on Russian energy imports, warning that continued purchases risk undermining Western efforts to isolate Moscow.&nbsp;&ldquo;The best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia,&rdquo; Trump remarked.&nbsp;Despite tensions over Turkey&rsquo;s human rights record and its strained ties with Israel, Trump described Erdogan as a leader respected by both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;I think he could have a big influence if he wants to,&rdquo; the US president said.&nbsp;Gaza and SyriaThe Erdogan meeting also touched on Gaza, where Turkey has been an outspoken critic of Israel&rsquo;s military campaign since October 2023.&nbsp;In his UN address this week, Erdogan accused Israel of genocide, charges both Washington and Tel Aviv reject. Trump, however, has urged Israel to remain &ldquo;reasonable&rdquo; in its dealings with Ankara, recognizing Turkey&rsquo;s growing influence across Syria and the wider Middle East.&nbsp;Trump credited Erdogan with playing a pivotal role in Syria, where Ankara-backed rebel groups toppled President Bashar al-Assad late last year.&nbsp;&ldquo;I think President Erdogan is the one responsible for Syria, for the successful fight in ridding Syria of its past leader,&rdquo; Trump said.&nbsp;Meeting with Pakistan&rsquo;s SharifTrump will now turn his attention to Pakistan, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Washington. According to Radio Pakistan, the talks will focus on counter-terrorism cooperation, economic ties, and regional security, including Afghanistan.&nbsp;A senior Trump administration official told Reuters that the White House remains committed to &ldquo;advancing US interests in the region, which includes engaging with Pakistan and the government leaders.&rdquo;&nbsp;The meeting, Sharif&rsquo;s first official visit to Washington since assuming office, is seen as a chance to strengthen bilateral relations after years of strain. It follows a US-Pakistan trade deal announced in July and comes amid delicate regional maneuvering involving India, where Washington is still pursuing a trade agreement.&nbsp;Sharif is expected to use the broader international stage to highlight Pakistan&rsquo;s concerns about Kashmir, Palestine, and climate change when he addresses the UN General Assembly on September 26.&nbsp;As Trump positions himself at the center of negotiations spanning Gaza, Ukraine, and South Asia, his back-to-back meetings with Erdogan and Sharif underscore both the opportunities and challenges facing US diplomacy in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.

US president said Gaza agreements could be near after talks with Arab leaders, met Erdogan on defense and Russia ties, and will meet Pakistan’s Sharif to discuss counter-terrorism, trade, and regional security.

Trump says Gaza deals on horizon ahead of meeting with Pakistan PM

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington today, with the two leaders expected to discuss matters of mutual interest, as well as regional and global issues, according to Radio Pakistan. Following his time at the United Nations, PM Sharif will travel to Washington, DC, for the highly anticipated one-on-one meeting with President Trump at White House.&nbsp; A Trump administration official told Reuters on Wednesday that the US and Pakistan are &ldquo;working through a number of issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, when it comes to economic and trade ties.&rdquo; &quot;And so the president remains focused on advancing US interests in the region, which includes engaging with Pakistan and their government leaders,&quot; the official said. Meeting to cover range of issuesPM Sharif&rsquo;s visit, his first to the US Capitol for a direct meeting with Trump, is seen by analysts as a pivotal moment for the newly reset relationship between Washington and Islamabad. Their discussion is expected to cover a range of critical topics, including strengthening bilateral relations, counter-terrorism efforts, regional stability in Afghanistan, and expanding trade, including pressing&nbsp;international matters.&nbsp; He earlier met with the US president during a separate meeting of Islamic and Arab nations focused on establishing sustainable peace in Palestine and the Middle East. After his meeting in DC, PM Sharif will return to New York to prepare for his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 26.&nbsp; He is expected to use the platform to call for action on key issues, including the right to self-determination for Kashmiris and Palestinians and the global challenge of climate change, which has had a devastating impact on Pakistan.&nbsp; Trade with Pakistan, IndiaThe United States and Pakistan announced a trade deal on July 31 with a 19% tariff rate imposed by Washington. Trump has yet to reach a trade deal with India. When asked about frictions with India, the official said Trump believed in being frank about frustrations in ties, but the relationship was strong. Washington viewed New Delhi as a good friend and partner, and felt that their relationship would define the 21st century, the Trump administration official said. He added that Washington had been working on planning for a summit of the Quad grouping, comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, which was expected to take place in November. That would happen, &quot;if not this year, [then] early next year,&quot; the official said.

Trump administration official says US-Pakistan are “working through a number of issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, when it comes to economic and trade ties.”



PM Sharif, Trump to meet in Washington today

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that NATO countries should shoot down Russian military aircraft if they violate NATO airspace, escalating his administration&rsquo;s rhetoric toward Moscow amid renewed regional tensions.&nbsp;&quot;Yes, I do,&quot; Trump said when asked by reporters if he supports such military action. He added that whether the US would back it militarily &ldquo;depends on the circumstance,&rdquo; as he prepared for a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.&nbsp;The comments come as NATO faces mounting pressure to respond to recent airspace violations. Poland and Estonia reported separate incidents involving Russian drones and fighter jets earlier this month, prompting NATO to warn Russia it would use &ldquo;all means&rdquo; to defend allied territory.&nbsp;Airspace breachesThe Kremlin has denied deliberate incursions, but NATO officials say the pattern of violations is increasingly aggressive. The alliance has bolstered its air defenses in Eastern Europe and reiterated its Article 5 commitment, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.&nbsp;Trump&rsquo;s approval of potential shootdowns could mark a significant policy shift, signaling a more confrontational stance by the US in defending NATO airspace.&nbsp;Trump slams UN&nbsp;Earlier, during an opening session of the 80th UN General Assembly, Trump criticized the global body for being ineffective in resolving global conflicts.&nbsp;&ldquo;I ended seven wars&hellip; and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle&hellip; and a teleprompter that didn&rsquo;t work.&rdquo;&nbsp;He claimed his administration helped end conflicts between Kosovo and Serbia, Pakistan and India, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and others through direct US diplomacy, without any UN involvement. Trump listed Cambodia and Thailand, Congo and Rwanda, Israel and Iran, and Egypt and Ethiopia among conflicts he claimed to have defused.&nbsp;&ldquo;Empty words don&rsquo;t solve war,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The only thing that solves wars is action.&rdquo;&nbsp;Trump also pointed to the Abraham Accords, normalization deals between Israel and several Arab states brokered during his presidency, as examples of US leadership in global peace efforts, claiming the UN gave him &quot;no credit&quot; for the historic achievement.&nbsp;Trump on UkraineIn a notable policy shift, Trump said he now believes Ukraine can retake all of the territory lost to Russia since the 2022 invasion, if it receives sustained support from Europe and NATO.&nbsp;&quot;With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original borders from where this war started is very much an option,&quot; Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.&nbsp;He added that Russia has been fighting &quot;aimlessly&quot; in a war that a &quot;real military power&quot; would have won in less than a week, describing the Russian military effort as ineffective and faltering.&nbsp;&quot;Paper tiger&quot;Trump went further, describing Russia as a &ldquo;paper tiger&rdquo; and warning that internal unrest could grow as citizens in Moscow and elsewhere come to grips with the war&rsquo;s cost.&nbsp;&quot;When the people living in Moscow... find out what is really going on with this war... Ukraine would be able to take back their country in its original form, and who knows, maybe even go further than that!&quot; he wrote.&nbsp;Support for NATOWhile stopping short of promising direct US military involvement in Ukraine, Trump reaffirmed America&#39;s commitment to arming NATO allies.&nbsp;&ldquo;We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them. Good luck to all,&rdquo; he concluded in his post.&nbsp;Trump&rsquo;s remarks are expected to spark renewed debate among US lawmakers and NATO allies about the West&rsquo;s strategy toward Russia, and how far the US is willing to go in defending Eastern Europe from further aggression. Additional inputs from AP

Criticizes the UN for failing to resolve global conflicts, claiming his administration ended seven wars in seven months without any help from the world body.

Trump backs shooting down Russian jets if NATO airspace violated

WASHINGTON: The world&rsquo;s eyes are on the United Nations as the UN General Assembly, scheduled for September 22 in New York, aims to address the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;This comes amid ongoing violence in Gaza, where over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed. The conference seeks to revive efforts for a two-state solution, which proposes separate states for Israel and Palestine.&nbsp;The diplomatic momentum toward a two-state solution gained a significant boost when the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Australia recognized Palestine as a state on Sunday. This move defied opposition from Israel and the US, signaling a shift in Western foreign policy toward supporting Palestinian statehood.&nbsp;British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement in a televised address, writing on X, &ldquo;Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine.&rdquo;&nbsp;Canada followed suit, with Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasizing Canada&rsquo;s commitment to peace: &ldquo;Canada recognizes the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.&rdquo;&nbsp;Australia, too, formally recognized Palestine as an &ldquo;independent and sovereign&rdquo; state. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, &ldquo;This recognition reflects Australia&rsquo;s longstanding commitment to a two-state solution, which has always been the only path to enduring peace and security for both Israeli and Palestinian peoples.&rdquo;&nbsp;Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin praised the recognition, saying, &ldquo;Countries recognizing a Palestinian state this week are taking an irreversible step that preserves the two-state solution and brings Palestinian independence closer.&rdquo; She added, &quot;It might not end the war tomorrow, but it&#39;s a step forward, which we need to build on and amplify.&quot;&nbsp;UN Conference: Will it make a difference?The UN conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, is seen as a continuation of earlier discussions aimed at a peaceful resolution. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret that the two-state solution appeared &ldquo;farther than ever&rdquo; amid ongoing hostilities. Despite this, the conference holds significant potential, particularly given Saudi Arabia&#39;s increasing diplomatic influence.&nbsp;Dr. Kamran Bokhari, senior director at The News Lines, told Pakistan TV, &ldquo;While this conference may be largely symbolic, it brings together both Western and Arab nations at a time when the Gaza war and Israel&#39;s international standing are reshaping Middle Eastern politics.&rdquo; He added that Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s co-chairmanship &ldquo;underscores Riyadh&rsquo;s efforts to bridge Arab and Western positions.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan, which has long been a strong advocate for Palestinian rights and has condemned Israeli military actions, will play a crucial role in the conference. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation at the UNGA, where he is expected to emphasize Pakistan&#39;s position on Kashmir and Palestine. His address will focus on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for urgent international action.&nbsp;In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Dr. Bokhari said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s role in this conference is significant. Its position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council amplifies its diplomatic leverage, particularly on the Palestinian issue.&rdquo;&nbsp;Challenging path to peaceAlthough international recognition of Palestine is a positive step, many remain skeptical about the conference&rsquo;s effectiveness in achieving lasting peace.&nbsp;Dr. Hassan Abbas, professor of International Relations at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, told Pakistan TV: &ldquo;The countries opposing the two-state solution over the past two years wield significant global political power.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Without their positive participation, this initiative will likely fail to materialize,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;The US has repeatedly vetoed UN resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, citing concerns over Hamas and Israel&rsquo;s security.&nbsp;Dr. Bokhari noted that Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s role is crucial in bridging gaps between pro-peace nations and those opposing the two-state solution.&nbsp;&ldquo;The KSA&rsquo;s co-chairmanship could serve as a bridge between countries supporting Palestinian statehood and those who believe it will empower Hamas,&rdquo; he said, referring to the 2020 Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab nations.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic strategyPakistan&rsquo;s unwavering support for Palestine remains a cornerstone of its foreign policy. With its recent defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan&rsquo;s influence in the region continues to grow.&nbsp;Dr. Bokhari said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a moral advocate for Palestine, alongside its growing diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, positions it as a key player in shaping the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.&rdquo;&nbsp;As the UNGA approaches, the fate of the Two-State Solution remains uncertain. While the growing recognition of Palestine offers hope, it is unclear whether this will be enough to secure a lasting peace.&nbsp;However, the active participation of countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and France underscores the international community&rsquo;s commitment to resolving the conflict. The coming days may prove pivotal in determining whether a lasting peace is possible for Israel and Palestine.

Britain, Canada, and Australia recognized Palestine ahead of the UNGA, signaling support for a two-state solution, amid ongoing violence in Gaza and global tensions.

Two-State Solution: A final chance for peace?

WASHINGTON: Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has said that Islamabad&rsquo;s importance to the US is not temporary; it is rooted in history. Speaking at the launch of Pakistan TV, the ambassador shared his thoughts on the Pakistan-US relationship and its significance in the context of shifting global politics. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, he said that Pakistan, with over 250 million people, has a large portion of its population under 23. Therefore, the importance of such a vast and strategically vital country can only be long-lasting and increasing. Replying to a question, the ambassador said, &ldquo;Over the past 78 years, they have seen many twists and turns, but it&#39;s the strategic location and geopolitical significance of Pakistan that continues to be a constant in bilateral ties with the United States. This new phase is certainly as promising as it has ever been.&rdquo; Regarding the utilization of the newly agreed-upon agreement to explore oil and rare earth minerals in Pakistan, he said that the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with the US was perhaps only the beginning. &ldquo;We believe more American companies will be interested in joining us in this effort to unlock the wealth beneath the surface and use it as an international public good, not only for the benefit of our two countries but also for the broader good of humanity.&rdquo; He said that Pakistan does not plan to limit itself to just one sector, as it aims to expand into industries like IT. &ldquo;Pakistan&#39;s cost-effectiveness in the IT sector is 70% lower than in the United States and 20% to 30% more cost-effective than any of our competitors, whether it&#39;s India, Egypt, or the Philippines,&rdquo; he added. Talking about US-India relations, he said that Pakistan does not believe in viewing our relations with the U.S. through the lens of any other country. &ldquo;Our relations with the United States should not be contingent on or compared to any other country, whether in the region or anywhere in the world. We are a mega country. The relationship between two mega countries is certainly futuristic and stands on its own.&rdquo; Commenting on the upcoming UNGA meeting, he said that the delegation will be led by the prime minister. As an active member of the UN, Pakistan has always used its geostrategic and geoeconomic position to &ldquo;punch above our weight in multilateral relations,&rdquo; he said, adding that Pakistan&rsquo;s presence at the UN forum this time would also be strong.

Economy

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan's US ambassador emphasizes long-term bilateral ties, strategic value, economic opportunities, and independent foreign policy amid global shifts, especially in energy, IT, and multilateral diplomacy.

Pakistan’s strategic value to US is enduring: envoy

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday strongly condemned Afghanistan&rsquo;s recent acts of aggression and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s resolve to safeguard its national interests, regional sovereignty, and security.&nbsp;In a statement, President Zardari said Pakistan would never accept any &ldquo;controversial or misleading stance&rdquo; on Jammu and Kashmir, adding that India&rsquo;s claims regarding the disputed territory were illegal and contrary to international law and UN resolutions.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPspi-oDdV1/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=485&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F1265%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A53789.39999997616%2C%22ls%22%3A637.3999999761581%2C%22le%22%3A648.8999999761581%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1040" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div>He expressed regret that the Afghan leadership had &ldquo;turned away from the oppressed people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,&rdquo; calling it an injustice to both history and the Muslim Ummah.&nbsp;Zardari noted that the use of Afghan soil for attacks by the so-called &ldquo;Fitna-al-Khawarij&rdquo; &mdash; a reference to militant groups &mdash; was a documented fact acknowledged even in UN reports. He warned that the nexus between &ldquo;the Khawarij and India&rdquo; was targeting Pakistani civilians and security personnel.&nbsp;The president urged the Afghan leadership to take concrete steps against anti-Pakistan terrorist groups operating from its soil, stressing that terrorism was a shared regional challenge that could not be borne by one country alone.&nbsp;He reiterated that Pakistan would make no compromise on its sovereignty and had consistently extended all possible facilitation to Afghanistan in trade, economy, and connectivity.&nbsp;&ldquo;Mutual cooperation and economic partnership form the foundation for lasting peace and prosperity in the region,&rdquo; he said, adding that Pakistan desired a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan.&nbsp;Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the cross-border aggression, saying Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces were fully capable of defending every inch of the motherland.&nbsp;He said Islamabad had always acted with restraint and responsibility but would respond firmly to any violation of its sovereignty.&nbsp;&ldquo;The government will take all necessary measures to protect Pakistan&rsquo;s territorial integrity and ensure peace in the region,&rdquo; the prime minister added.&nbsp;The prime minister also lauded the Pakistan Army&rsquo;s swift and professional response under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying the forces not only repelled the aggression but also neutralized several enemy positions, forcing a retreat.&nbsp;He emphasized that Pakistan&rsquo;s defense was in strong hands and that the nation stood united with its security forces against any provocation.

Security

President Zardari says Pakistan would never accept any 'controversial or misleading stance' on Jammu and Kashmir. PM Shehbaz says armed forces are fully capable of defending every inch of the motherland.

President, PM condemn Afghan aggression, vow to defend national sovereignty

ISLAMABAD: Russian and Pakistani military forces concluded their joint &ldquo;Druzhba 2025&rdquo; exercises in southern Russia, the Embassy of Russia in Pakistan said in a post on the social media platform X. The annual drills brought together about 200 servicemen from both countries, including Russia&rsquo;s Southern Military District Special Operations Forces and special forces units of the Pakistan Army, to work on actions to counter international terrorism. According to the statement, the exercises focused on joint tactical operations to counter international terrorism, enhance coordination, and strengthen operational readiness between the two forces. The training concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing distinguished participants, followed by an exchange of souvenirs featuring the Druzhba 2025 insignia &mdash; a tradition marking the enduring defense cooperation between Russia and Pakistan. Launched in 2016, the Druzhba (meaning &ldquo;friendship&rdquo; in Russian) exercises alternate between Russia and Pakistan each year. The 2025 edition continues efforts to expand bilateral defense collaboration, military understanding, and partnership between the two nations.

Pakistan Army and Russian Special Forces personnel pose for a group photo during the Druzhba 2025 joint military exercises in southern Russia (Embassy of Russia in Pakistan/ X).

Both military forces concluded their joint 'Druzhba 2025' exercises in southern Russia, the Embassy of Russia in Pakistan said in a post on the social media platform X.

Pakistan, Russia hold joint counterterrorism drills in southern Russia

McEWEN: A blast in rural Tennessee that leveled an explosives plant and was felt for miles around killed 16 people and left no survivors, authorities said. The explosion left a smoldering wreck of twisted and charred metal and burned-out vehicles at the Accurate Energetic Systems plant, which supplies and researches explosives for the military. The cause of the blast is not known. Investigators are combing the incinerated property foot by foot, searching for possible evidence. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a gauntlet of emotions there,&rdquo; Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said during a news conference, pausing to clear his throat before he asked for prayers for the families of the victims in a shaky voice. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve recovered no survivors,&rdquo; he added. During a vigil at Hurricane Chapel in McEwen, senior pastor Tim Farris noted that many in attendance knew each other, as well as the victims and their families. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a lot of people hurting. A lot of people who are crying a lot of tears,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We are sad that our community is going through this, but it&rsquo;s a tremendous opportunity for the church to minister to a lot of those people today.&rdquo; Farris said he spoke with some families of victims on Friday who were in shock and numb, and they did not show much emotion. That had changed by Saturday, he said. &ldquo;Speaking with some of the families today, they were very emotional,&rdquo; Farris said. &ldquo;They can hardly speak or anything, they are so emotional. I think as this goes on, it&rsquo;s going to hit more people. The depth of this, the reality of it. That&rsquo;s when they&rsquo;re going to need people the most.&rdquo; Pamela Jane Brown was among those who came out to pray for friends missing in the blast and their families. She said an acquaintance of her family was driving by the plant when it exploded, and he was &ldquo;hurt pretty good ... all cut up and bruised,&rdquo; but is now recovering at home. &ldquo;I was heartbroken,&rdquo; she said, after learning of the explosion on social media. Meeting others for prayer &ldquo;was a coming together of the community &ndash; a good feeling.&rdquo; State officials brought in a &ldquo;rapid DNA&rdquo; team to help identify the remains of people recovered at the site. Davis said about 300 responders are working in a &ldquo;slow, methodical method&rdquo; as they deal with explosive material that has been damaged and remains volatile. An ambulance and a helicopter used for air evacuations were brought in for the safety of first responders. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not like working an accident. It&rsquo;s not like working a tornado. We&rsquo;re dealing with explosions. And I would say at this time, we&rsquo;re dealing with remains,&rdquo; he said. Guy McCormick, a supervisory special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said explosive specialists and bomb technicians are trying to make the area safe for national ATF investigators. He said the nature of the scene can change because of the heat and pressure caused by the explosion. Davis said it could be days, weeks, or even months before foul play is ruled out. The site is located in a heavily wooded area of middle Tennessee, between the economically vital Tennessee River to the west and the bustling metropolis of Nashville to the east. Modest homes dot the wooded landscape, residences belonging to &ldquo;good old country people,&rdquo; as local man Terry Bagsby put it. &lsquo;A lot of grief&rsquo;Bagsby, 68, is retired, but he helps out working the register at a gas station near the site. He said people in the close-knit community are &ldquo;very, very sad.&rdquo; He said he knows people who worked at the site. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know how to explain it. &hellip; Just a lot of grief.&rdquo; Officials at an evening news conference said counselors would be available for grieving students on Monday. Earlier Saturday afternoon at the church in McEwen, about 30 people gathered to pray for victims of the explosion and their families. Music played, and mourners bowed their heads and closed their eyes. Some knelt at an altar, placing their hands on each other&rsquo;s backs and shoulders. Some wept softly, among the whispered prayers. After the vigil, Farris, the pastor, told the media that the area has seen its share of tragedy and loss of life, including a deadly flood a few years ago. He asked for prayers for first responders. &ldquo;This is tiresome physically. This kind of thing weighs on you mentally. They carry that home. They need prayer and encouragement as well,&rdquo; he said. The company&rsquo;s website says it processes explosives and ammunition at an eight-building facility that sprawls across wooded hills in the Bucksnort area, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Nashville. It is not immediately known how many people work at the plant or how many were there when the explosion happened. Accurate Energetic Systems, based in nearby McEwen, said in a post on social media on Friday that the company&#39;s &ldquo;thoughts and prayers&quot; are with the families and community impacted. &ldquo;We extend our gratitude to all first responders who continue to work tirelessly under difficult conditions,&rdquo; the post said. Explosion jolts residents from sleepThe company has been awarded numerous military contracts, largely by the U.S. Army and Navy, to supply different types of munitions and explosives, according to public records. The products range from bulk explosives to landmines and small breaching charges, including C4. When the explosion occurred, residents in Lobelville, a 20-minute drive from the scene, said they felt their homes shake, and some people captured the loud boom of the explosion on their home cameras. The blast rattled Gentry Stover from his sleep. &ldquo;I thought the house had collapsed with me inside of it,&rdquo; he told The Associated Press. &ldquo;I live very close to Accurate, and I realized about 30 seconds after I woke up that it had to have been that.&rdquo; Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee posted on the social platform X that he is monitoring the situation and asked &ldquo;Tennesseans to join us in prayer for the families impacted by this tragic incident.&rdquo; A small group gathered for a vigil Friday night at a nearby park, clutching candles as they prayed for the missing and their families and sang &ldquo;Amazing Grace.&quot; The US has a long history of deadly accidents at workplaces, including the Monongah coal mine explosion that killed 362 men and boys in West Virginia in 1907. Several high-profile industrial accidents in the 1960s helped lead President Richard Nixon to sign a law creating the Occupational Safety and Health Administration the next year. In 2019, Accurate Energetic Systems faced several small fines from the US Department of Labor for violations of policies meant to protect workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals, radiation, and other irritants, according to citations from OSHA. In 2014, an explosion occurred at another ammunition facility in the same small community, killing one person and injuring at least three others.

A powerful explosion at a Tennessee explosives factory killed 16 people, leaving no survivors. Authorities continue investigating the cause, while the community mourns the loss and supports grieving families through vigils and prayer.

16 dead in Tennessee factory blast as community mourns loss

Web Desk/AP

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">GAZA:&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Egypt will host an international summit in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to finalize an agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza, Egyptian presidential spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy said on Saturday. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More than 20 world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are expected to attend the meeting. The summit seeks to build consensus on a plan that would halt hostilities and lay the groundwork for Gaza&rsquo;s postwar governance. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump&rsquo;s 20-point proposal envisions Israel maintaining a long-term security presence along its border with Gaza, while an international force, primarily composed of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, would oversee security within the enclave.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has called for the force to be authorized by the UN Security Council. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to the Israeli military, its troops will continue operating defensively in the roughly 50 percent of Gaza still under its control after recent withdrawals to designated lines.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The United States, meanwhile, plans to set up a coordination center in Israel to manage Gaza-related issues until a permanent administration is established, an official familiar with the discussions said. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">More than <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">67,000 Palestinian casualties&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Israel&rsquo;s military campaign after <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">Oct. 7, 2023 has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry, which reports that roughly half of the dead are women and children.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ministry&rsquo;s figures are widely regarded by the United Nations and independent experts as the most reliable available. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The conflict has fueled broader instability across the Middle East, triggered global protests and prompted international calls for accountability over alleged human rights violations. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Sharm el-Sheikh summit is expected to focus on securing a lasting cease-fire, coordinating humanitarian aid delivery, and outlining a framework for Gaza&rsquo;s reconstruction and governance once the fighting stops.

Egypt will host an international summit in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to finalize an agreement aimed at ending the war in Gaza, Egyptian presidential spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy said on Saturday.

Donald Trump and El-Sisi to co-chair Gaza peace summit on Monday

Reuters

BRUSSELS: European Union member countries began rolling out a new entry and exit system on Sunday at the bloc&rsquo;s external borders, electronically registering non-EU nationals&#39; data. The Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated system that requires travellers to register at the border by scanning their passport and having their fingerprints and photograph taken, will be introduced over six months. The move is aimed at detecting overstayers, tackling identity fraud, and preventing illegal migration amid political pressure in some EU countries to take a tougher stance. &quot;The Entry/Exit System is the digital backbone of our new common European migration and asylum framework,&rdquo; European Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said in a statement. SIX MONTHS TO ADJUSTNon-EU citizens will have to register their personal details when they first enter the Schengen area - all EU member countries apart from Ireland and Cyprus, but including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Subsequent journeys will only require facial biometric verification. The system should be fully operational, with passport stamping replaced with electronic records, on April 10, 2026. &quot;Every third country national who arrives at an external border will undergo identity verification, security screening, and registration in the EU databases,&quot; Brunner said, adding that &quot;the six-month rollout gives member states, travellers, and businesses time to transition smoothly to the new procedures&quot;. For British travellers using the Port of Dover, the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, orthe&nbsp; Eurostar terminal at London&#39;s St Pancras International, the process will take place at the border before they leave the UK. At Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal, only freight and coach traffic will be subject to EES checks from Sunday. Passenger vehicle checks will follow in November at Dover and by the end of the year at Eurotunnel, while the Eurostar at St Pancras will gradually introduce the new process, starting with some business travellers from Sunday. &quot;We recognise that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible,&quot; British Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris said. &quot;The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders, and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration,&quot; Norris said.

 European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES)

Europe

The EU has begun a six-month rollout of its new Entry/Exit System, replacing passport stamping with biometric registration to enhance border control, detect overstayers, and combat illegal migration across the Schengen area. 

EU Entry/Exit System to be rolled out over six months

Ayesha Mir

Pakistan&rsquo;s climate emergency isn&rsquo;t just a national crisis &mdash; it&rsquo;s a regional reckoning. From floods that drown villages to smog that knows no borders, the forces reshaping Pakistan are the same ones choking Delhi, burning forests in Nepal, and melting glaciers in the Himalayas. But here&rsquo;s the truth: No country in South Asia can survive this alone, and the demand for climate justice has never been more important.&nbsp; In this episode of the Dossier, we explore what a real solution looks like &mdash; one built not on blame, but on cooperation, data, and shared responsibility.

Dossier with Ayesha

A real solution needs to be built on cooperation, data, and shared responsibility.

Pollution from neighboring countries damaging Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat in the first of the two-match Test series against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday. Speaking at the toss, skipper Shan Masood said his first-choice spinner Sajid Khan was fit again and will feature in the first Test.&nbsp; Pakistan are going in with two spinners, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, while South Africa have fielded three.&nbsp; Playing XIsPakistan: &nbsp;Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan&nbsp;South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Aiden Markram (C), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Sen Muthusamy, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Simon Harmer

Cricket

The match, being played at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, begins at 10 a.m.

Pakistan opt to bat against South Africa in first Test

WINDHOEK: A burst of late hitting by wicketkeeper Zane Green took Namibia to a shock win over South Africa in a one-off Twenty20 international on Saturday.&nbsp;Green, who finished on 30 not out, hit 23 of the 26 runs scored by Namibia in the last two overs of the first international match between the neighboring African countries.&nbsp;With 11 needed off the last over, Green hooked the first ball from Andile Simelane for six. With the scores level, he hit the last ball of the match to the midwicket boundary for the winning runs.&nbsp;The match was arranged to inaugurate the Namibia Cricket Ground, which will be one of the venues for the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.&nbsp;&quot;You can see what it means, for the team and the crowd,&quot; said Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus after leading his players on a victory lap in front of a capacity crowd. &quot;The guys did it with good skill.&quot;&nbsp;It was a below-strength South African team, with several leading players, including regular captain Aiden Markram, in Pakistan for a Test series which starts in Lahore on Sunday.&nbsp;All the South African players had international experience, but they struggled from the start against a Namibian team that had qualified for next year&#39;s T20 World Cup in India just a week earlier.&nbsp;&quot;We weren&#39;t good enough,&quot; admitted stand-in South African captain Donovan Ferreira.&nbsp;He said his team&#39;s defense of a below-par total had been hurt by a chest muscle injury, which forced fast bowler Gerald Coetzee off the field after bowling only nine balls.&nbsp;Quinton de Kock, returning to international cricket for the first time since the 2024 T20 World Cup, was out for a single in the first over, and none of the South African batsmen were able to dominate against disciplined bowling on a slow pitch.&nbsp;South Africa labored to 134 for eight after winning the toss.&nbsp;Left-arm fast bowler Ruben Trumpelmann, who started his cricket career in South Africa, took three for 28 and new cap Max Heingo took two wickets in the space of three balls to reduce the visitors to 65 for five in the 11th over.

The match was arranged to inaugurate the Namibia Cricket Ground, which will be one of the venues for the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Namibia shock South Africa in T20 international

BEIJING: China called President Donald Trump&#39;s latest US tariffs on Chinese goods hypocritical on Sunday and defended its curbs on exports of rare earths, but stopped short of imposing new levies on US products.&nbsp;The commerce ministry said in a statement its export controls on rare-earth elements - which Trump on Friday called &quot;surprising&quot; and &quot;very hostile&quot; - followed a series of US measures since bilateral trade talks in Madrid last month.&nbsp;Beijing cited the addition of Chinese companies to a US trade blacklist and Washington&#39;s imposition of port fees on Chinese vessels as examples.&nbsp;&quot;These actions have severely harmed China&#39;s interests and undermined the atmosphere for bilateral economic and trade talks. China firmly opposes them,&quot; the ministry said.&nbsp;Beijing stopped short of explicitly linking these US actions to its curbs on exports of critical minerals, stating that its curbs were motivated by concerns about the military applications of these metals at a time of &quot;frequent military conflict.&quot; Tensions flare againA few months ago, Beijing and Washington agreed on an uneasy truce in their tit-for-tat trade war that started earlier this year and threw bilateral trade into serious jeopardy.&nbsp;But tensions have boiled up again in recent days.&nbsp;China said on Friday that it would impose &quot;special port fees&quot; on ships operated by and built in the US, calling it a &quot;defensive action.&quot;&nbsp;It aimed at the US&#39;s own port fees charged on Chinese ships, claiming they &quot;severely harmed China&#39;s interests.&quot;&nbsp;Washington announced those fees in April as part of an effort to revive American shipbuilding after a decades-long decline that has seen China and other Asian nations come to dominate the industry.

Business

The commerce ministry says its export controls on rare-earth elements - which Trump on Friday called "surprising" and "very hostile" - follow a series of US measures since bilateral trade talks in Madrid last month.

Beijing blames US for raising trade tensions, defends rare earth curbs

SYDNEY: Australian airline Qantas said Sunday that data from 5.7 million customers stolen in a major cyberattack in July had been leaked online.&nbsp;&quot;Qantas is one of a number of companies globally that has had data released by cyber criminals following the airline&#39;s cyber incident in early July, where customer data was stolen via a third party platform,&quot; the company said in a statement.&nbsp;Qantas said in July that hackers had targeted one of its customer contact centres, breaching a computer system used by a third party.&nbsp;They secured access to sensitive information such as customer names, email addresses, phone numbers and birthdays, the blue-chip Australian company said.&nbsp;On Sunday, Qantas said that data had been leaked and that &quot;with the help of specialist cyber security experts, we are investigating what data was part of the release&quot;.&nbsp;It also said it had obtained a legal injunction with the Supreme Court of New South Wales, where the firm is headquartered, &quot;to prevent the stolen data being accessed, viewed, released, used, transmitted or published by anyone, including third parties&quot;.

Australasia

Qantas confirmed that data from 5.7 million customers stolen in a July cyberattack has been leaked online. The airline is investigating with cybersecurity experts and has obtained a court injunction to block further data misuse

Articles by Gaitty Ara Anis