Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Kazakhstan has expressed strong readiness to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in science, research, and higher education, as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and promote knowledge-driven economic growth. Kazakhstan&rsquo;s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, said Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a regional knowledge and research hub for Central Asia, with higher education at the core of its economic transformation.&nbsp; He noted that rapid global technological change, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence, has made investment in education, research, and human capital more critical than ever. He said Kazakhstan is building a knowledge-based economy by training its youth and attracting global expertise. Mr. Nurbek said Kazakhstan is establishing specialized research centers in key areas including mining, agriculture, nuclear research, and social sciences, aimed at supporting industrial growth and informed policymaking.&nbsp; He said Pakistan has strong universities and a large pool of talented youth, and emphasized that collaboration between the two countries could help expand access to quality education. He added that President of Kazakhstan&rsquo;s visit to Pakistan reflects strengthening bilateral relations, including in science and higher education. Highlighting people-to-people connections, the minister said Pakistan and Kazakhstan share historical roots, cultural links, and similarities in language that should bring the two nations closer. He said Kazakhstan is exploring scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students and identifying artificial intelligence and agriculture as priority areas for cooperation. Mr. Nurbek further said Kazakhstan is streamlining its visa system to provide faster processing for Pakistani students.&nbsp; He said hundreds and thousands of Pakistani students could study in Kazakhstan and also explore employment opportunities after completing their education, calling academic mobility a key pillar of future bilateral cooperation.

Education

Kazakhstan has expressed strong readiness to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in science, research, and higher education, as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and promote knowledge-driven economic growth

Kazakhstan Ready to Deepen Cooperation with Pakistan in Science and Higher Education

Islamabad: The award ceremony is one of the most emotional moments of my life,&rdquo; said Pakistan-origin Ali Akbar, his voice heavy with emotion, as he reflected on a remarkable half-century journey of selling newspapers on the streets of Paris, a humble livelihood that ultimately earned him the respect and admiration of an entire nation. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, in its morning show, World This Morning, Akbar said he felt &ldquo;truly honored and deeply grateful,&rdquo; and calling the moment unforgettable. Akbar is Known as Paris&rsquo; last newspaper hawker, has now been awarded the National Order of Merit, one of France&rsquo;s highest civilian honours, personally conferred by President Emmanuel Macron. His story is not just about migration or survival, but about dignity, service, and unwavering faith. Surrounded by his children, grandchildren, wife, and extended family, he said being recognized by the French President felt like a lifetime of honest labor finally being acknowledged. Akbar traced his journey back to Rawalpindi, where poverty forced him to work from a very young age. As a child, he polished shoes, sold popcorn, and worked in wealthy households to support his family. Living without clean drinking water, he made a promise to himself to one day build a better home for his mother, a dream that became the driving force behind his decision to leave Pakistan before the age of eighteen. His path to France was long and uncertain, taking him through several countries before he eventually settled in Paris. There, life remained challenging. Selling newspapers in extreme weather, Ali&nbsp;Akbar became a familiar and respected face in the Latin Quarter, interacting daily with intellectuals, writers, politicians, and students including a young Emmanuel Macron. Despite never attending formal school in France, he learned the language through daily interactions and observation. Ali Akbar said that faith, honesty, and service to people kept him going. His message to Pakistan&rsquo;s youth is clear: stay consistent, work hard, remain honest, and serve others &mdash; because true recognition comes to those who never stop striving.

World This Morning

Ali Akbar said that faith, honesty, and service to people kept him going. 

Paris’ Last Newspaper Hawker Knighted: Ali Akbar’s Remarkable Journey from Rawalpindi to French Honour

ISLAMABAD: Kazakh content creator and vlogger Balnur Baltabayeva has called on people from around the world to visit Pakistan, describing it as a country of &ldquo;real hospitality, diversity, love and care&rdquo;. Speaking on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s programme &lsquo;World This Morning&rsquo;, Balnur appreciated the warmth and generosity of the Pakistani people, saying the support she received here was unmatched anywhere else. Balnur said Pakistan holds a special place in her heart and that she will always return with affection.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistanis are always in my heart. I will always love to come back,&rdquo; she said, encouraging foreigners to experience the country firsthand as it can help change their perceptions. Recalling her travels, the Kazakh traveler said she spent around two years in Pakistan through multiple visits, exploring cities across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as Balochistan&rsquo;s Quetta. In every region, she said she witnessed kindness of locals, their rich cultures and their willingness to welcome visitors. She spoke about her visits to Hunza, Skardu, Swat, Malamjabba and Mardan, praising Pakistan&rsquo;s cultural richness and unity in diversity. &ldquo;Despite the fact that they are from different regions, they share the same hospitality level. I was so much impressed,&rdquo; Balnur said, adding that this sense of community and togetherness is what makes Pakistan truly special and sets it apart from many other countries she has visited. The Kazakh Vlogger said she made efforts to learn local phrases in Pashto, Punjabi and Urdu to connect more deeply with people. Food was another highlight of her journey. She spoke fondly of traditional dishes such as Namkeen Rosh, mutton karahi, Karachi biryani, Kabuli pulao, tikka, beef nihari, halwa puri, barfi and rasmalai. One of her most memorable experiences was being invited to stay with a Pakistani family who offered their home with open heart. She described this as the highest level of hospitality she had ever witnessed. Balnur concluded with a spirited &ldquo;Pakistan Zindabad&rdquo;, calling the country a place that truly embodies generosity, unity and human warmth.

Culture

Speaking on Pakistan TV’s programme ‘World This Morning’, Balnur appreciated the warmth and generosity of the Pakistani people, saying the support she received here was unmatched anywhere else; Balnur said Pakistan holds a special place in her heart and that she will always return with affection. 

Kazakh vlogger calls Pakistan a land of true hospitality

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister&rsquo;s Focal Person for Polio Eradication and Chairperson of the National Commission for the Rights of the Child Ayesha Raza Farooq has urged parents and caregivers to cooperate fully with vaccination teams as Pakistan prepares to launch its first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026 from February 2 to close final immunity gaps and push towards zero transmission. Speaking on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s programme Beyond Borders, Ayesha Raza Farooq appealed to families to ensure that every child under five receives polio drops during each campaign, calling on communities and the media to help Pakistan finally cross the finish line toward permanent polio eradication. Prime Minister&rsquo;s Focal Person for Polio Eradication expressed optimism that 2026 could become Pakistan&rsquo;s breakthrough year against the disease, provided campaign quality, political ownership and community cooperation remain strong. &ldquo;The February campaign will target more than 45 million children under the age of five across the country. Over 400,000 frontline workers, accompanied by supervisors and area in-charges, will conduct door-to-door vaccination, administering two drops of the polio vaccine to every eligible child,&rdquo; she added. The PM&rsquo;s aide said the programme had refocused on core operational basics, including selecting vaccinators from local communities, strengthening their training and interpersonal communication skills, and improving supportive supervision to ensure effective engagement with caregivers at the household level. Ayesha Raza Farooq explained that campaign quality will be monitored more rigorously this year through independent monitoring, digital tracking systems and daily district-level reviews led by deputy commissioners, allowing for real-time corrective action whenever gaps are identified.&nbsp; She said the emphasis has shifted from post-campaign evaluation to pre-campaign preparedness and intra-campaign monitoring, enabling the programme to respond immediately rather than retrospectively. &ldquo;Polio cases have declined significantly, falling from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025, with the virus now confined to limited geographical pockets. The 2026 roadmap therefore focuses on high-risk areas, including parts of South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi and mobile populations, while major urban centres such as Lahore have shown marked improvement,&rdquo; he added. Referring to disease detection, she said Pakistan operates one of the world&rsquo;s largest and most sensitive polio surveillance systems.&nbsp; &ldquo;We have 127 environmental sampling sites in 88 districts across the country where we&rsquo;re collecting sewage samples throughout the month to see if we detect any virus there. Now why is that critical? Because that helps the programme stay ahead of the virus and we are able to see what paths the virus is taking across the country. It helps us identify high-risk districts,&rdquo; she added. Ayesha Raza Farooq underscored the importance of political ownership, noting that the prime minister personally chairs the National Polio Task Force and conducts regular stock-taking meetings. She said this high-level oversight has resulted in faster decision-making, stronger accountability at provincial and district levels, and sustained focus across political and administrative structures.&nbsp; According to her, the prime minister&rsquo;s direct engagement sends a clear message that polio eradication is a shared national responsibility. She also emphasised the critical role of coordination with Afghanistan, explaining that Pakistan and Afghanistan constitute a single epidemiological block for polio.&nbsp; PM&rsquo;s focal person said both countries regularly synchronize vaccination campaigns, share virus genetic sequencing data and conduct special drives in border areas to reduce the risk of cross-border transmission.&nbsp; Ayesha Raza Farooq said nearly 60 percent of Pakistan&rsquo;s polio workforce comprises women, many of whom work in conservative, remote and at times insecure environments.&nbsp; She said empowering women vaccinators is essential not only for equity but also for programme effectiveness, as female workers are often the only ones able to access households and build trust with mothers and caregivers.

Beyond Borders

Speaking on Pakistan TV’s programme Beyond Borders, Ayesha Raza Farooq appealed to families to ensure that every child under five receives polio drops during each campaign, calling on communities and the media to help Pakistan finally cross the finish line toward permanent polio eradication.

Government seeks parents' support for Feb 2 polio drive

ISLAMABAD: Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), has said transformative change, effective plan and smart use of technology can still pull the world back from a looming water crisis, but only if governments act now. He was speaking in Pakistan TV&rsquo;s show &lsquo;Beyond Borders&rsquo; where he discussed the latest United Nations report on global water bankruptcy of which he is the lead author.Madani said technology alone cannot solve the crisis. &ldquo;Without proper policies, technology would fail. Without technology, policies would not be sufficient to deal with the problems or to address the problems that the world in the 21st century is dealing with,&rdquo; he said. Professor Madani said the era of treating water stress as a temporary challenge is over, and called on governments to adopt decisive and coordinated solutions. &ldquo;It is better to admit to the failure rather than to live with the delusion,&rdquo; he said, adding that it needs to be taken &ldquo;seriously not only by the policymakers, but also by scientists and the media in communications with the general public&rdquo;. He said water scarcity is no longer a future risk but a present-day disruption already affecting food systems, trade networks and national stability across regions. He said water shortages, aquifer depletion and climate shocks are compounding global pressures created by conflicts, trade wars and fragile supply chains. He said countries heavily dependent on agriculture face the most complex trade-offs as water cuts threaten both food production and employment. &ldquo;It&#39;s not an easy problem, given the fact that 70% of the world&#39;s water is in the good hands of farmers, mostly in poor economies, mostly in the global south, where governments do not have the power or capacity to diversify their economies overnight and provide alternative modes of livelihood for the farmers,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If you don&#39;t act today, the only choice would be rationing,&rdquo; Madani said, warning that cutting water without providing alternatives to farmers means unemployment, migration and conflict. Therefore, he added, a lot of measures need to be combined to act on a timely basis before it is late. Professor Kaveh Madani said efficiency-enhancing technologies, selective supply expansion, consumption reduction and data-driven management must work together, adding that tools such as satellite monitoring and artificial intelligence can improve trust and decision-making. He also urged governments to elevate water to the level of national security, particularly in countries like Pakistan that experience both floods and droughts.

Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), has said that transformative change, an effective plan, and smart use of technology can still pull the world back from a looming water crisis, but only if governments act now.

Effective plan, smart use of technology can pull world back from water crisis: UN expert

ISLAMABAD: Indonesia&rsquo;s Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce, Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, said there is significant potential to expand trade, investment, and private-sector cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan. Widya Putri, who recently visited Pakistan to explore new avenues of trade facilitation, investment collaboration, and private sector partnerships, appeared on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s programme Beyond Borders and termed her visit &ldquo;very substantive.&rdquo; She said her visit was a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto&#39;s visit to Islamabad on the 18th and 19th of December 2025, when he met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 768px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014423371979882502&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F3691%2F&sessionId=b56ab99e95667b86be30fb64add57b706a80da75&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2014423371979882502"></iframe></div></div></div>&ldquo;Indonesia and Pakistan currently record a bilateral trade value of $4.1 billion for the financial year 2024-25, and both sides are seeking to enhance trade going forward,&rdquo; she said. Referring to Pakistani cuisine and the increasing demand for edible oil, the deputy minister said Indonesia has been supplying these commodities to Pakistan, which is the third largest destination for Indonesian palm oil exports, making the trade relationship significant. She added that enhancing trade mechanisms could help improve the quality of bilateral trade. Widya Putri said that during her visit, discussions focused on enhancing the trade partnership by exploring the potential of the services sector from Pakistan to Indonesia, including healthcare professionals such as doctors and dentists, and creating opportunities for Pakistan to provide skilled services to Indonesia. She said one way to increase the quality of bilateral trade was to enhance existing arrangements.&nbsp; &ldquo;Indonesia and Pakistan currently have a preferential trade agreement, and there were talks about potentially upgrading it in the future. President Prabowo had mentioned the need for an upgrade, with a new target of completing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement in 2027. There is strong momentum despite global uncertainty,&rdquo; she added. Widya Putri said there is growing demand in Pakistan for spices, tea, and other products, and follow-up is necessary to ensure these transactions translate into long-term partnerships. She also highlighted the potential of the halal industry, noting that Indonesian products, including beauty products, food, and beverages, are already present in Pakistani supermarkets. During her visit, the deputy minister participated in business forums and B2B meetings, facilitated with the support of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, the Indonesian Embassy, and the Consulate General in Pakistan.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 744px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2014426160269296112&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F3691%2F&sessionId=b56ab99e95667b86be30fb64add57b706a80da75&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2014426160269296112"></iframe></div></div></div>Widya Putri stressed that sustained follow-up is essential to convert discussions into real transactions and long-term partnerships. &ldquo;Government-to-government engagement must go hand-in-hand with strong private sector participation,&rdquo; she noted. She emphasized the role of small and medium enterprises, which contribute 61 percent of Indonesia&rsquo;s GDP, as well as emerging areas such as Muslim fashion, halal consumer goods, and women&rsquo;s participation in policymaking and economic leadership. The deputy minister also highlighted her meeting with Pakistan&rsquo;s First Lady, Asifa Bhutto Zardari, describing discussions on women&rsquo;s empowerment and political participation as &ldquo;inspiring and forward-looking.&rdquo; Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri outlined a long-term vision grounded in the historic ties between the two nations, recalling Pakistan&rsquo;s support during Indonesia&rsquo;s independence struggle in the 1940s. &ldquo;Our relationship is not just transactional; it is built on shared history, trust, and people-to-people ties,&rdquo; she said.

SAT News Desk

Referring to Pakistani cuisine, the increasing demand for edible oil, the deputy minister says Indonesia has been supplying these commodities to Pakistan, which is the third largest destination for Indonesian palm oil exports, making the trade relationship significant, adds that enhancing trade mechanisms could help improve the quality of bilateral trade.



Indonesia eyes expanded trade, investment ties with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Experts on disaster risk reduction have stressed the need for proactive disaster management and stronger regional cooperation. Among them was M. Idrees Mehsud, Member Disaster Risk Reduction at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), who said the NDMA represented the government&rsquo;s resilience-building agenda and was leading disaster risk reduction efforts not only in Pakistan but also at regional and global levels.&nbsp; Speaking in Pakistan TV&rsquo;s programme &lsquo;World This Morning&rsquo;, Mehsud said Pakistan has shifted from a reactive to a proactive approach by establishing strong institutional mechanisms, including the National Emergencies Operations Centre and the Centre of Excellence for Training and Capacity Building. He said a high-level working group meeting was held ahead of the 10th ECO Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled for January 22 in Islamabad.&nbsp; The meeting finalised the regional Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Framework for 2025-2030 and prepared the Islamabad Declaration, which would guide regional cooperation in the coming years. Mehsud said Pakistan has offered its emergency operations centre and training facilities as regional hubs for ECO-member states.&nbsp; Speaking in the programme, Prof Dr Orhan Tatar, General Director of Earthquake and Risk Reduction at AFAD Turkiye, thanked the people and government of Pakistan for their solidarity and assistance following the devastating February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Turkiye, which claimed nearly 54,000 lives. Dr Tatar said the tragedy prompted Turkiye to significantly expand its disaster management capacities and place stronger emphasis on disaster risk reduction. He said Turkiye has completed one of the world&rsquo;s largest post-earthquake recovery efforts, constructing and handing over 455,000 permanent housing units across 18 provinces. Highlighting that Turkiye, Pakistan and Iran lie on the same Alpide-Himalayan earthquake belt, he stressed the need for strong regional cooperation.&nbsp; Dr Tatar said AFAD proposed establishing a joint regional seismic data centre and enhancing collaboration on early warning systems for earthquakes, landslides and floods. Director at the ECO Secretariat Dr Husnu Tekin said disaster risk reduction remains a top priority for the Economic Cooperation Organisation, which comprises 10 member states, including Pakistan. Dr Tekin said the meeting reviewed and updated the ECO Regional Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, first adopted in 2021, for the next five years.&nbsp; He said the ECO region is among the most disaster-prone in the world, facing earthquakes, floods and other hazards. He said the revised framework and the Islamabad Declaration were finalised for adoption at the ministerial meeting.&nbsp; Dr Tekin also announced the launch of a children&rsquo;s disaster awareness animation, developed with UNICEF Tajikistan, to promote preparedness across ECO-member states.

Climate & Environment

Experts on disaster risk reduction have stressed the need for proactive disaster management and stronger regional cooperation.

NDMA leads disaster risk reduction efforts at regional, global levels

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Defence Production Raza Hayat Harraj has said that if a trilateral defense cooperation agreement among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye is proposed in the future, Pakistan would welcome it. Talking exclusively in Pakistan TV&rsquo;s programme The Newsroom, the minister said Pakistan enjoys very strong diplomatic and defense relations with both Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, describing them as close allies and reliable friends of the country.&nbsp; &ldquo;An agreement has already been concluded between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. It is a bilateral agreement. If tomorrow, Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia come up with a proposal, it will be a very welcoming statement as far as Pakistan is concerned,&rdquo; the minister said, adding that at present there is no trilateral agreement involving the three countries. The Saudi-Pakistan defense agreement was signed between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in Riyadh in September last year, which was described as a &ldquo;strategic mutual defense agreement.&rdquo;&nbsp; The agreement aims to development aspects of defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression. Harraj said Pakistan maintains close defence cooperation with Turkiye, particularly in defence industrial development, and has a similar association with Saudi Arabia. Azerbaijan is also a close partner of Pakistan in terms of defense cooperation, he added. The minister said while a trilateral framework could be a future prospect, any such arrangement would only be considered if and when a formal proposal is presented.&nbsp; &ldquo;We would be willing to deliberate once an opportunity arises,&rdquo; he said, adding that if such an agreement comes forward, it will be left for the relevant stakeholders to scrutinize it. Harraj emphasised that defense-related agreements are considered trade secrets and often involve classified information that cannot be disclosed publicly.&nbsp; Explaining the nature of defense cooperation, the minister said such collaborations can take various forms, including joint exercises, shared production of defense equipment, or joint manufacturing of components.&nbsp; He cited the JF-17 fighter jet programme as an example of successful defense collaboration between Pakistan and China. Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s position, Harraj said bilateral defense agreements with Turkiye and Saudi Arabia are independent of each other.

The Newsroom

Federal Minister for Defense Production Raza Hayat Harraj has said that if a trilateral defense cooperation agreement among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye is proposed in the future, Pakistan would welcome it.

Pakistan open to trilateral defense deal with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye in future: Harraj

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&rsquo;s interim government has asserted its full preparedness for the upcoming national elections, even as questions over India&rsquo;s role and regional diplomacy dominate public debate ahead of the high-stakes polls. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, said the administration has taken extensive measures to ensure elections are free, fair, peaceful, and credible. Nearly one million security personnel will be deployed nationwide, vulnerable polling stations have been identified, and around 90 percent of voting centres are now connected to a digital monitoring app to ensure transparency. Alam expressed confidence that high voter turnout would reflect growing public trust in the interim setup. On Indian interference, Alam pushed back strongly, accusing sections of Indian media of spreading misinformation. He emphasized that the interim government has no political affiliations and is solely focused on conducting neutral elections, contrasting the process with polls held during former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s tenure, which he described as deeply flawed and restrictive. According to Alam, international scrutiny and public expectations have made electoral credibility a top priority for Dhaka. On Bangladesh-India relations, Alam stressed the need for ties based on mutual respect and equity. He said Bangladesh seeks balanced foreign relations while expanding trade, enhancing regional connectivity, and reviving South Asian cooperation under SAARC. Alam also highlighted warming Bangladesh-Pakistan ties, noting a significant rise in bilateral trade and the expected resumption of direct flights, which he said could further boost people-to-people contact and economic cooperation.

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, said the administration has taken extensive measures to ensure elections are free, fair, peaceful, and credible.

Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, speaks exclusively to Pakistan TV on elections and regional cooperation.

Bangladesh’s interim government promises credible polls amid regional diplomacy focus

ISLAMABAD: Iran&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghaddam, has said the United States and Israel are orchestrating unrest inside Iran, warning that any foreign aggression would be met with a strong and decisive response. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, the ambassador thanked the government, media and people of Pakistan for closely and sensitively following developments in Iran. He said Iran&rsquo;s security was being threatened through a &ldquo;designed plan&rdquo; involving the US, Israel and terrorist elements, while Iranian security forces and the public were working to maintain law and order. Moghaddam said recent protests were rooted in economic challenges caused by decades-long US sanctions, government reforms related to foreign exchange and subsidy mechanisms for essential goods.&nbsp; He stressed that peaceful protest is a constitutional right in Iran and that the government engaged directly with traders and demonstrators, including meetings held by the interior minister, commerce minister and the president. However, he said the protests were later exploited by hostile foreign actors. The Iranian envoy said that the US and Israel facilitated the infiltration of armed groups from Syria and Iraq under the cover of protests, adding these elements targeted both security personnel and civilians. He said Iran has lost around 100 police and security personnel, adding that terrorist violence, including attacks on women and children, is unacceptable anywhere in the world. Rejecting foreign-backed opposition narratives, the ambassador said public rallies in support of Iran&rsquo;s political system were underway, reflecting what he described as the people&rsquo;s rejection of external interference. On the possibility of military aggression, the ambassador warned that Iran has proven over the past four decades that it will deliver a befitting response to any attack by the US or Israel. He said diplomatic channels with Washington remain open through the Swiss-managed interest protection office, but stressed that Iran will never recognize or negotiate with Israel.

In an Exclusive Interview with Pakistan TV, Iranian Envoy Says Security Threats Are Part of a ‘Designed Plan’.

Iranian Ambassador says US, Israel Behind Unrest, Warns of Strong Response

KYIV: Russia launched the &quot;most powerful&quot; attack this year on Ukraine&#39;s battered energy facilities overnight, Kyiv said on Tuesday, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating in frigid temperatures ahead of talks to end the four-year <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russian-strikes-in-ukraine-kill-12-target-passenger-train" style="color:#0073e6;">war</a>. Russia&#39;s strikes hit as temperatures dropped to their lowest since the start of the war in February 2022, killing two teenagers in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia and damaging a Soviet-era World War II monument. The attack came a day before Ukrainian and Russian negotiators were due to meet for a second round of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi. &quot;Taking advantage of the coldest days of winter to terrorize people is more important to Russia than turning to diplomacy,&quot; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, denouncing the attack. He said Russia had &quot;once again disregarded the efforts of the American side.&quot; US President Donald Trump urged Vladimir Putin to &quot;end the war,&quot; adding that he &quot;would like&quot; his Russian counterpart to extend a brief halt in attacks due to the frigid temperatures. NATO chief Mark Rutte, who visited Kyiv on Tuesday, said &quot;Russian attacks like those last night do not signal seriousness about peace.&quot; An air alert blared out across Kyiv during Rutte&#39;s visit. AFP journalists heard explosions across the capital overnight, and residents in hundreds of buildings woke to find their heating cut off as temperatures dipped towards minus 20C. More than 1,100 residential buildings remained without heat as of late Tuesday, Restoration Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said. Some residents gathered around a damaged building, stepping over creaking debris and a thick layer of ice coating the ground. &quot;Our windows are broken, and we have no heating,&quot; Anastasia Grytsenko told AFP. &quot;We don&#39;t know what to do.&quot; Russia&#39;s defense ministry confirmed it had launched &quot;a massive strike&quot; against &quot;Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises and energy facilities.&quot; The Kremlin had last week said it agreed to a US request not to strike Kyiv for seven days, ending Sunday. Ukraine had not reported large-scale Russian attacks on the capital last week, while denouncing continued attacks in other parts of the country. &quot;Several types of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, were used to strike high-rise buildings and thermal power plants,&quot; Energy Minister Denys Shmygal said. &quot;Hundreds of thousands of families, including children, were deliberately left without heat in the harshest winter frosts,&quot; he added. Tuesday&#39;s strike on energy facilities was &quot;the most powerful&quot; since the start of 2026, Ukraine&#39;s largest private energy provider confirmed. Ukraine&#39;s air force said Russia had attacked with 71 missiles and 450 attack drones. Six people were wounded in the capital, officials said. A drone strike on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia also killed two teenagers and wounded at least 11 people, officials said. &#39;Symbolic and cynical&#39; The base of Kyiv&#39;s towering Soviet-era Motherland statue was damaged. &quot;It is both symbolic and cynical: the aggressor state strikes at a place of remembrance of the struggle against aggression in the 20th century, repeating its crimes in the 21st century,&quot; Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna wrote on social media. Recent Russian strikes have repeatedly cut power and heating to tens of thousands of homes. Strikes also hit Ukraine&#39;s second-largest city, Kharkiv, temporarily cutting heating to around 100,000 subscribers. Authorities had to cut heating to more than 800 homes to prevent the wider network from freezing, the regional governor said. Overnight temperatures had plunged to minus 19C in Kyiv and minus 23C in Kharkiv. US pushes for deal Russian occupation authorities in southern Ukraine said Ukrainian shelling had killed three people in the town of Nova Kakhovka. Kremlin-installed authorities said the shelling hit a municipal building and a fruit shop. &quot;There are dead: three people, including an employee of the administration,&quot; said Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-backed head of the Russian-controlled part of the Kherson region. Nova Kakhovka fell to Russian forces in the first days of their 2022 invasion. The United States has sought to craft a settlement between the two sides, but a first round of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/first-round-of-usrussiaukraine-talks-ends-in-abu-dhabi" style="color:#0073e6;">trilateral</a> talks held in Abu Dhabi last month failed to yield a breakthrough. A second round is due to <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/kremlin-confirms-ukraine-war-talks-this-week-in-abu-dhabi" style="color:#0073e6;">begin</a> on Wednesday in the Emirati capital, and is expected to focus on the crucial issue of territory. Russia has demanded Kyiv withdraw from the Donetsk region and has repeatedly said it is ready to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine by force if diplomacy fails.

Europe

US has sought to craft a settlement between the two sides, but a first round of trilateral talks held in Abu Dhabi last month failed to yield a breakthrough; second round is due to begin on Wednesday in the Emirati capital, and is expected to focus on the crucial issue of territory.

Russia resumes large-scale Ukraine strikes in freezing weather

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday condemned the &ldquo;heinous and cowardly&rdquo; coordinated <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/balochistan-cm-vows-wont-surrender-even-an-inch-after-coordinated-attacks" style="color:#0073e6;">terrorist attacks</a> in Pakistan&rsquo;s Balochistan province.&nbsp; Pakistan has faced a renewed <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-reaffirms-resolve-after-security-forces-kill-108-indianbacked-terrorists" style="color:#0073e6;">surge</a> in militant violence in recent years, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan&rsquo;s (TTP) decision to end its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.&nbsp; Last week&rsquo;s coordinated assaults, claimed by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), left 17 security personnel martyred and 31 civilians dead.&nbsp; Consequently, Pakistani security forces, in counter terrorism operations, eliminated 177 terrorists, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told the National Assembly. In a press statement issued today by Council President James Kariuki, the members of the UNSC expressed their &ldquo;deepest sympathy and condolences,&rdquo; wishing a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. &ldquo;The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,&rdquo; the statement shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s permanent mission to the UN said. The members underline the need &ldquo;to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable,&rdquo; bringing them to justice. They also urged all states to cooperate actively with the Pakistani government.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever, and by whomsoever committed,&rdquo; the statement said, reaffirming the need for all to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. Several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, etc., have separately <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/condemnations-pour-in-for-pakistan-as-security-forces-kill-another-22-indianbacked-militants" style="color:#0073e6;">condemned</a> the attacks, expressing solidarity with Pakistan.

Foreign Affairs

Security

Security Council members underline need “to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable,” bring them to justice. 

Balochistan attacks: UNSC condemns ‘heinous, cowardly’ terrorists

TRIPOLI: Seif al-Islam Kadhafi, the son of Libya&#39;s late longtime ruler, was killed Tuesday by gunmen who stormed his home in western Libya&#39;s Zintan, his French lawyer Marcel Ceccaldi told AFP. &quot;He was killed today at 2 pm (1200 GMT)... in Zintan in his home by a four-man commando,&quot; Ceccaldi said. Seif al-Islam, 53, had been seen by some as his father&#39;s successor, despite being targeted by a warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. In 2021 he announced he would run for president, but those elections were indefinitely postponed. His adviser, Abdullah Othman Abdurrahim, told Libya&#39;s Al-Ahrar television channel that the four unidentified men had stormed the home before &quot;disabling surveillance cameras, then executed him.&quot; It remained unclear who was behind the killing. Ceccaldi said that a close associate of Seif al-Islam had told him days ago &quot;that there were problems with his security.&quot; &quot;So much so that the head of the (Kadhafi&#39;s) tribe had called Seif and told him, &#39;I will send you people to ensure your security&#39;. But Seif refused,&quot; he said. While Seif al-Islam held no official position in the North African country under his father&#39;s rule, he had been described as Libya&#39;s de facto prime minister, cultivating the image of a moderate and reformer prior to the 2011 Arab Spring revolt. But that reputation soon collapsed when he promised &quot;rivers of blood&quot; in the face of the uprisings. A divided country Seif al-Islam was arrested in November 2011 in southern Libya following a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. A Tripoli court later sentenced him to death in 2015 after a speedy trial, but he was granted amnesty. His whereabouts had long been unknown. Ceccaldi said he &quot;often moved around.&quot; Libya expert Emadeddin Badi said Seif al-Islam&#39;s death was &quot;likely to cast him as a martyr for a significant segment of the population, while also shifting electoral dynamics by removing a major obstacle to presidential elections.&quot; &quot;His candidacy and potential success had been a central point of contention,&quot; Badi wrote on X. Moamer Kadhafi&#39;s last spokesperson, Moussa Ibrahim, also posted on the social network: &quot;They killed him treacherously. He wanted a united, sovereign Libya, safe for all its people. &quot;I spoke with him two days ago. He spoke of nothing but a peaceful Libya and the safety of its people.&quot; Libya has struggled to recover from chaos that erupted after a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 overthrew longtime ruler Moamer Kadhafi. Libya remains divided between an UN-backed government based in Tripoli and an eastern administration backed by Haftar.

Africa

Libya has struggled to recover from chaos that erupted after a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 overthrew longtime ruler Moamer Kadhafi; country remains divided between an UN-backed government based in Tripoli and an eastern administration backed by Haftar.

Son of Libya's late ruler Kadhafi killed by armed gang

JERICHO/JERUSALEM: Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces shot dead a man and wounded three others in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Palestinian Authority would play no role in post-war governance of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/gaza-civil-defence-says-22-killed-in-israeli-strikes" style="color:#0073e6;">Gaza</a>. The Ramallah-based health ministry said that young man Saeed Nael Saeed al-Sheikh was martyred by &ldquo;occupation gunfire in Jericho, and three others were injured.&rdquo; The Israeli military said the soldiers opened fire after &quot;rocks&quot; were thrown at them. The death of the 24-year-old Saeed was confirmed to AFP by Riad Eid, director of the Jericho Governmental Hospital. The Israeli military alleged that soldiers carrying out an operation in the Jericho area &quot;identified a number of terrorists who hurled rocks at the forces.&quot; &quot;The soldiers responded with live fire, one terrorist was eliminated, and hits were identified on the additional terrorists,&quot; a military statement claimed. Violence has <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-muslim-nations-denounce-israeli-ceasefire-breaches-killing-palestinians-in-gaza" style="color:#0073e6;">surged</a>&nbsp;across the West Bank since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023 after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel. At least 1,033 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the war started, according to the Palestinian health ministry. During the same period, 45 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the territory, according to official Israeli figures. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. PA won&#39;t be part of post-war Gaza governance: Netanyahu tells USSeparately, while meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that the PA would not be part of post-war Gaza&#39;s governance &quot;in any way.&quot; &quot;The Prime Minister clarified that the Palestinian Authority will not be involved in administering the Strip in any way,&quot; Netanyahu&#39;s office said in a statement after the meeting ended. Under US President Donald Trump&#39;s Gaza ceasefire plan that ended a two-year war in the Palestinian territory, the PA&#39;s post-war role in Gaza was left unclear. The technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) was formed to handle day-to-day affairs until the PA completes a reform program. Witkoff held talks with Netanyahu on Tuesday, during a visit that followed the reopening of Gaza&#39;s Rafah crossing with Egypt. This was the second meeting between the two in less than a fortnight. At the meeting, Netanyahu also &quot;reiterated the uncompromising demand for the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, and the fulfilment of the war objectives prior to the reconstruction of the Strip,&quot; according to his office. Israel has demanded that neither Hamas nor the PA should be involved in the governance of post-war Gaza. On Monday, Netanyahu&#39;s office lamented that the logo of the NCAG contains a symbol of the PA, suggesting a link between the two. &quot;Israel will not accept the use of a Palestinian Authority symbol; the Palestinian Authority will have no part in the administration of Gaza,&quot; his office said in a statement. The NCAG replied in a post on X on Tuesday, saying it &quot;has been testing a range of visual concepts&quot; and that logo designs may evolve, and added that its focus &quot;is humanitarian relief, civilian administration, recovery, and a livable future for Gaza.&quot; &quot;That&#39;s the conversation that matters,&quot; it said.

Middle East

Israeli military says soldiers opened fire after "rocks" were thrown at them; at least 1,033 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the Gaza bombardment started.

Israeli army kills Palestinian man in West Bank as Netanyahu rejects PA role in Gaza

WASHINGTON: The United States is still planning talks with Iranian officials this week, the White House said Tuesday, even after a US warplane shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.&nbsp;&quot;I just spoke with special envoy (Steve) Witkoff, and these talks as of right now are still scheduled,&quot; Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, adding that they were due to happen &quot;later this week.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango,&quot; Leavitt said outside the West Wing.&nbsp;The meeting between Witkoff, a businessman whom Trump has appointed as his roving <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-joins-iranus-talks-as-tensions-rise-foreign-office" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">global conflict</a> negotiator, and Iranian officials will &quot;probably&quot; take place in Turkey, a source close to the issue told AFP.&nbsp;The US military said earlier that an F-35C stealth fighter jet shot down the Iranian drone that &quot;aggressively&quot; drew near to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Tuesday.&nbsp;Trump&#39;s spokeswoman added that the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usiran-meetings-likely-to-take-place-in-turkey-on-feb-6-report" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US president</a> was keeping open the possibility of military action against Iran, with a large number of US warships now in the region.&nbsp;&quot;Of course, the president has always a range of options on the table, and that includes the use of military force,&quot; Leavitt told Fox News in a separate interview.&nbsp;She added that &quot;the Iranians know that better than anyone,&quot; referring to US military strikes that hit Iran&#39;s nuclear program last year.

Americas

White House said US-Iran talks remain planned this week, likely in Turkey, despite a US jet downing an Iranian drone near a carrier, as Trump keeps diplomacy first while leaving military action on the table.

US-Iran talks 'still scheduled' after drone shot down: White House

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s National Assembly on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning recent terrorist incidents in Balochistan and calling for an immediate, aggressive, and coordinated national response. The resolution was tabled by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and passed in response to coordinated terrorist attacks across the south-western province. The country&rsquo;s lower house condemned the attacks&nbsp;&ldquo;in the strongest terms&rdquo; in which innocent civilians were targeted, and women were used as weapons through &ldquo;heinous and inhumane&rdquo; tactics. Lawmakers expressed deep sorrow that terrorist networks were exploiting women through coercion, mental pressure, and blackmail, adding that such actions were contrary to Islamic, Pakistani, and Baloch values. The resolution praised timely and effective measures by security forces, law enforcement agencies, the provincial government of Balochistan, and the civil administration. expressing full solidarity with the families of martyrs and the injured. It clarified that attacks on civilians, women, and children are unforgivable crimes, and the state will act with zero tolerance. The resolution stated that available evidence points to external sponsorship, raising serious concerns about India&rsquo;s role. It noted that some neighboring countries provide logistical and operational facilitation, financial assistance, training, treatment, transport, and propaganda support to terrorist networks. It stated that an effective national response be ensured on an immediate, aggressive, coordinated, and emergency basis against foreign sponsors and internal facilitators. This includes funding networks, smuggling routes, and propaganda hubs, with political, diplomatic, military, intelligence, legal, and rhetorical fronts united. The lower house declared that the fight against terrorism is the fight of the entire nation. Lawmakers called for national unity across political lines and said that the state will ensure the protection and security of its people in every way.

Lower house declares fight against terrorism is the fight of the entire nation; Lawmakers call for national unity across political lines, say state will ensure the protection and security of its people in every way.

Balochistan attacks: Pakistan calls for immediate, aggressive, coordinated national response

BRUSSELS: NATO said Tuesday that military planning has started for a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic, after US President Donald Trump made protecting the region central to his demands for Greenland. &quot;Planning is underway for a NATO enhanced vigilance activity, named Arctic Sentry,&quot; said Martin O&#39;Donnell, a spokesman for NATO&#39;s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. &quot;The activity will even further strengthen NATO&#39;s posture in the Arctic and High North,&quot; he added, without providing further details. Trump&#39;s threats against Greenland last month plunged the transatlantic alliance into its deepest crisis in years. The unpredictable US leader backed off his desire to take control of Denmark&#39;s autonomous Arctic territory after saying he had struck a &quot;framework&quot; deal with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater American influence. NATO said it would take steps to boost its presence in the Arctic after Trump used the alleged threat of Russia and China to justify his designs on Greenland. Meanwhile, Denmark and Greenland have kicked off talks with the United States over the territory and are expected to renegotiate a 1951 treaty governing American troop deployments on the island. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that NATO countries back having a &quot;permanent presence&quot; in the Arctic, including around Greenland, as part of efforts to step up security.

NATO said Tuesday that military planning has started for a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic, after US President Donald Trump made protecting the region central to his demands for Greenland

NATO says 'planning underway' for new Arctic mission

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will participate in upcoming talks between Iran and the United States aimed at easing escalating tensions, the Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday.&nbsp;In a statement to Pakistan TV Digital, a Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan has been invited to take part in the Iran&ndash;US engagement and will be &ldquo;taken on board during the talks.&rdquo;&nbsp;Relations between Tehran and Washington have sharply deteriorated in recent weeks, following anti-government protests in Iran and a subsequent security crackdown. US President Donald Trump has warned of possible military action if tensions continue to escalate.&nbsp;The United States has also reinforced its military presence in the Middle East, including the deployment of an aircraft carrier group, amid growing concerns over regional stability.&nbsp;Publicly addressing the situation, Trump said he remained open to diplomacy but issued a warning if talks fail. &ldquo;I hope we&rsquo;re going to work something out,&rdquo; he said, adding that &ldquo;bad things would happen&rdquo; if no agreement is reached.&nbsp;Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran supports negotiations under clear conditions. &ldquo;I have instructed my Minister of Foreign Affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists, one free from threats and unreasonable expectations, to pursue fair and equitable negotiations,&rdquo; he said in a post on X.&nbsp;He added that the diplomatic effort was initiated following requests &ldquo;from friendly governments,&rdquo; underscoring Iran&rsquo;s stated preference for dialogue while maintaining it would respond decisively to any aggression.&nbsp;Pakistan has traditionally positioned itself as a proponent of regional diplomacy and de-escalation, particularly in matters affecting Middle East stability.

Pakistan will participate in upcoming talks between Iran and the United States aimed at easing escalating tensions, the Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday

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