Monitoring Desk

ISLAMABAD: The long-debated Durand Line, a 2,640-kilometer border demarcation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has once again come into focus as legal experts and political leaders reaffirm its legitimacy as an international border under international law. Historical Context of the Durand LineThe Durand Line was established in 1893 following an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand, representing British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan. The line was meant to define the spheres of influence between British India and Afghanistan. Following the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, Pakistan inherited all international treaties and boundaries agreed upon by British India &mdash; including the Durand Line. However, successive Afghan governments have contested its legal status, arguing that the agreement lapsed after the British withdrawal. Legal Standing and International FrameworkLegal expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi notes that the international legal framework supports Pakistan&rsquo;s position. Referring to Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, he explains that while states may withdraw from certain treaties due to a &ldquo;fundamental change of circumstances,&rdquo; boundary treaties remain permanent and binding. &ldquo;This means that once a border treaty is agreed upon, it cannot be unilaterally disregarded due to political changes,&rdquo; Soofi emphasized, pointing out that boundary agreements enjoy a unique status in international law. A 1969 Supreme Court of Pakistan decision also reaffirmed the Durand Line as a valid and recognized boundary, rejecting any interpretation that challenges its legal sanctity. Khurram Dastgir Khan Reaffirms Pakistan&rsquo;s PositionSenior PML-N leader and former federal minister Khurram Dastgir Khan underscored that Pakistan&rsquo;s stance on the issue remains firm and consistent. &ldquo;Pakistan has insisted on and will continue to insist, and as a successor state to Great Britain, that the term &lsquo;Durand Line&rsquo; itself is not acceptable; it is the international border,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There are multiple agreements, documents, and international laws that declare it as the international border.&rdquo; He added that Afghanistan&rsquo;s continued reluctance to recognize the border stems largely from domestic economic and political factors. &ldquo;Their insistence that it is not the border is mainly due to their economic and political reasons to keep their population somehow questioned regarding the Pakistan situation,&rdquo; Dastgir noted. Emphasizing the importance of securing the frontier, he said Pakistan must invest further in strengthening the border. &ldquo;We have to find ways to secure the border, and we have to make sure that the Pakistan border is now an actual line that demarcates two countries. I cannot emphasize enough how important this issue is; this is really crucial for the future of peaceful Pak-Afghan relations.&rdquo; The Way ForwardThe reaffirmation of the Durand Line&rsquo;s legal status&mdash;both by legal authorities and political leadership&mdash;highlights Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent policy that the border is final and internationally recognized. Pakistani officials stress that effective border management and mutual recognition remain essential for fostering peaceful and stable Pak-Afghan relations in the years ahead.

Security

Foreign Affairs

The long-debated Durand Line, a 2,640-kilometer border demarcation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has once again come into focus as legal experts and political leaders reaffirm its legitimacy as international border under international law

Pakistan reaffirms Durand Line as international border: legal and strategic perspectives

After nearly two years of relentless violence, people in Gaza are welcoming the ceasefire with relief but also with fear that it may not last.&nbsp;Yousrah Abu Sharekh, Program Coordinator at INARA Gaza, said on Pakistan TV &#39;morning show&#39; that while the truce is &ldquo;a very positive and welcome development,&rdquo; it marks &ldquo;only the beginning of a very complex chapter ahead.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;There are more than 40,000 children who have sustained life-altering injuries &mdash; and many have lost family members, homes, and a sense of safety,&rdquo; she said, adding that the emotional toll is &ldquo;enormous.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fwAStlkrViI" title="Pakistan-IMF Deal I Gaza Crisis I Harsh Winter Ahead I World This Morning" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>Humanitarian groups say trauma among Gaza&rsquo;s children is deep and widespread, with many showing signs of severe distress and fear of renewed fighting.&nbsp;&ldquo;People are happy, yes, but they are also anxious. There&rsquo;s a constant fear that the ceasefire might collapse,&rdquo; Abu Sharekh warned.&nbsp;Crowds celebrated the truce across Gaza, yet uncertainty remains. &ldquo;Children have lost so much, they don&rsquo;t want to lose more,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;The INARA coordinator also cautioned about the lingering dangers of unexploded ordnance and debris, calling them &ldquo;a serious threat to civilians, especially children.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about rebuilding homes; it&rsquo;s about restoring safety and hope,&rdquo; she stressed. &ldquo;The road ahead is long, but the ceasefire gives us a small window of hope.&rdquo;

World This Morning

‘It’s the start of a complex chapter,’ says INARA Gaza coordinator as over 40,000 children live with life-altering injuries.

Ceasefire brings relief — and anxiety — in Gaza: INARA’s Yousrah Abu Sharekh

WASHINGTON: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has asked General Randy George to step down as chief of staff of the US Army, a US official said on Thursday.&nbsp;The official confirmed a report from US broadcaster CBS that said George had been asked to take immediate retirement.&nbsp;The reason for the request was not immediately known, but CBS quoted a source as saying Hegseth wanted someone who would implement his and Trump&#39;s vision for the Army.&nbsp;George is the latest senior officer to be ousted during Donald Trump&#39;s second term, and his removal as the top Army officer comes with the United States engaged in a major war with Iran that the president has indicated could last for several more weeks.&nbsp;During a nearly four-decade military career, George deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan multiple times and also served in positions including vice chief of staff of the Army and senior military assistant to Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin during Joe Biden&#39;s term as president.&nbsp;Trump has overseen a purge of top military officers, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, general Charles &quot;CQ&quot; Brown, whom he fired without explanation in February 2025.&nbsp;Other senior officers dismissed include the heads of the Navy and Coast Guard, the general who headed the National Security Agency, the vice chief of staff of the Air Force, a Navy admiral assigned to NATO, and three top military lawyers.&nbsp;The chief of staff of the Air Force also announced his retirement without explanation just two years into a four-year term, while the head of US Southern Command retired a year into his tenure.&nbsp;Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has insisted the president is simply choosing the leaders he wants, but Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential politicization of the traditionally neutral US military.

Americas

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth asks General Randy George to step down as US Army chief of staff. George’s removal follows Trump’s second-term military shake-up amid the war with Iran, with reasons for retirement unclear.

Hegseth asked US Army chief of staff to step down: official

UNITED STATES: NASA gave the four Artemis astronauts circling Earth the green light on Thursday to head for the Moon and carry out the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years.&nbsp;NASA Flight Director Jeff Radigan told the astronauts the mission management team had approved firing up the engine of their Orion capsule to send the spacecraft on a trajectory towards the Moon.&nbsp;The 5min and 49sec burn is scheduled to take place at 7:49 pm Eastern Time (2349 GMT) and send the astronauts out of Earth orbit to begin the three-day voyage toward the Moon, the first since 1972.&nbsp;&quot;Flight controllers will closely monitor engine performance, guidance, and navigation data throughout the maneuver to ensure Orion remains precisely aligned for the outbound journey,&quot; NASA said.&nbsp;The enormous orange-and-white Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carrying the Orion capsule blasted off flawlessly from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday for the long-anticipated journey around the Moon.&nbsp;The astronauts -- Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen -- spent their first hours in space performing checks and troubleshooting minor problems -- including a communications issue and a malfunctioning toilet.&nbsp;Before getting a few hours of sleep, they ignited the spacecraft&#39;s main engine to place it in a high Earth orbit, the US space agency said.&nbsp;&quot;Artemis II astronauts are doing great,&quot; NASA chief Jared Isaacman said in a post on X. &quot;The Orion spacecraft is performing well in an impressive elliptical orbit.&quot;&nbsp;Orion is to loop around the Moon as part of the 10-day Artemis 2 mission aimed at paving the way for a Moon landing in 2028.

Artificial Intelligence

NASA approves the Artemis II astronauts to travel toward the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years, as their spacecraft begins the journey.

NASA gives Artemis crew green light to head towards Moon

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has placed upper districts of Pakistan&rsquo;s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on high alert after a deadly spell of extreme weather, warning of potential glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and flash flooding.&nbsp;The move comes as the province reels from fatalities and widespread damage caused by severe storms and structural collapses since March 25.&nbsp;Glacial lake outburst floods occur when natural dams holding back glacial lakes suddenly fail, releasing massive volumes of water and debris.&nbsp;These events can trigger catastrophic flash floods and landslides, threatening downstream communities.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, PDMA Spokesperson Anwar Shehzad warned that the Malakand and Hazara regions face heightened risks.&nbsp;&ldquo;In Hazara we see a lot of landslides and in Malakand Division, there are glaciers in Swat, Kohistan, Upper Dir, Upper Chitral, and Lower Chitral. The risk of glacial outbursts is high here,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Heavy rains cause water levels in streams to rise, and the connected tributaries/nullahs then overflow. This water moves toward populated areas, increasing the flash flood risk.&rdquo;&nbsp;Shehzad described current weather patterns as &ldquo;atypical,&rdquo; noting that unusually early seasonal rains in March and April have intensified risks across the mountainous terrain.&nbsp;Authorities have directed district administrations to shift into emergency mode, with continuous monitoring of vulnerable glacial sites and activation of early warning systems. Emergency personnel from Rescue 1122 and Civil Defense, along with heavy machinery, have been deployed at key locations to reduce response times.&nbsp;While flood &ldquo;thresholds&rdquo; have not yet been breached, Shehzad said, &ldquo;the Provincial Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) is operating 24/7 to monitor river levels in real-time.&rdquo;&nbsp;The alert follows mounting human and infrastructural losses.&nbsp;According to PDMA data, at least 25 people have died and 77 others injured since March 25. A total of 88 houses have been partially or completely destroyed, along with one school.&nbsp;Many casualties occurred in rural areas, where heavy rains caused roofs and walls to collapse, with children among the victims.&nbsp;With the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasting further intense rainfall through early April, authorities have issued a strict travel advisory. Tourist and patrolling police have been deployed to restrict movement դեպի vulnerable northern areas.&nbsp;Residents have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel near riverbanks and streams, where fast-flowing water can quickly sweep away vehicles.&nbsp;The PDMA has called on citizens to stay updated through official channels and report emergencies via its toll-free helpline, 1700.

Climate & Environment

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has warned of floods and glacial lake outburst floods, placing Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on high alert as more rain is expected, with authorities closely monitoring glaciers and preparing emergency response teams.

Deadly rains put Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on high alert

WASHINGTON: The USS Gerald R. Ford has departed Croatia after a five-day port visit, the US Navy said Thursday without specifying where the world&#39;s largest aircraft carrier is headed next.&nbsp;The carrier &quot;remains poised for full mission tasking in support of national objectives in any area of operation,&quot; according to the Navy, which said the ship &quot;completed scheduled repairs and received supplies to sustain operations.&quot;&nbsp;The carrier played a major role in the US-Israeli air campaign against Iran but sailed to Crete and then Croatia after a laundry fire broke out on March 12.&nbsp;The blaze injured two sailors and caused major damage to some 100 beds, according to the US military. The Navy said Thursday that the &quot;routine investigation into the ship&#39;s laundry and berthing fire is ongoing.&quot;&nbsp;The Ford&#39;s exit from Iran operations left a gap in US forces in the region, taking the number of carriers deployed there from two to one.&nbsp;But the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier and its accompanying warships left port for what the military described as a &quot;regularly scheduled deployment&quot; on Tuesday, and it is reportedly bound for the Middle East.&nbsp;The Ford has been at sea for more than nine months -- a deployment that has already seen it take part in US operations in the Caribbean, where Washington&#39;s forces have carried out strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats, interdicted sanctioned tankers and seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

The USS Gerald R. Ford left Croatia after repairs following a fire, remains mission-ready, and its destination is undisclosed. It supported operations against Iran, while another US carrier deploys to maintain regional military presence.

USS Gerald R. Ford carrier departs Croatia

UNITED NATIONS: The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called Thursday for the UN Security Council to authorize the use of force to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks. Iran has placed a stranglehold on the key shipping lane -- threatening fuel supplies and buckling the global economy -- in retaliation to US-Israeli strikes that triggered the month-old Middle East war. &quot;Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, prevented commercial vessels and oil tankers from transiting, and imposed conditions on some to pass through the Strait,&quot; said Jassem al-Budaiwi, head of the GCC. He spoke in New York at the first Security Council meeting on cooperation with the GCC, which comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. &quot;We call upon the Security Council to assume its full responsibility and take all necessary measures to protect maritime routes and ensure the safe continuation of international navigation,&quot; al-Budaiwi said. Bahrain has proposed a draft resolution that would greenlight states to use &quot;all necessary measures&quot; to assure free transit through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the measure has divided the 15-member Security Council. According to diplomatic sources, Russia, China and France -- who each hold veto privileges -- have voiced strong objections despite several modifications to the text. &quot;We want a Security Council decision that addresses the situation comprehensively with the root causes, and not one-sided and unbalanced,&quot; Anna Evstigneeva, deputy representative of Iran-allied Russia, said Wednesday. French President Emmanuel Macron has said that a military operation to free the Strait is &quot;unrealistic.&quot; A fifth version of the draft text was distributed to member states on Thursday. Around a fifth of the world&#39;s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz in peacetime. Its near-total closure is impacting global supplies of important commodities, including oil, liquid natural gas, and fertilizer. That has led to a sharp rise in energy prices.

Middle East

The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called for the UN Security Council to authorize the use of force to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks

Gulf states seek UN mandate for force to protect Hormuz

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday warned India that any aggression would be met with a &ldquo;swift, calibrated, and decisive&rdquo; response, after his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, issued fresh warnings amid rising regional tensions.&nbsp;The exchange underscores renewed friction between the nuclear-armed neighbors months after a brief but intense conflict in May 2025, raising concerns for international observers about escalation risks in South Asia, at a time when the world is already grappling with heightened instability in the Middle East following the ongoing Iran crisis and widening regional tensions.&nbsp;Addressing a Sainik Sammelan in Indian state of Kerala, Singh said India remained alert to the possibility of &ldquo;hostile actions from across the border&rdquo; and cautioned that any such move would be met with a &ldquo;firm and decisive response,&rdquo; according to Indian media reports.&nbsp;Referring to India&rsquo;s &ldquo;Operation Sindoor,&rdquo; Singh claimed Indian forces had brought Pakistan &ldquo;to its knees&rdquo; within 22 minutes and warned that further provocation could trigger &ldquo;unprecedented action.&rdquo;&nbsp;Responding sharply, Asif dismissed the remarks as part of a &ldquo;predictable pattern,&rdquo; accusing New Delhi of &ldquo;externalising internal fragility&rdquo; and attempting to &ldquo;provoke escalation&rdquo; under the guise of &ldquo;unsubstantiated allegations&rdquo; for political purposes.&nbsp;&ldquo;Such threat-mongering from India is not new,&rdquo; Asif said, adding that the rhetoric reflected &ldquo;not strength, but visible strategic anxiety.&rdquo;&nbsp;He warned that &ldquo;miscalculation has consequences,&rdquo; saying recent history remained &ldquo;fresh in our minds,&rdquo; and cautioned that any future confrontation would draw an even more &ldquo;forceful and decisive&rdquo; response.&nbsp;Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s official position, Asif said the country remained committed to peace and regional stability but its &ldquo;resolve to defend sovereignty is absolute.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Our preparedness is complete, and our response will be swift, calibrated, and decisive,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He further cautioned that the notion of conventional conflict between two nuclear-armed states was &ldquo;inconceivable&rdquo; and would carry &ldquo;drastic consequences.&rdquo;&nbsp;The latest war of words follows a four-day conflict in May 2025, triggered by a militant attack on civilians in Indian-occupied Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack, a charge Pakistan firmly rejected. The fighting, involving missile, drone and artillery strikes, marked the deadliest cross-border escalation since 2019 and ended only after a US-brokered ceasefire.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif says Pakistan will respond swiftly, decisively to India’s warnings, calling its rhetoric a sign of “strategic anxiety” as tensions rise months after the May 2025 conflict.

Pakistan issues tit-for-tat warning after Indian defense minister remarks

RIYADH: Islamic nations, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Indonesia, lambasted on Thursday the approval of a death penalty bill for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, saying the move threatens &quot;regional stability&quot;. Foreign ministers released the statement from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. &quot;This legislation constitutes a dangerous escalation, particularly given its discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners, and stressed that such measures risk further exacerbating tensions and undermining regional stability,&quot; the joint statement read. Under the law passed by Israel&#39;s parliament late on Monday, Palestinians convicted by military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as &quot;acts of terrorism&quot; will face the death penalty&nbsp;as a default sentence. The United Nations and European Union have criticized the law, while the United States came out in support of &quot;Israel&#39;s sovereign right to determine its own laws&quot;. Because Palestinians in the territory are automatically tried in Israeli military courts, the measure effectively creates a separate and harsher legal track. In Israeli civilian courts, the law allows for either death or life imprisonment for those convicted of killing with the intent to harm the state.

FILE: From left to right: Syria's President Bashar Assad, Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, as they follow Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (Front R) and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi (Back R)

Europe

Asia

"This legislation constitutes a dangerous escalation, particularly given its discriminatory application against Palestinian prisoners, and such measures risk further exacerbating tensions and undermining regional stability," the joint statement released by Islamic nations read.

Islamic states condemn Israel over death penalty law

ISLAMABAD: Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty expressed his gratitude to Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for the hospitality shown during the recent meeting of foreign ministers in Islamabad. He also welcomed the Pakistan-China five-point initiative, which aims to promote dialogue and help resolve conflicts, as stated by Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office in a post on X. The conversation highlighted Islamabad&rsquo;s efforts to build support for a diplomatic, negotiation-led approach amid heightened instability in the region.<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; line-height: 2;"><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=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039620873490227229&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=ae7ddec59798bc7abb6eee7d2c7b3f942873f552&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 746px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Egypt&rsquo;s positive response to the five-point proposal suggests that Pakistan&rsquo;s outreach is resonating with key regional actors seeking de-escalation rather than further confrontation. Both ministers reaffirmed the close fraternal relations between Pakistan and Egypt and agreed to remain in close contact.&nbsp;The exchange underscored the importance both governments attach to sustained engagement as the regional situation continues to evolve. The call also reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s broader diplomatic position as an advocate of dialogue, political settlement and peace while strengthening coordination with influential partners in the Muslim world.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, spoke by telephone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday night, with both sides reaffirming close bilateral ties and continued diplomatic coordination amid wider regional tensions.

 Pakistan-Egypt FMs reiterate support for peace initiatives

ISLAMABAD: On World Autism Awareness Day, Pakistan reiterated its dedication to advancing the rights, education, and social inclusion of individuals with autism. Under this year&rsquo;s theme, &ldquo;Autism and Humanity: Every Life Has Value,&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described autism as a neurodevelopmental difference that &quot;can affect communication, language, and social interaction,&quot; according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office.&nbsp; &ldquo;Individuals on the autism spectrum deserve understanding, acceptance, and equal opportunities to participate fully in society,&rdquo; the PM said. Providing appropriate care, education, and training to children with special needs remains one of the government&rsquo;s top priorities, he said, with efforts underway to enhance their capabilities using available resources.&nbsp; Part of those efforts includes a state-of-the-art Center of Excellence for Autism whose foundation stone was laid by the federal government in December 2025. The center is expected to be completed within the year, as per the PM&#39;s statement. The PM stressed that supporting children with special abilities was a collective responsibility and paid tribute to parents, teachers, and caregivers for their dedication. He said advanced facilities were urgently needed across the country so that persons with autism and other developmental challenges do not feel isolated.&nbsp; In a message on the day, President Asif Ali Zardari said the government was working to strengthen support systems through early identification, inclusive education, rehabilitation services, and public awareness to reduce barriers faced by individuals with autism. &ldquo;Autism is not a limitation, it is a different way of experiencing the world,&rdquo; the president said.&nbsp; &ldquo;Our responsibility is to ensure that individuals on the autism spectrum have access to the support, education and understanding they need to live with confidence.&rdquo; Numbers impacted&nbsp;Citing global estimates, Zardari said one in every 100 children is on the autism spectrum, with signs appearing early in life and affecting communication, learning, and interaction. In Pakistan, available estimates suggest about 0.5% of the population is affected, according to APP. Given the country&#39;s population of nearly 250 million, this figure translates to well over a million individuals, many of them children. A study by Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) estimates that around two million children in Pakistan are affected by learning and developmental disabilities, including dyslexia and autism, with most diagnosed at a late stage. How can the challenges be combated?&nbsp;According to the WHO, evidence shows that early identification, inclusive education and nurturing care in families and communities can significantly improve health, well-being and participation.&nbsp; President Zardari, in his statement, highlighted how challenging it can be for parents who &quot;often have to travel long distances to find specialized care or adjust work schedules to attend therapy sessions.&quot;&nbsp; In an effort to counter this, the president said the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad has set up a dedicated autism center offering diagnostic services, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral support and guidance for parents. Such facilities are important in building a more coordinated approach to care. Screening during routine child health visits, along with better training for doctors, teachers and community workers, can help ensure quicker referrals. Nutritional support during pregnancy, including folic acid supplementation, has also been shown to reduce risk. This allows children to receive help when it can make the greatest difference,&rdquo; the president said. &quot;A society is measured by how it treats those who need support,&quot; he added.&nbsp; &quot;We must ensure that individuals with autism are able to live with dignity, take part in daily life and pursue their potential without unnecessary obstacles.&quot; Globally, the WHO says one in every 127 people is diagnosed with autism. The health organization has placed autism among the top ten brain health conditions contributing to health loss worldwide.

Health

Under this year’s theme, “Autism and Humanity: Every Life Has Value,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described autism as a neurodevelopmental difference that "can affect communication, language, and social interaction," according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office. 

PM, president call for greater inclusion as Pakistan marks Autism Awareness Day

NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar lawmakers will elect a new president on Friday, the parliamentary speaker said, with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing one of three candidates for the post. The former commander-in-chief has led Myanmar since 2021, when he ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered a civil war. He was one of three vice presidents elected by lawmakers on Tuesday, receiving 247 of 260 votes in the lower house. &quot;...the three vice presidents (members of parliament) have to vote to ... elect the one vice president they prefer as the President,&quot; parliamentary speaker Aung Lin Dwe said Thursday, adding the vote will be held at 10:00 a.m on Friday. The other two vice presidents are Nan Ni Ni Aye, a regional MP from Karen state with the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and current Prime Minister Nyo Saw. Democracy watchdogs have long warned that the new government will be a proxy of the military, which has ruled Myanmar for the vast majority of its post-independence history. The generals loosened their grip for a decade-long democratic experiment beginning in 2011, allowing Aung San Suu Kyi to ascend as civilian leader and steer a period of reform as the nation opened up. But after Aung San Suu Kyi trounced the USDP in a landslide in the 2020 elections, Min Aung Hlaing seized power back. After five years of hardline rule, the top general oversaw heavily restricted elections that returned a walkover win for pro-military parties in January. Now the USDP, led and staffed by many retired officers, is entrenched in parliament after winning 80% of the elected seats, and the new government is expected to march in lockstep with the top brass. Min Aung Hlaing is expected to manage a carefully orchestrated transition to the presidency after handing over the reins of the military to loyalist Ye Win Oo on Monday.

Min Aung Hlaing - (Photo: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Min Aung Hlaing is set to become Myanmar’s president through a military-backed parliamentary vote following contested elections and years of junta rule after the ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Articles by Monitoring Desk