Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid at Baghdad Palace on Sunday to discuss bilateral relations, according to an official statement released by the presidential office. President Zardari received a guard of honor upon arrival.&nbsp;The two leaders held a one-on-one meeting followed by delegation-level talks.&nbsp;The Iraqi president also hosted a lunch for President Zardari and his delegation. <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-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2002717186293649785&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2a023e6f76d61186cbf97d6719bfb28dcce18fc1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div><div class="fr-embed"> </div> President Zardari congratulated the Iraqi president on the country&rsquo;s recent parliamentary elections. He said Pakistan supports Iraq&#39;s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity. The leaders reviewed bilateral relations and noted recent high-level exchanges, including the ninth session of the Pakistan-Iraq Joint Ministerial Commission. The Pakistani president said that current trade levels do not reflect the potential of Pakistan-Iraq relations. He cited opportunities in trade, investment, agriculture, defense production, information technology, construction and pharmaceuticals. He called for stronger business engagement, trade delegations and direct banking channels. Pakistan offered to support Iraq&#39;s reconstruction through skilled and semi-skilled workers under an existing agreement. President Zardari said Pakistan could also provide support in medical services, financial expertise and digital governance. He requested improved facilitation for Pakistani pilgrims visiting Iraq and urged finalization of an agreement on pilgrim management. He said Pakistan will work with Iraq to prevent illegal entry and overstay by Pakistani nationals. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/2db3a606-c358-4724-828a-ddfb0400a592-69645-e1766323612113-696x309.jpg" alt="69645-e1766323612113-696x309.jpg" style="width: 805px;" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">The two leaders held a one-on-one meeting followed by delegation-level talks. (APP)</figcaption></figure> Both presidents agreed to cooperate against extremism, terrorism and narcotics trafficking. They said they will coordinate at the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Iraqi president said he appreciated Pakistan&#39;s role in the Islamic world and its support for Palestinians. Zardari was accompanied by Senators Sherry Rehman and Saleem Mandviwala, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Sindh Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, former Senate Chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari and Pakistan&#39;s ambassador to Iraq.

Foreign Affairs

President Asif Ali Zardari arrives in Baghdad, meets Iraqi President, reaffirms support for Iraq, expands trade and security cooperation, and seeks improved facilitation for Pakistani pilgrims.

Pakistan, Iraqi president pledge deeper cooperation during Baghdad talks  

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari signed the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill, 2025, into law to protect, empower, and advance the rights of the country&rsquo;s religious minority communities. President Zardari on Wednesday accorded his assent to various important legislative bills on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following their passage by both houses of Parliament, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported on Wednesday. Protecting minorities&nbsp;The president assented to the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill, 2025, which aims to protect, empower, and develop religious minority communities across the country through various measures. The joint sitting of Pakistan&#39;s parliament had passed the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill, 2025, on Dec. 2, according to Radio Pakistan. The bill was moved by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who stated that its purpose is to safeguard the rights of non-Muslims. He said the constitution of Pakistan also provides for the rights of non-Muslims. The minister mentioned that the Supreme Court in 2014 had directed the formation of a commission to protect the rights of non-Muslims. Based on the new law, a dedicated statutory body will be established to protect, promote, and empower non-Muslim religious minority communities, fulfilling the Supreme Court&#39;s directive to ensure the protection of their constitutional rights, freedom of religion, and equal citizenship through policy-making, grievance redressal, and monitoring of the implementation of minority safeguards.&nbsp; President Zardari also signed into law the Qanun-e-Shahadat (Law of Evidence) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as well as the King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences Bill, 2025, the APP reported. However, he returned the Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025, to the prime minister for reconsideration, given the need for provincial consultation. In his observation, President Zardari stated that prior consultation with the relevant provincial governments was inevitable for the establishment of Daanish Schools in the provinces.

Politics

President Zardari signs the National Commission for Minorities Rights Bill 2025; also signs into law the Qanun-e-Shahadat (Law of Evidence) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as well as the King Hamad University of Nursing and Associated Medical Sciences Bill, 2025.

Pakistan’s president assents to bill, statutory body to protect minorities' rights

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein reaffirmed Pakistan&ndash;Jordan relations on Sunday as the president conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country&rsquo;s highest civil award, on the visiting monarch at Aiwan-e-Sadr.&nbsp;According to the Presidency, the two leaders also exchanged views on regional developments and future cooperation.&nbsp;During their meeting, President Zardari and King Abdullah II lauded the &ldquo;longstanding and fraternal ties&rdquo; between Pakistan and Jordan and agreed to further deepen cooperation across political, economic and cultural domains. <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRIHJIkDbJV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 0; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%; color: rgb(0, 115, 230);" target="_blank"><div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div><div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"> </div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div><div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div><div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div></div></div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRIHJIkDbJV/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Pakistan TV Digital (@pakistantvdigital)</a></div></blockquote></div>&nbsp;The president said both nations were &ldquo;united in their principled positions on Gaza,&rdquo; adding that Pakistan &ldquo;rejects any displacement of Palestinians&rdquo; and continues to support a two-State solution.&nbsp;According to the Presidency, King Abdullah II was quoted as saying that he &ldquo;deeply values the historic bond between Jordan and Pakistan&rdquo; and is committed to &ldquo;enhancing cooperation in every sector of shared interest.&rdquo;&nbsp;As part of a reciprocal gesture, the Jordanian monarch conferred the Wasam al-Nahda al-Mursaa (Order of the Renaissance) on President Zardari, an honor reserved for heads of state and distinguished dignitaries. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/a148284e-f000-4d1d-885f-f9cc7a653fb6-WhatsApp Image 2025-11-16 at 7.14.02 PM.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2025-11-16 at 7.14.02 PM.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">President Asif Ali Zardari confers Pakistan&rsquo;s highest honour, the &ldquo;Nishan-e-Pakistan,&rdquo; on Jordan&rsquo;s King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein at the Presidential Office in Islamabad on November 16, 2025. (Handout/Presidency)</figcaption></figure> Senior civil and military officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari attended the ceremony, alongside members of the federal cabinet and diplomatic corps. A state banquet was later hosted in honor of the visiting royal.&nbsp;Defense engagementsOn the second and final day of his visit, King Abdullah II, who also serves as the Supreme Commander of the Jordan Armed Forces, visited Global Industrial &amp; Defense Solutions (GIDS) in Rawalpindi, accompanied by Princess Salma bint Abdullah II.&nbsp;According to Pakistan Army&rsquo;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the royal delegation was received by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who, along with senior defense officials, briefed the King on Pakistan&rsquo;s indigenous defense production capabilities.&nbsp;The briefing highlighted GIDS&rsquo; &ldquo;structure, capabilities, and product portfolio,&rdquo; with a focus on technological innovation and opportunities for expanded defense cooperation between the two countries.&nbsp;King Abdullah II later visited the Tilla Field Firing Ranges, where he was joined by PM Sharif and Azerbaijan&rsquo;s Minister of Defense Industry Vugar Valeh oglu Mustafayev. The leaders witnessed a joint fire and manoeuvre exercise, featuring multi-domain operations, air and ground firepower, coordinated manoeuvres, spectrum warfare demonstrations and multi-purpose drone deployments.&nbsp;King Abdullah II praised the &ldquo;high standards of training, professionalism, and operational readiness&rdquo; displayed by Pakistani troops and aircrews.&nbsp;PM Sharif, speaking at the ranges, said Pakistan holds &ldquo;deep respect and affection for His Majesty King Abdullah II and the people of Jordan,&rdquo; adding that the visit reflects &ldquo;enduring friendship, mutual trust and a shared desire for peace and development.&rdquo;&nbsp;Field Marshal Munir reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to &ldquo;enhancing military-to-military cooperation&rdquo; with Jordan, stressing joint efforts to realize &ldquo;a mutual vision of a stable and peaceful region.&rdquo;&nbsp;Earlier, King Abdullah II conferred on the COAS the Order of the Military Merit of First Degree in recognition of his contributions to strengthening Pakistan&ndash;Jordan defense ties.&nbsp;King Abdullah II&rsquo;s two-day state visit, officials noted, &ldquo;marks a significant milestone in reinforcing the historic bonds of fraternity and brotherhood between Pakistan and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.&rdquo;

King Abdullah II and Princess Salma’s second day in Islamabad includes defense industry briefings, a visit to Tilla Firing Ranges, and witnessing a joint exercise demonstrating advanced multi-domain capabilities.

Pakistan, Jordan leaders deepen ties as President Zardari awards King top honor

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan marked Iqbal Day on Sunday, commemorating the birth anniversary of Allama Iqbal, whose ideas influenced the creation of Pakistan. The country&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari issued statements on the occasion, addressing Iqbal&rsquo;s legacy and its relevance to the country today. PM&rsquo;s message PM Sharif said Allama Iqbal played a key role in inspiring a sense of self-reliance and hope among Muslims during British colonial rule. He said Iqbal&rsquo;s message that faith, knowledge, and action were fundamental to a nation remains important. The PM said the government is focused on improving education with the goal of providing youth not only skills for employment but also character development. He mentioned specific initiatives, including the Uraan Pakistan program, aimed at equipping young people with modern education and job opportunities. He also referred to Iqbal&rsquo;s vision of unity within the Muslim world and the pursuit of peace. He said Pakistan seeks to carry forward this vision by promoting brotherhood, justice, and tolerance within the country and on the global stage. PM Sharif stated that Pakistan&rsquo;s policies and national priorities are inspired by Iqbal&rsquo;s ideals, which serve as a guide in addressing current challenges. President&rsquo;s message President Zardari focused on Iqbal&rsquo;s political role in awakening the Muslim community&rsquo;s demand for rights in British India. He recalled Iqbal&rsquo;s address to the 1930 All-India Muslim League session, which called for political representation and laid groundwork for Pakistan. Zardari said Iqbal&rsquo;s literary works remain influential in shaping Pakistan&rsquo;s identity, especially his exploration of spirituality, freedom, and self-awareness. The President called on Pakistanis to strengthen their dedication to the principles Iqbal advocated, including unity, peace, and progress. He expressed hope that Iqbal&rsquo;s vision would continue to guide future generations in building a stable and prosperous Pakistan. Messages from Iran and Russia on Iqbal Day Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam issued a statement acknowledging Iqbal&rsquo;s deep engagement with Persian literature and his role in fostering cultural relations between Iran and Pakistan. The ambassador said Iqbal&rsquo;s message of unity and justice remains relevant. The Russian Embassy congratulated Pakistan, noting shared values such as respect for religion and tradition. The statement highlighted the growing cooperation between Russia and Pakistan in international forums, including the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Russia commended Pakistan&rsquo;s balanced stance on global issues and its constructive role in multilateral efforts.

Culture

Pakistan observes Iqbal Day with focus on youth education, national unity

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari met Qatar&rsquo;s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha on Wednesday, where both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and promoting stability in the region, according to a statement issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.&nbsp;The statement said the Qatar emir &ldquo;warmly welcomed President Zardari&rdquo; and expressed pride in Pakistan&rsquo;s progress, acknowledging what he described as the &ldquo;valuable contribution&rdquo; of the Pakistani community to Qatar&rsquo;s development.&nbsp;He also expressed a desire to increase the number of Pakistani professionals working in Qatar in the coming years.&nbsp;President Zardari conveyed greetings from the Government and people of Pakistan and praised Qatar&rsquo;s &ldquo;remarkable progress and visionary leadership&rdquo; under the emir.&nbsp;Both leaders agreed to expand cooperation across political, economic, defense, and cultural sectors.&nbsp;President Zardari proposed deeper collaboration in defense production, agriculture, and food security, a proposal the emir welcomed, directing officials to begin discussions immediately, the statement added.&nbsp;Zardari also recalled Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent diplomatic support for Qatar&rsquo;s sovereignty at international forums and lauded Qatar&rsquo;s humanitarian efforts for Gaza. He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;continued solidarity&rdquo; with Qatar.&nbsp;According to the statement, the Amir expressed satisfaction over Pakistan&rsquo;s recent defense cooperation developments with other Gulf partners and noted Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;strategic importance&rdquo; due to its balanced relations with China, the West, and regional states.&nbsp;The president also encouraged greater Qatari investment in Pakistan, expressing confidence that bilateral economic engagement would grow under the Amir&rsquo;s leadership.&nbsp;Zardari further appreciated Qatar&rsquo;s role in the UN-led Doha Process on Afghanistan, describing it as instrumental in facilitating humanitarian, development, and security coordination.&nbsp;The emir expressed hope that Pakistan and Afghanistan would &ldquo;overcome current challenges and move toward stability.&rdquo;&nbsp;The meeting concluded with President Zardari extending an invitation to the emir to visit Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;The emir accepted the invitation and informed the President that he would visit Pakistan early next year,&rdquo; the statement said.

President Zardari and Qatar’s Emir reaffirmed commitment to strengthen bilateral ties, expand cooperation in defense, economy, and culture, support regional stability, and enhance Pakistani workforce in Qatar.

Pakistan, Qatar reaffirm commitment to deepen cooperation and regional stability

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday strongly condemned India&rsquo;s &ldquo;weaponization of water,&rdquo; saying the practice threatens regional stability and the basic rights of millions of people in South Asia.&nbsp;The president met United Nations Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha.&nbsp;&ldquo;We face a new threat in the form of water weaponization,&rdquo; President Zardari said in the official statement. &ldquo;Water, which the world recognizes as a fundamental human right, cannot be turned into a tool of pressure. Such tactics cannot and will not succeed.&rdquo;&nbsp;The president&rsquo;s remarks come amid Pakistan&rsquo;s continued concerns regarding India&rsquo;s suspension of key cooperative mechanisms under the Indus Waters Treaty.&nbsp;Signed in 1960 through World Bank facilitation, the agreement allocates the western rivers to Pakistan and the eastern rivers to India. Tensions have risen in recent years as India expanded hydropower projects on the western tributaries, prompting warnings from Pakistan over reduced downstream flows.&nbsp;The situation escalated in April 2025 when India placed the treaty in abeyance following an incident in Indian-occupied Kashmir. A move unprecedented since the treaty&rsquo;s signing. Pakistan has maintained that any attempt to restrict its lawful water share would constitute a grave and unacceptable act.&nbsp;Pakistan People&rsquo;s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who was also present in Doha meeting, said that India&rsquo;s recent actions had already resulted in &ldquo;severe humanitarian and environmental consequences&rdquo; inside Pakistan.&ldquo;India&rsquo;s withdrawal from treaty obligations and withholding of river data has contributed directly to floods and disasters in Pakistan,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It is deeply concerning and demands urgent global attention.&rdquo;&nbsp;During the meeting, President Zardari praised the Secretary-General&rsquo;s leadership and his &ldquo;consistent support for Pakistan&rdquo; in navigating global challenges.&nbsp;He reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s call for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions and highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s longstanding role in United Nations peacekeeping missions.&nbsp;Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s contributions to global peace and expressed solidarity with Pakistan in its efforts against terrorism.&nbsp;President Zardari also welcomed the Doha Political Declaration as a step toward renewing international commitment to poverty reduction and social development.&nbsp;He noted that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) remains a successful model for advancing social inclusion and women&rsquo;s economic empowerment.&nbsp;Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign policy priorities, the president called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders and the realization of the Palestinian people&#39;s right to self-determination.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan fully supports the United Nations&rsquo; central role in promoting peace, justice, and prosperity,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to Qatar were present during the meeting.

On Doha summit sidelines, Pakistan’s president meets UN chief, condemns water “weaponization,” raises Kashmir and Palestine, highlights peacekeeping role, and supports global social development efforts.


Pakistan condemns India’s ‘water weaponization’ in meeting with UN chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President, Asif Ali Zardari, will undertake an official visit to Qatar from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6&nbsp;to participate in the World Summit for Social Development, organized under the auspices of the United Nations. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting brings together world leaders to reinforce global efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The president will address the summit on Nov. 4 and stress the importance of international cooperation to advance social justice, equality, and human dignity. He will call for a reformed and inclusive global financial framework that strengthens social development, with a focus on supporting countries in the Global South. &ldquo;He will highlight Pakistan&rsquo;s achievements in the areas of poverty eradication, health, education and sustainable development,&rdquo; the statement added. On the sidelines of the summit, the president will hold a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders, offering an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest. The summit serves as a key platform for dialogue, cooperation, and joint solutions, bringing together governments and international organizations. It seeks to address persistent gaps, reaffirm global commitment to social development, and boost progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

President Zardari will visit Qatar from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 to attend the UN-backed World Summit for Social Development, highlighting Pakistan’s achievements, advocating global cooperation and financial reforms, and engaging in bilateral meetings with world leaders.

President Zardari to advocate for global cooperation at Qatar social development summit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with President Asif Ali Zardari and other senior officials, extended warm greetings to the Hindu community in Pakistan and around the world on the occasion of Diwali, reiterating the country&rsquo;s commitment to protecting the rights of all minorities. In a statement on his social media platform X, PM Sharif highlighted the universal message of Diwali, which celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and harmony among communities. &ldquo;Let us work together to ensure that every citizen, regardless of faith or background, can live in peace and contribute to progress,&rdquo; said the prime minister on X. In Hindu belief, Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates &ldquo;the return of Lord Rama after a 14-year exile and the triumph of righteousness over injustice.&rdquo; Devotees light candles and lamps &ldquo;to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.&rdquo; The Hindu community remains the largest religious minority in Pakistan. According to the latest official census data from 2023, released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), around 3.8 million Hindus live in Pakistan, representing about 1.6% of the total population.&nbsp; President Asif Ali Zardari, in his message, said the festival &ldquo;reminds us of the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.&rdquo; He emphasized that Pakistan&rsquo;s Constitution guarantees equal rights and full religious freedom to all citizens, adding that this principle reflects the vision of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan&rsquo;s founder, who envisioned a Pakistan where minorities enjoy equality and opportunity. Federal Minister for Human Rights and Law Azam Nazeer Tarar also extended greetings to the Hindu community in Pakistan and abroad, acknowledging their significant contributions to the nation&rsquo;s social, cultural, and economic fabric. According to a statement from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the minister reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s &ldquo;unwavering commitment to ensuring equal rights, religious freedom, and dignity for all citizens as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.&rdquo; He expressed hope that Diwali would bring &ldquo;joy, peace, and prosperity to everyone, and further strengthen the bonds of unity and mutual respect within our society.&rdquo; Global Diwali greetings World leaders and global business figures also marked the occasion with messages of peace and celebration.&nbsp;Apple CEO Tim Cook wished &ldquo;everyone celebrating around the world a joyful and healthy Diwali,&rdquo; while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer extended greetings to Hindu, Jain, and Sikh communities across Britain. <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: absolute; 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From Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistani leaders extended Diwali greetings to the Hindu community, reaffirming their commitment to protecting minority rights, religious freedom, and promoting interfaith harmony across the nation

Pakistan extends Diwali greetings, reaffirms commitment to minority rights

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;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. <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" 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#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A1889589.199999988%2C%22ls%22%3A637.3999999761581%2C%22le%22%3A648.8999999761581%7D" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1023" 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;">&nbsp;</iframe></div>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. Dar urges Taliban to act against terrorists Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he was &ldquo;deeply concerned&rdquo; over the developments along the Pak‑Afghan border, calling unprovoked firing and raids by the Taliban government a &ldquo;serious provocation.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977301437160779869&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F1265%2F&sessionId=3cf72649712ea0166c123d48be461eb7eec96caf&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The statement said Pakistan&rsquo;s retaliatory strikes targeted Taliban infrastructure and aimed to neutralize Fitna‑al‑Khawarij and Fitna‑al‑Hindustan terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil.&nbsp;He said that the defensive response was not directed at the peace‑loving Afghan civilian population and that, unlike Taliban forces, Pakistan was exercising &ldquo;extreme caution&rdquo; to avoid civilian casualties.&nbsp;Dar also reiterated its long‑standing position that combating terrorism is a shared regional responsibility and said it had repeatedly provided Kabul with information on terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory.

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.

Articles tagged with "President Asif Ali Zardari"