India defense minister says did not end fighting with Pakistan due to pressure
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Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan, Egypt resolve to boost cooperation in defense, trade and other key sectors
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, and Egyptian FM Dr. Badr Abdelatty on Monday held a meeting in New York, where they agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in defense, trade and other key sectors, the Pakistani foreign ministry said. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a high-level United Nations (UN) summit on Palestine, which is being co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France on July 28-29. Appreciating the continued collaboration at multilateral fora, FM Abdelatty congratulated Pakistan on assuming the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July. 'The two leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing broad-based cooperation across various sectors, including medical, minerals, defense, trade, and investment,' the Pakistan foreign ministry said. 'They agreed on the need to strengthen connectivity between Pakistan and Egypt to promote economic integration and facilitate greater trade. Both sides also agreed to undertake high-level exchanges in the near future.' Pakistan and Egypt have cordial ties and both countries have resolved in recent years to facilitate businessmen with visas, exchange trade-related information and promote private-sector contacts. During Monday's meeting, the two foreign ministers reiterated their unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their just cause, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry. 'The two ministers underscored the urgent need for unimpaired humanitarian access, an immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities, and expressed hope for a meaningful and constructive outcome of the International Conference on the Two-State Solution,' it added. The UN conference is being held at a time of worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and France's historic decision to formally recognize Palestine as a state. The summit takes place a day after Israel declared a 'tactical pause' in fighting in parts of Gaza, where more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, saying it would allow the UN and aid agencies to open secure land routes to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. Analysts say France's move could tip the balance internationally. Already, 147 of 193 UN member states — nearly 75 percent — recognize Palestine, including nearly all of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. France would be the first G7 country to join that group, with the official declaration to be made at the UN General Assembly in September.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
One injured as explosion derails three coaches of Jaffar Express train in Pakistan's south
ISLAMABAD: At least one person was injured when an explosion derailed three coaches of the Jaffar Express train in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, Pakistan's state media reported on Monday. The train, which was en route to Quetta from Peshawar, derailed in Sindh's Shkarpur district after the explosion damaged part of the railway track, the APP news agency reported, citing Sukkur Divisional Superintendent of Railways Jamshaid Alam. The incident forced authorities to suspend train operations on Monday evening. 'Teams from Sukkur were summoned to start repairing work after the incident,' the report read. 'It may take up to further five hours to restore the track.' This is the second incident involving Jaffar Express since it resumed operations in March, following a rare hijacking by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) separatist militants in March with 400 passengers aboard. The hijacking in the rugged Bolan mountain range ended on March 12 after an hours-long military operation that killed 33 militants and rescued hostages. The standoff also left 23 soldiers, three railway staff and five passengers dead. In June, the train narrowly avoided a disaster, when a bogie of its power van derailed near Shikarpur's Mandi Phatak area, according to the APP report. The provincial government has ordered an investigation into Monday's explosion. Pakistan's railway system faces frequent derailments due to poor maintenance and militant attacks targeting rail tracks, especially in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. These incidents underscore an urgent need for infrastructure and security upgrades across the rail network.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan finance minister due in US for ‘final' round of trade talks
KARACHI: Pakistan's finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, has left for the United States (US) for a 'final' round of trade talks between the two countries, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Monday. Pakistan and the US have been engaged in talks after Washington announced a 29 percent 'reciprocal tariff' on Pakistani exports in April. Islamabad said the move, paused on April 9 for a 90-day period, may undercut its fragile, export-led recovery. The US is Pakistan's top export destination, with shipments totaling $5.44 billion in fiscal year 2023-2024, according to official data. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports rose 10 percent from a year earlier. The Pakistani finance ministry said the finalization of a trade agreement between Pakistan and the US will benefit both economies, noting opportunities for partnership between the two countries in various sectors. 'US is Pakistan's largest trading partner. Pakistan is keen to expand bilateral trade ties to traditional and non-traditional sectors,' it said. 'There are vast opportunities for partnership between the two countries in key sectors such as information technology, minerals and agriculture.' This is Aurangzeb's second visit to the US this month. The finance minister last week said that Islamabad and Washington were exploring a shift in their economic engagement, anchored in long-term investment. 'One thing we discussed was that we have to move beyond the immediate trade imperative for it to be brought into the next level and bring in a real step change,' he said, following his meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington. 'So, the investment imperative will come forward, and areas have already been identified in terms of minerals and mining, in terms of AI [artificial intelligence], in terms of digital infrastructure [and] crypto,' Aurangzeb said. 'We feel that this will be a real game changer, God willing, in terms of the relationship and the economic relationship between Pakistan and the United States.'
