Latest news with #ArabNewsPakistan
Arab News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Sindh governor to fund treatment of Pakistani teen separated from Indian mother after Arab News coverage
KARACHI: Kamran Tessori, the governor of Pakistan's southern Sindh province, has taken notice of an ailing Pakistani teenager who was separated from his Indian mother as tensions rose between the two neighboring countries, Tessori's office said on Thursday, after Arab News published a story about the 17-year-old. Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have plummeted after India accused Pakistan of backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people on April 22. Islamabad has rejected the charge. Both countries have since exchanged gunfire in Kashmir, taken diplomatic measures against each other, expelled citizens and ordered the border shut, leaving many in limbo. Muhammad Ayan, paralyzed after he suffered a gunshot wound to his spine during a gunfight between police and street criminals in Karachi in 2023, was under treatment at New Delhi's Apollo Hospital, when he and his family were forced to leave India, following the Kashmir attack. Ayan's mother, Nabeela, who is an Indian national, could not travel with them. Arab News this week published a story on the 17-year-old teenager who had to return to the southern Pakistani city of Karachi along with his father, Muhammad Imran, and siblings after being separated from his mother, prompting Governor Tessori to take notice of Ayan's tragedy. A post shared by Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) 'I will pay all the expenses of the treatment of the disabled child,' Tessori was quoted as saying by his office. Ayan narrated to Arab News how he got separated from his mother amid tears and sobs. 'She was separated from us while crying and we also came here with great difficulty, crying,' an emotional Ayan said. Ayan's father, Imran, had married his maternal cousin, Nabeela, a resident of New Delhi, 18 years ago. Since then, Nabeela had been living in Pakistan on a visa that was intermittently renewed without her ever needing to acquire Pakistan's nationality. But the suspension of visas meant Imran and his Pakistani children's 45-day medical visa was no longer valid. And Nabeela was eventually left behind in India. The April 22 assault occurred as tourists enjoyed tranquil mountain views at the popular site of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, when gunmen burst out of forests and raked crowds with automatic weapons. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947, with both claiming the territory in full but governing separate portions of it. Both countries have two of their three wars over the disputed territory. Separatist groups have waged an insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan. New Delhi accuses Pakistan of backing the militants, Islamabad denies it and says it only supports Kashmiris diplomatically and politically. Imran said he went to India after spending 'every single rupee' with the hope that his son would walk again. However, bilateral tensions between India and Pakistan, and the ensuing atmosphere in India made his family 'very scared.' 'I told them, 'I am married [to her],' I pleaded with them, cried, and showed a lot of humility,' Imran said about his interaction with Indian authorities. 'But they said, 'No, write an exit and leave.'' For Ayan, the shock of being separated from his mother compounded the trauma of his paralysis and incomplete treatment. 'I went for treatment with a hope but that hope shattered because of that accident and then the fact that my mother was not coming with us,' he said. 'I was completely separated from a mother's love. We were far apart; it made me cry.' In his statement, Governor Tessori said Pakistanis are a proud nation and know how to share each other's pain. 'If India has descended into hostility toward humanity, I will get him treated,' he said.
Arab News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistani official takes notice of paralyzed teenager torn apart from mother in India, promises treatment
KARACHI: Kamran Tessori, the governor of Pakistan's southern Sindh province, has taken notice of an ailing Pakistani child who was separated from his Indian mother, Tessori's office said on Thursday, amid tensions between the two neighboring countries. Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have plummeted after India accused Pakistan of backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people on April 22. Islamabad has rejected the charge. Both countries have since exchanged gunfire in Kashmir, taken diplomatic measures against each other, expelled citizens and ordered the border shut, leaving many in limbo. Muhammad Ayan, paralyzed after he suffered a gunshot wound to his spine during a gunfight between police and street criminals in Karachi in 2023, was under treatment at New Delhi's Apollo Hospital, when he and his family were forced to leave India, following the Kashmir attack. Ayan's mother, Nabeela, who is an Indian national, could not travel with them. Arab News this week published a story on the 17-year-old teenager who had to return to the southern Pakistani city of Karachi along with his father, Muhammad Imran, and siblings after being separated from his mother, prompting Governor Tessori to take notice of Ayan's tragedy. 'I will pay all the expenses of the treatment of the disabled child,' Tessori was quoted as saying by his office. Ayan narrated to Arab News how he got separated from his mother amid tears and sobs. A post shared by Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) 'She was separated from us while crying and we also came here with great difficulty, crying,' an emotional Ayan said. Ayan's father, Imran, had married his maternal cousin, Nabeela, a resident of New Delhi, 18 years ago. Since then, Nabeela had been living in Pakistan on a visa that was intermittently renewed without her ever needing to acquire Pakistan's nationality. But the suspension of visas meant Imran and his Pakistani children's 45-day medical visa was no longer valid. And Nabeela was eventually left behind in India. The April 22 assault occurred as tourists enjoyed tranquil mountain views at the popular site of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, when gunmen burst out of forests and raked crowds with automatic weapons. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947, with both claiming the territory in full but governing separate portions of it. Both countries have two of their three wars over the disputed territory. Separatist groups have waged an insurgency in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan. New Delhi accuses Pakistan of backing the militants, Islamabad denies it and says it only supports Kashmiris diplomatically and politically. Imran said he went to India after spending 'every single rupee' with the hope that his son would walk again. However, bilateral tensions between India and Pakistan, and the ensuing atmosphere in India made his family 'very scared.' 'I told them, 'I am married [to her],' I pleaded with them, cried, and showed a lot of humility,' Imran said about his interaction with Indian authorities. 'But they said, 'No, write an exit and leave.'' For Ayan, the shock of being separated from his mother compounded the trauma of his paralysis and incomplete treatment. 'I went for treatment with a hope but that hope shattered because of that accident and then the fact that my mother was not coming with us,' he said. 'I was completely separated from a mother's love. We were far apart; it made me cry.' In his statement, Governor Tessori said Pakistanis are a proud nation and know how to share each other's pain. 'If India has descended into hostility toward humanity, I will get him treated,' he said.
Arab News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan says alert armed forces will respond ‘very strongly' to any Indian escalation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar warned India on Wednesday that the country's armed forces are alert and would respond 'very strongly' to any escalation by New Delhi, amid fears of an all-out war breaking out between the nuclear-armed neighbors. Tensions have surged between India and Pakistan following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr. 22 that New Delhi has said Islamabad was involved in. Pakistan denies the charges and has said it will participate in any credible and transparent investigation of the assault. Fears have risen since that India may retaliate by conducting limited airstrikes or special forces raids near the Line of Control (LoC), which runs 742km (460 miles) dividing the parts of Kashmir governed by India and Pakistan and acts as part of the de facto border between the two countries. Speaking to reporters at a news conference with Pakistan's military spokesperson by his side, Dar said the world leaders he has spoken to in the past few days have urged Islamabad to exercise restraint. 'I have been making it very clear on behalf of our government, on behalf of the nation, Pakistan will not be the first one to resort to any escalatory move,' the deputy prime minister said. 'However, in case of any escalatory move by the Indian side, we will respond very strongly.' A post shared by Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) He said Pakistan's government and armed forces are alert to the possibility of any Indian military aggression. 'We are vigilant, our armed forces are vigilant and the nation will thwart any misadventure responding in a befitting and decisive manner at the time and place of our choosing,' he said. Pakistan military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry agreed with Dar. He said the military is monitoring the situation carefully and that its countermeasures and responses 'in all domains are ready.' 'We are ready, do not test it,' Chaudhry warned. PAKISTAN SAYS DESTROYED INDIAN POSTS Fears of a military confrontation between the two sides heightened further after Pakistan's state media reported on Wednesday that Pakistan army troops responded to 'unprovoked' Indian shelling on Tuesday night across the de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir region between the two nations. PTV said India had carried out 'unprovoked' firing in the Kayani and Mandal sectors of the Line of Control on Tuesday night. Small arms were used by the Indian forces, prompting Pakistan to respond. 'There are also reports that multiple enemy posts were destroyed by the Pakistan Army's effective response,' PTV said, naming one of them as the Chakpathra post. Earlier, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had 'forced' four Indian Rafale jets to retreat after patrolling near the two nations' de facto border. 'On the night of April 29/30, four Indian Rafale jets conducted patrolling within Indian geographical boundaries' near the LoC, APP reported, saying PAF 'immediately' detected the jets. 'A timely and swift response by the Pakistan Air Force forced four Indian Rafale jets to retreat … The Pakistani armed forces remain fully prepared and alert to give a befitting response to any aggression from India.' Since last Tuesday's attack, in addition to shooting over the Line of Control frontier, India and Pakistan have announced tit-for-tat diplomatic measures that included the cancelation of visas and a recall of diplomats. New Delhi also suspended a crucial water-sharing treaty with Islamabad and ordered its border shut with Pakistan. In response, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines. Late on Tuesday night, Pakistan's Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said Pakistan had 'credible intelligence' India was planning military action against it in the 'next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident.'
Arab News
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Peshawar Zalmi reignite media partnership with Arab News Pakistan for PSL 2025
ISLAMABAD: A popular franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Peshawar Zalmi, announced on Sunday a renewed media partnership with Arab News Pakistan, continuing a collaboration that began in 2020. The PSL, launched in 2016, is Pakistan's premier T20 cricket league featuring six city-based teams. Peshawar Zalmi, representing the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, clinched the PSL title in 2017 and have consistently been strong contenders in subsequent seasons. 'Proud to go global with @arabnewspk as our International Newspaper Partner for #HBLPSLX,' Zalmi announced on their social media account on X, exclaiming, 'Where cricket meets the world.' Proud to go global with @arabnewspk as our International Newspaper Partner for #HBLPSLX Where cricket meets the world #Zalmi #YellowStorm #ZalmiXLegacy #ZalmiXArabNews #ArabNews — Peshawar Zalmi (@PeshawarZalmi) April 20, 2025 Arab News Pakistan was launched in February 2018 and has since provided in-depth coverage of Pakistan, including sports. Its parent organization, Arab News, was founded in 1975 and is part of the Saudi Research and Media Group (SRMG), one of the largest media conglomerates in the region. Peshawar Zalmi had a challenging start to this year's PSL but bounced back with a commanding 120-run victory over Multan Sultans on Saturday, marking their first win of the season. They are now set to face Karachi Kings in the next match on Monday at the National Stadium in Karachi.
Arab News
18-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Hungarian foreign minister leads business delegation to Islamabad amid investment push
ISLAMABAD: Top companies from Hungary are in Pakistan this week for business-to-business engagements with their counterparts, the Hungarian foreign minister said, as Islamabad pushes to seek investments from allies old and new to bolster its struggling economy. The IMF's $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), approved last year, has played a key role in stabilizing Pakistan's economy in recent months and set it on the path of long-term recovery. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government has vowed to reduce dependence on foreign loans in the coming years and seek more direct investment. 'I have brought with me top business leaders from Hungary. They are meeting with their Pakistani counterparts in B2B sessions today, and we hope to see new partnerships and trade avenues open,' Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó, who led a 17-member Hungarian business delegation to Islamabad, said at a business forum on Thursday. Key public and private sector representatives from both countries attended the business forum to identify sector-specific synergies. Hungarian delegates represented industries such as IT, agri-tech, water management, health tech and advanced manufacturing, sectors in line with Pakistan's development goals. The Hungarian foreign minister also pointed to opportunities for collaboration in various sectors, including energy, agriculture, IT, food security, sports, and advanced manufacturing, and said a Hungarian private airline was exploring launching operations in Pakistan, indicating growing interest and confidence in the Pakistani market. A post shared by Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) Szijjártó called Pakistan an 'important economic partner' and emphasized Hungary's continued advocacy for Pakistan's preferential trade access to European markets under the GSP+ scheme. 'Hungary stands with Pakistan on the GSP+ front. It not only benefits Pakistan's exports but also strengthens EU-Pakistan relations through sustainable development and inclusive trade,' he said. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, speaking at the business forum, welcomed Hungary's continued support for Pakistan's GSP+ status and praised Hungary's technological strengths, particularly in seed technology, agriculture feed, and the services sector. 'Our economic reforms are designed to improve ease of doing business, attract foreign investment, and create strong infrastructure to support sustainable growth,' said Kamal, highlighting several government initiatives such as the National Tariff Policy, Strategic Trade Policy Framework, Pakistan Single Window, and transit trade agreements with Central Asian countries aimed at enhancing regional and global trade integration. On Thursday, Pakistan and Hungary signed an agreement to abolish visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders of both countries, along with two memorandums of understanding in the fields of culture and archaeology.
