logo
Pakistan Army chief Munir expected to visit US again: Report

Pakistan Army chief Munir expected to visit US again: Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir is expected to visit the US this week for consultations with top American officials, his second trip to Washington since the four-day conflict with India, a media report said on Thursday.
In June, Munir travelled to the US on a rare five-day trip during which he attended a private luncheon with President Donald Trump.
That meeting culminated in Trump's announcement of enhanced US-Pakistan cooperation in various fields, including an oil deal.
Field Marshal Munir is expected in the US this week for consultations with his American counterparts, Dawn newspaper reported, citing official sources.
Sources told the paper that this would be a return visit, following a trip to Pakistan by Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), in late July.
In a press statement issued on August 4, CENTCOM recalled Gen Kurilla's recent visit to Pakistan and other countries in the region.
During the visit, Gen Kurilla was also conferred the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) by the Pakistani government.
During his previous visit to Washington, Munir was hosted by President Trump in an unprecedented gesture typically reserved for visiting heads of state or government.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘What if Indians boycott American firms': AAP MP's firm open letter to Donald Trump over 50% tariffs
‘What if Indians boycott American firms': AAP MP's firm open letter to Donald Trump over 50% tariffs

Hindustan Times

time7 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

‘What if Indians boycott American firms': AAP MP's firm open letter to Donald Trump over 50% tariffs

AAP Rajya Sabha MP and chancellor of Lovely Professional University, Ashok Kumar Mittal, wrote an open letter to US President Donald Trump on Thursday over the imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on India. He cautioned that if Indians were to form a strategic restriction of American business, then there would be a far more "severe" impact on Washington. The LPU chancellor warned Trump that if Indians chose to form a strategic restriction of American business, then the impact would be far more severe on the US. (ANI) Posting his open letter on X, Mittal asked, "What if 146 crore Indians boycott American companies operating in India?" The Rajya Sabha MP termed Trump's move to raise India's tariff to 50 per cent due to the country's Russian oil purchase as "deeply disappointing". He also referred to the US President's "dead economy" remark and said that this very economy is the "4th largest in the world, soon to be third, and remains the fastest growing among major nations". Mittal highlighted that American companies generate more than $80 billion annually from the Indian market across various sectors, including tech, education, finance, and IP. He noted that the US digital economy runs on code, much of which, he added, "is written in India". "It is also telling that your close ally, the European Union, recorded over €67.5 billion in trade with Russia last year, including record LNG imports, even as it calls for others to scale back. What is more surprising is that the United States continues to quietly import uranium, palladium, as well as chemicals from Russia. Should a nation pressurise India against trade with Russia when it itself relies on the Kremlin for its domestic interests?" Mittal added. The AAP leader recalled that the Swadeshi Movement was launched in India on August 7, 1905, describing it as a powerful assertion of economic self-reliance against foreign control. "If 146 crore Indians were to channel that spirit today and initiate a strategic restriction of US businesses, the impact would be far more severe for the United States than for India," he added. Mittal said that while India has stood by the US so far because of its 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' spirit, the future now lies in the hands of those who understand that diplomacy and cooperation are the way forward, not reciprocal tariffs. "Mr President, let us choose dialogue over discord, coordination over coercion. Let us shape the future - through respect, resolve, and renewed commitment to a rules-based global order," Mittal concluded his letter to Trump. Several opposition leaders, including Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, have expressed discontent over the tariffs imposed on India by Trump. US President Donald Trump had initially announced a tariff of 25 per cent on India and an unspecified penalty for the country's purchases from Russia. On Wednesday, the White House announced that Trump was imposing an additional 25 per cent levy on Indian goods due to New Delhi's trade with Russia, taking the total tariffs to 50 per cent. India termed the US President's move to raise the tariffs as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable". The ministry of external affairs said that India will take all the actions necessary to protect its national interests.

What's next for Gaza? 4 endgame scenarios as the war grinds on
What's next for Gaza? 4 endgame scenarios as the war grinds on

Indian Express

time8 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

What's next for Gaza? 4 endgame scenarios as the war grinds on

Israel has decimated Hamas's military wing and reclaimed control across Gaza. Yet dozens of Israeli hostages remain in captivity, insurgent attacks persist, and Gaza is in ruins, sliding toward famine, with ceasefire talks at a standstill. What lies ahead? According to reports, both Israel and Hamas have laid out starkly different visions for how this war ends, while mediators, including the US, Qatar, and Egypt, struggle to bridge the divide. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering a complete reoccupation of Gaza, the first since Israel withdrew in 2005. Israeli media suggest a Cabinet meeting on Thursday may finalise the decision. This would mean sending troops into the last pockets of Gaza where 2 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, including areas like Muwasi. The consequences could be catastrophic: more deaths, mass displacement, and danger to the remaining hostages, around 20 are believed to be alive. The move is backed by Netanyahu's far-right coalition, which advocates for the reconquest of Gaza, expulsion of its population, and the return of Jewish settlements. But it faces domestic resistance and would further isolate Israel diplomatically. Hamas has agreed to release hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal, a lasting ceasefire, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The Biden administration and UN Security Council endorsed this framework over a year ago, and a version of it was briefly realised in the Trump-brokered January ceasefire. That truce lasted six weeks, freed dozens of hostages, and brought in significant aid but collapsed in March when Israel resumed attacks. Israel insists a full withdrawal could allow Hamas to regroup and repeat another October 7-style assault. Netanyahu also faces political threats at home if he accepts such terms. Netanyahu says the war will end only when all hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled or exiled. Even then, Israel would push for the 'voluntary emigration' of Gazans, a plan the international community largely sees as forced expulsion. Israel may agree to a short-term truce involving limited hostage releases, aid, and troop pullbacks. But any permanent settlement, Israel insists, must include Hamas's full disarmament. Hamas has offered to hand over power to other Palestinians but refuses to lay down arms as long as Israel occupies territories key to a future Palestinian state. In the absence of agreement, the war may grind on indefinitely. Daily Israeli strikes continue, with heavy civilian casualties. Hamas maintains a low-grade insurgency, and humanitarian efforts remain constrained. The hostages may remain in captivity for months or longer. With Israeli elections due by 2026, or possibly earlier, the political calculus could shift. US President Donald Trump, who brokered the June Iran-Israel ceasefire, has significant influence but has publicly backed Israel's terms. Asked this week if he would support Israel's reoccupation of Gaza, Trump said: 'It's going to be pretty much up to Israel.' (With Inputs from Associated Press)

Apple leads global tech rally as Trump spares key chipmakers from tariffs
Apple leads global tech rally as Trump spares key chipmakers from tariffs

Business Standard

time8 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Apple leads global tech rally as Trump spares key chipmakers from tariffs

Global technology stocks advanced on Thursday in a relief rally after the latest tariff salvo from US President Donald Trump largely exempted industry heavyweights from his threat to impose 100 per cent levy on chips and semiconductors. Trump said the new tariff rate would apply to "all chips and semiconductors coming into the United States," but would not apply to companies that had made a commitment to manufacture in the US or were in the process of doing so. Apple stock rose 2 per cent, clawing back most of its losses since the Liberation Day selloff back in April, after Trump's announcement on Wednesday that the company will invest an additional $100 billion in the US, a move that could help it sidestep potential tariffs on iPhones. Semiconductor manufacturing equipment supplier Applied Materials and chipmakers Texas Instruments, GlobalFoundries and Broadcom - Apple's partners in the investment effort - climbed between 1.3 per cent and 5.5 per cent. Other US-listed chipmakers also rose, with Advanced Micro Devices up 3.1 per cent and Nvidia 1.4 per cent, respectively. "From a high level, the 100 per cent headline number seems intimidating, but in practice we expect a much lower impact," BofA Global Research analysts led by Vivek Arya said in a note. Intel, however, fell 1.4 per cent after Trump called for the immediate resignation of Intel's new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan. European chipmakers also joined the rally, with ASML and ASMI up more than 3 per cent each. BE Semiconductor Industries climbed 4.7 per cent. analysts expect the proposed 100 per cent semiconductor tariff would not be stacked on top of the 15 per cent baseline tariff agreed between the European Union and the US last week. According to EU officials, the framework trade deal will have zero-for-zero tariffs on semiconductor-making equipment. Germany's Infineon said it could not speculate on possible semiconductor tariffs, as no details have been disclosed yet. Its shares were up 0.9 per cent. Trump's latest on semiconductor tariffs seemingly rules out Taiwanese chip contract manufacturer TSMC, which makes chips for most US companies, including Nvidia, as it has factories in the US "The market remains keen to buy TSMC on dips. Investors also believe they need to remain positioned in AI - with or without tariffs," UBS analysts said. TSMC shares closed almost 5 per cent higher to hit all-time highs, while Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix climbed 2.5 per cent and 1.4 per cent, respectively. South Korea's Samsung and SK Hynix will also not be subjected to 100 per cent tariffs on chips, the country's top trade envoy said. Samsung has invested in two chip fabrication plants in Austin and Taylor, Texas, while SK Hynix has announced plans to build an advanced chip packaging plant and research and development facility for artificial intelligence products in Indiana. Since stepping into the White House in January, Donald Trump has made several tariff threats, specifically on semiconductors, aimed at reshaping the supply chain of the industry and spurring domestic production. "The (100 per cent tariff) figure fits Trump's approach of 'open high, negotiate down' and the final figure could be similar to reciprocal tariffs to limit inflation in consumer goods, given that many have chips," said Phelix Lee, senior equity analyst at Morningstar. Not everyone has come out of the latest blitz on the right side, with the Philippines and Malaysia looking to find out more details about the tariff rate. Dan Lachica, the president of the trade body for the Philippine semiconductor industry, said 70 per cent of its electronics exports are semiconductors and the new tariff rate would be "devastating". Philippine stocks were down 0.1 per cent after falling as much as 0.9 per cent during the day.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store