Years after taking a jibe at India's lunar ambitions in 2019, Pakistan's former Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Hussain Chaudhry, has now done an unexpected about-face. In a Tuesday (August 22) post&nbsp;on X, formerly Twitter, the former minister lauded the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3, terming it a "historic moment for humankind."&nbsp;

"Pak media should show #Chandrayan moon landing live tomorrow at 6:15 PM… historic moment for Human kind specially for the people, scientists and Space community of India…. Many Congratulations," Hussain said on X.

This is a surprising twist, considering the fact that Chaudhry is the same minister who had taunted India with the hashtag "India Failed" following ISRO's unfortunate loss of contact with the Vikram lander during the previous&nbsp;unsuccessful mission.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-chandrayaan-3-to-make-historic-attempt-at-moon-landing-today-628136">India's Chandrayaan-3 to make historic attempt at moon landing today</a>

Notably, in September&nbsp;2019, he penned several posts on X&nbsp;with the hashtag "#IndiaFailed."

The former minister had made a series of vile comments targeting and taunting India. His vitriolic comments also targeted the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Bollywood, India's cultural sentiments, and&nbsp;Indian Air Force fighter pilot&nbsp;Abhinandan Varthaman who downed Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets in February 2019.&nbsp;

<h2>Change of heart?&nbsp;</h2>

Now the minister, who is well-known for his insulting remarks towards India, is urging his country to witness the live broadcast of Chandrayaan-3's moon landing on Wednesday evening. His tone has shifted from taunts to admiration.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chandrayaan-3-soft-landing-will-offer-basic-tech-for-landing-missions-to-other-planets-628071">Chandrayaan-3 soft-landing will offer basic tech for landing missions to other planets</a>

This chapter in India's lunar exploration commenced on July 14 with a triumphant launch of Chandrayaan-3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.&nbsp;After gracefully entering the lunar orbit on August 5, the spacecraft is poised to execute a soft landing on the moon's surface on August 23.

<h2>A pinnacle moment awaits</h2>

Scheduled for a touchdown at 6:04 pm on Wednesday, the Chandrayaan-3 Lander Module is diligently scouting for an ideal landing spot on the lunar landscape. As per ISRO, everything till now has been going as per the plan and the lunar mission holds the promise of turning into an epochal event.

Onboard the Chandrayaan-3 are Lander&nbsp;Vikram and a rover named 'Pragyaan'.

WATCH | Decoding Chandrayaan-3 landing: 'If problem arises, landing could be delayed'

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The rover is&nbsp;employed with laser beams which it will use to melt a portion of the moon's surface known as regolith.

This will enable the analysis of the gases released during this procedure. This endeavour will help gain India an understanding of the lunar landscape and insights into its suitability for eventual human habitation.&nbsp;Upon successful landing, Chandrayaan-3 is poised to operate for a fortnight, embarking on a series of experiments.&nbsp;

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Years after taking a jibe at India's lunar ambitions in 2019, Pakistan's former Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Hussain Chaudhry, has now done an unexpected about-face.

Years after taking a jibe at India's lunar ambitions in 2019, Pakistan's former Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Hussain Chaudhry, has now done an unexpected about-face. In a Tuesday (August 22) post on X, formerly Twitter, the former minister lauded the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3, terming it a "historic moment for humankind." "Pak media should show #Chandrayan moon landing live tomorrow at 6:15 PM… historic moment for Human kind specially for the people, scientists and Space community of India…. Many Congratulations," Hussain said on X. This is a surprising twist, considering the fact that Chaudhry is the same minister who had taunted India with the hashtag "India Failed" following ISRO's unfortunate loss of contact with the Vikram lander during the previous unsuccessful mission. Also Read | India's Chandrayaan-3 to make historic attempt at moon landing today Notably, in September 2019, he penned several posts on X with the hashtag "#IndiaFailed." The former minister had made a series of vile comments targeting and taunting India. His vitriolic comments also targeted the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Bollywood, India's cultural sentiments, and Indian Air Force fighter pilot Abhinandan Varthaman who downed Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets in February 2019. Change of heart? Now the minister, who is well-known for his insulting remarks towards India, is urging his country to witness the live broadcast of Chandrayaan-3's moon landing on Wednesday evening. His tone has shifted from taunts to admiration. Also Read | Chandrayaan-3 soft-landing will offer basic tech for landing missions to other planets This chapter in India's lunar exploration commenced on July 14 with a triumphant launch of Chandrayaan-3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. After gracefully entering the lunar orbit on August 5, the spacecraft is poised to execute a soft landing on the moon's surface on August 23. A pinnacle moment awaits Scheduled for a touchdown at 6:04 pm on Wednesday, the Chandrayaan-3 Lander Module is diligently scouting for an ideal landing spot on the lunar landscape. As per ISRO, everything till now has been going as per the plan and the lunar mission holds the promise of turning into an epochal event. Onboard the Chandrayaan-3 are Lander Vikram and a rover named 'Pragyaan'. WATCH | Decoding Chandrayaan-3 landing: 'If problem arises, landing could be delayed' × The rover is employed with laser beams which it will use to melt a portion of the moon's surface known as regolith. This will enable the analysis of the gases released during this procedure. This endeavour will help gain India an understanding of the lunar landscape and insights into its suitability for eventual human habitation. Upon successful landing, Chandrayaan-3 is poised to operate for a fortnight, embarking on a series of experiments. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Pak ex-minister praises Chandrayaan-3 mission, had taken jibes on Indian lunar mission in 2019

Troubles continue to mount for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan. A group of PTI defectors led by Fawad Chaudhary met party vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Adiala Jail on Wednesday and tried to convince him to desert the party and Imran, Pakistani media reported.

Troubles continue to mount for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan. A group of PTI defectors led by Fawad Chaudhary met party vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Adiala Jail on Wednesday and tried to convince him to desert the party and Imran, Pakistani media reported. Chaudhary said he held a detailed meeting with Qureshi, adding that he had already met several of PTI's senior leadership. “We had a detailed meeting with Asad Umar, and also contacted Asad Qaiser, Farrukh Habib, Shahzad Wasim, Ali Zaidi, Hammad Azhar, Pervez Khattak and other leaders.” Rumours mills are abuzz with the speculation that Chaudhary is working on a ‘minus Imran’ formula and the meetings are a step in that direction only. WATCH | Imran Khan blames Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir for arrest Chaudhary quit the party last month after condemning the violent protests that transpired on May 9 following the PTI chief's arrest in an alleged corruption case. "After my earlier statement where I unequivocally condemned the 9th May incidents, I have decided to take a break from politics. Therefore, I have resigned from my party position and am parting ways with Imran Khan," Chaudhry wrote in a tweet. آج اڈیالہ جیل میں تحریک انصاف کے سابق رہنماؤں سے @SMQureshiPTI صاحب کی ملاقات پر میڈیا میں جو تاثر دیا جا رہا ہے میں اُسکی تردید کرتا ہوں۔ مخدوم صاحب پارٹی کے وائس چیئرمین ہیں اور@PTIofficial ایک نظریے کا نام ہے، ہم تحریک انصاف اور @ImranKhanPTI کے نظریے کے ساتھ کھڑے ہیں! شاہ… pic.twitter.com/P7d0OzrxCO — Zain Hussain Qureshi (@ZainHQ) May 31, 2023 × Imran has deployed countermeasures The ploy, however, may not work immediately as Qureshi's son Zain Qureshi took to Twitter in the evening and posted a solidarity tweet saying the PTI vice chairman was firmly in Imran's corner. “Makhdoom sahib is the vice chairman of the party and is the name of an ideology. We stand with the ideology of Tehreek-i-Insaf and Imran Khan. He [Shah Mehmood] has only done politics of principles and service, not position and greed," tweeted Qureshi. There were rumours doing the rounds that Qureshi may leave the party as Pakistan's establishment continues to go after PTI biggies. However, after Qureshi was rearrested by Punjab Police last week, Imran deployed quick countermeasures. The cricketer-turned-politician named Qureshi as his replacement in case he was arrested or disqualified by the authorities. "I know that there is a plan to arrest me, disqualify me, or even kill me. If I am arrested or disqualified, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Pervez Khattak will handle the [party] affairs," Khan was quoted as saying by Pakistani media. "The time will soon change, and in the coming days, I will give a big surprise. There is no fight between me and the military," he added. ALSO READ | PTI chief Imran Khan names his 'replacements' in case he is arrested or disqualified Imran also added Qureshi to a negotiating team he has constituted to hold talks with the government. Pervez Khattak, Asad Qaiser, Haleem Adil Sheikh, Aun Abbasi, Murad Saeed, and Hammad Azhar are the others to have been named to the committee. How long will Qureshi resist the urge? Although it is unlikely that Qureshi may ditch Imran right now, nothing can be promised about the future, especially considering Pakistan's ever-evolving political landscape. Imran is quietly losing ground with party members jumping the ship and the Army-government nexus tightening the noose around his neck. Experts say it will be interesting to observe how long Qureshi can hold the urge to kick Imran out of the party and assert total control. Losing Imran means Qureshi and his ilk may receive protection from the establishment, which, otherwise looks like a one-way battle. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Operation 'minus Imran': PTI defectors led by Fawad meet Qureshi to persuade him to desert party

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Fawad Chaudhry on Friday (April 21) criticised Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto's decision to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in India next month. Taking to Twitter, Hussain said Bhutto's visit to India was equivalent to stabbing the Kashmiris in the back. Hussain added that seeking ties with India while burying the Kashmir issue was part of a foreign agenda.&nbsp;

He further said that the PTI never opposed the support relation with India and other countries, but relationships should be based on equality and fundamental issues must be resolved.

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بلاول بھٹو کا ہندوستان کا دورہ کشمیریوں کی جدوجہد کی پیٹھ میں خنجر گھونپنے کے مترادف ہے ،کشمیر کے معاملے کو دفن کر کے ہندوستان سے تعلقات بنانا اس انٹرنیشنل ایجنڈے کا حصہ ہےجس کے تحت اس حکومت کو پاکستان پر مسلط کیا گیا، بھارت سمیت دیگر ممالک سے تعلقات کے حامی ہیں لیکن کسی طور بھی…
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) <a href="https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1649329728044830720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The PTI leader's tweet comes a day after Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said that his participation in SCO in India's Goa reflected Pakistan's commitment to the charter of the SCO and should not be seen in terms of bilateral ties.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/visit-should-not-be-pakistan-fm-bilawal-bhutto-on-attending-sco-meet-in-india-584855">'Visit should not be...': Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto on attending SCO meet in India</a>

"We are committed to the SCO charter and this visit should not be seen as a bilateral one but in the context of the SCO," Bhutto said during a program on Dunya News on Thursday.&nbsp;

Sharing Pakistan`s past experience at the SCO summit in Uzbekistan, Bilawal said the country did not hold any bilateral talks in the past as well.

Bhutto would be the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit India after a gap of nearly 12 years. The previous visit was in 2011 by then-foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar.&nbsp;

In January, India extended an invitation to him along with all other member states of the SCO to attend the meeting.

On Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Bhutto was attending the meeting at the invitation of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar.&nbsp;

Addressing a press conference, Baloch said, "Our participation at the meeting reflects Pakistan's continued commitment to the SCO charter and process and the importance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities."

Relations between India and Pakistan have been fraught for years regarding the issue of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan.&nbsp;

Kamran Yousaf, a senior political analyst in Pakistan, said that Bilawal Bhutto's upcoming India visit would be seen as an ice-breaking move, the news agency IANS reported on Thursday.&nbsp;

"It will be symbolically significant. Though it may not bring any dramatic changes in bilateral relationships," Yousaf added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Fawad Chaudhry on Friday (April 21) criticised Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto's decision to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in India next month.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice President Fawad Chaudhry on Friday (April 21) criticised Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto's decision to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in India next month. Taking to Twitter, Hussain said Bhutto's visit to India was equivalent to stabbing the Kashmiris in the back. Hussain added that seeking ties with India while burying the Kashmir issue was part of a foreign agenda. He further said that the PTI never opposed the support relation with India and other countries, but relationships should be based on equality and fundamental issues must be resolved. بلاول بھٹو کا ہندوستان کا دورہ کشمیریوں کی جدوجہد کی پیٹھ میں خنجر گھونپنے کے مترادف ہے ،کشمیر کے معاملے کو دفن کر کے ہندوستان سے تعلقات بنانا اس انٹرنیشنل ایجنڈے کا حصہ ہےجس کے تحت اس حکومت کو پاکستان پر مسلط کیا گیا، بھارت سمیت دیگر ممالک سے تعلقات کے حامی ہیں لیکن کسی طور بھی… — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 21, 2023 × The PTI leader's tweet comes a day after Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said that his participation in SCO in India's Goa reflected Pakistan's commitment to the charter of the SCO and should not be seen in terms of bilateral ties. ALSO READ | 'Visit should not be...': Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto on attending SCO meet in India "We are committed to the SCO charter and this visit should not be seen as a bilateral one but in the context of the SCO," Bhutto said during a program on Dunya News on Thursday. Sharing Pakistan`s past experience at the SCO summit in Uzbekistan, Bilawal said the country did not hold any bilateral talks in the past as well. Bhutto would be the first Pakistani foreign minister to visit India after a gap of nearly 12 years. The previous visit was in 2011 by then-foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar. In January, India extended an invitation to him along with all other member states of the SCO to attend the meeting. On Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Bhutto was attending the meeting at the invitation of External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar. Addressing a press conference, Baloch said, "Our participation at the meeting reflects Pakistan's continued commitment to the SCO charter and process and the importance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities." Relations between India and Pakistan have been fraught for years regarding the issue of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. Kamran Yousaf, a senior political analyst in Pakistan, said that Bilawal Bhutto's upcoming India visit would be seen as an ice-breaking move, the news agency IANS reported on Thursday. "It will be symbolically significant. Though it may not bring any dramatic changes in bilateral relationships," Yousaf added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan: PTI vice president criticises Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto's visit to India

In a fresh face off between the Pakistan government and the opposition, former Information Minister Fawad Choudhry was arrested from his residence on Wednesday. This comes after the Election Commission of Pakistan filed a complaint against him.

WION Dispatch: Former Pakistan information minister Fawad Chaudhary arrested on charges of sedition

Pakistan: Fawad Chaudhary arrested on charges of threatening ECP officials

A leaked audio clip purportedly of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is making waves in the country, with the opposition accusing the premier of jeopardising the state’s interest for his family's business.

In the over two-minute-long audio clip, which was shared by the rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry on Twitter, a man—said to be the PM—can be heard asking a government official to facilitate the son-in-law of Maryam Nawaz Sharif—daughter of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif—with the import of machinery for a power plant from India, reports Dawn newspaper.

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وزیر اعظم کی Leaked Call کئ حوالوں سے انتہائ تشویشناک ہے ہمیشہ کی طرح خاندانی کاروبارکےتحفظ کیلئے قوانین کو بالائے پشت رکھنا تو شریف فیملی کا پرانا وطیرہ ہے ہی لیکن ایکسپریس اور جیو کے نیوز ہیڈز کی شہباز شریف اور حکومتی مشورہ سازی میں کردار میڈیا پر ایک اور کلنک کا ٹیکا ہے <a href="https://t.co/bvgZIdMlls">https://t.co/bvgZIdMlls</a>
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Disclaimer: WION could not verify the authenticity of the audio clip

To this, the official was heard replying, “If we do so, we will get a lot of flak when this matter goes to the ECC (the Economic Coordination Committee) and cabinet.”

Following this, the man said to be Shehbaz says, “The son-in-law is very dear to Maryam Nawaz. Tell her very logically about this and then I will talk to her.”

The same voice then proceeds to acknowledge with the perception that this would be bad for optics and may cause a lot of political trouble.

Notably, Maryam Nawaz’s daughter Mehrunnisa married industrialist Chaudhry Munir’s son Raheel in December 2015.

The other voice in the audio clip then talks about another matter related to the housing society belonging to Mariyam Nawaz’s son-in-law.

At the end of the leaked audio, the conversion between the two then steers toward former Justice Maqbool Baqir, who was being considered as the next head of the National Accountability Bureau.

The government official is heard conveying to the prime minister the ‘suggestion’ of two media persons, asking him not to consider the former judge for the slot of NAB chairman, in view of their experience with former NAB chief Javed Iqbal, who was also a retired judge appointed by the PML-N government.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A leaked audio clip purportedly of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is making waves in the country, with the opposition accusing the premier of jeopardising the state’s interest for his family's business.

A leaked audio clip purportedly of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is making waves in the country, with the opposition accusing the premier of jeopardising the state’s interest for his family's business. In the over two-minute-long audio clip, which was shared by the rival Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry on Twitter, a man—said to be the PM—can be heard asking a government official to facilitate the son-in-law of Maryam Nawaz Sharif—daughter of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif—with the import of machinery for a power plant from India, reports Dawn newspaper. وزیر اعظم کی Leaked Call کئ حوالوں سے انتہائ تشویشناک ہے ہمیشہ کی طرح خاندانی کاروبارکےتحفظ کیلئے قوانین کو بالائے پشت رکھنا تو شریف فیملی کا پرانا وطیرہ ہے ہی لیکن ایکسپریس اور جیو کے نیوز ہیڈز کی شہباز شریف اور حکومتی مشورہ سازی میں کردار میڈیا پر ایک اور کلنک کا ٹیکا ہے https://t.co/bvgZIdMlls — Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 24, 2022 × Disclaimer: WION could not verify the authenticity of the audio clip To this, the official was heard replying, “If we do so, we will get a lot of flak when this matter goes to the ECC (the Economic Coordination Committee) and cabinet.” Following this, the man said to be Shehbaz says, “The son-in-law is very dear to Maryam Nawaz. Tell her very logically about this and then I will talk to her.” The same voice then proceeds to acknowledge with the perception that this would be bad for optics and may cause a lot of political trouble. Notably, Maryam Nawaz’s daughter Mehrunnisa married industrialist Chaudhry Munir’s son Raheel in December 2015. The other voice in the audio clip then talks about another matter related to the housing society belonging to Mariyam Nawaz’s son-in-law. At the end of the leaked audio, the conversion between the two then steers toward former Justice Maqbool Baqir, who was being considered as the next head of the National Accountability Bureau. The government official is heard conveying to the prime minister the ‘suggestion’ of two media persons, asking him not to consider the former judge for the slot of NAB chairman, in view of their experience with former NAB chief Javed Iqbal, who was also a retired judge appointed by the PML-N government. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif’s leaked ‘clip’ of call requesting to facilitate ‘relative’ goes viral

After blaming a US-led conspiracy for the change in regime, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has met former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst and lobbyist Robin Raphel, according to media reports.

Local media reported that the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) wants to create in-roads&nbsp;into the Biden administration to fix its image and relations with Washington.

Following his accusations against American diplomat Donald Lu for conspiring against the then government under Khan, the former cricketer also met the Biden administration's representative Ilhan Omar.

Previously, the US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Bloom met PTI's senior leader Fawad Chaudhry on September 8 in Islamabad.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/former-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-escapes-plane-crash-party-leaders-refute-media-reports-515081" hreflang="en">PTI chief Imran Khan escapes plane crash; party leaders refute media reports</a>

Officials of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government questioned Khan for taking every available opportunity to pacify and please Americans even though they slam them.

According to Khan, he was ousted due to his good relations and trade with Moscow during the Russia-Ukraine crisis.&nbsp;

Amid reports that she has been caught up in an FBI-led espionage investigation, Raphel’s distinguished career imploded when federal agents found classified documents from her house in Washington.

As a result, she has lost her security clearance and contract although no charges were filed against the 67-year-old retired envoy.

Former US President Bill Clinton had appointed Raphel as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in 1993.

(With inputs from agencies)

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After blaming a US-led conspiracy for the change in regime, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has met former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst and lobbyist Robin Raphel, according to media reports.

After blaming a US-led conspiracy for the change in regime, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has met former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst and lobbyist Robin Raphel, according to media reports. Local media reported that the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) wants to create in-roads into the Biden administration to fix its image and relations with Washington. Following his accusations against American diplomat Donald Lu for conspiring against the then government under Khan, the former cricketer also met the Biden administration's representative Ilhan Omar. Previously, the US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Bloom met PTI's senior leader Fawad Chaudhry on September 8 in Islamabad. Also read | PTI chief Imran Khan escapes plane crash; party leaders refute media reports Officials of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government questioned Khan for taking every available opportunity to pacify and please Americans even though they slam them. According to Khan, he was ousted due to his good relations and trade with Moscow during the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Amid reports that she has been caught up in an FBI-led espionage investigation, Raphel’s distinguished career imploded when federal agents found classified documents from her house in Washington. As a result, she has lost her security clearance and contract although no charges were filed against the 67-year-old retired envoy. Former US President Bill Clinton had appointed Raphel as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in 1993. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Imran Khan meets former CIA analyst after accusing US-led conspiracy for his ouster

Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that extremism in Pakistan lies not in madrasas but in schools and colleges, where teachers were hired as part of a conspiracy to “basically teach extremism” during the 80s and 90s.

Major reason behind extremism in Pakistan is schools & colleges, not madrasas, says Fawad Chaudhary

Pakistan Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said that extremism in the country originates from ordinary schools and colleges and not Madrasas.

Ordinary schools, colleges behind extremism not Madrasas: Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhary

Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry seemed to differentiate between good and bad militants among the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist outfit when he said the government will give its “citizens a chance” if they shun violence.

The minister's statement comes days after he announced that a complete ceasefire had been&nbsp;reached&nbsp;between Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government and the proscribed group.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after a cabinet meeting today, Chaudhry insisted that the talks with the TTP would strictly be under the purview of the Constitution.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-sc-summons-prime-minister-imran-khan-over-2014-attack-case-428146">&nbsp;Pak SC summons Prime Minister Imran Khan over 2014 attack case</a>

"There are various groups within TTP; there are [some] ideologues, while there are others who joined the organisation under compulsion. The state of Pakistan wants to give its citizens a chance if all of them, some of them or a fraction of them want to come back and show their allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan," the minister said.

TTP is a proscribed terror group responsible for an estimated 70,000 killings. It has been involved in various attacks in Pakistan for more than a decade which killed thousands of people and reportedly been using Afghan soil to plot terrorist attacks in this country.

Also read |&nbsp;‘<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pm-imran-khan-is-my-boss-not-my-friend-says-pak-army-chief-bajwa-428226">PM Imran Khan is my boss, not my friend,’ says Pak Army chief Bajwa</a>

The same TTP was also involved in the 2014 massacre when it launched an attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, killing over 150 people, mostly students.

The government is now trying to use the influence of the Afghan Taliban over the TTP to reach a peace deal and end violence.

Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry seemed to differentiate between good and bad militants among the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist outfit when he said the government will give its “citizens a chance” if they shun violence.

Pakistan’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry seemed to differentiate between good and bad militants among the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist outfit when he said the government will give its “citizens a chance” if they shun violence. The minister's statement comes days after he announced that a complete ceasefire had been reached between Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government and the proscribed group. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad after a cabinet meeting today, Chaudhry insisted that the talks with the TTP would strictly be under the purview of the Constitution. Also read | Pak SC summons Prime Minister Imran Khan over 2014 attack case "There are various groups within TTP; there are [some] ideologues, while there are others who joined the organisation under compulsion. The state of Pakistan wants to give its citizens a chance if all of them, some of them or a fraction of them want to come back and show their allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan," the minister said. TTP is a proscribed terror group responsible for an estimated 70,000 killings. It has been involved in various attacks in Pakistan for more than a decade which killed thousands of people and reportedly been using Afghan soil to plot terrorist attacks in this country. Also read | ‘PM Imran Khan is my boss, not my friend,’ says Pak Army chief Bajwa The same TTP was also involved in the 2014 massacre when it launched an attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, killing over 150 people, mostly students. The government is now trying to use the influence of the Afghan Taliban over the TTP to reach a peace deal and end violence.

Good terrorists, bad terrorists: Minister Fawad Chaudhry sees both types in Pak Taliban group

2 major confessions have been made in Pakistan's parliament. 1 - Pakistan orchestrated the 2019 Pulwama attack 2 - Pakistan released Wg. Cdr. Abhinandan under Indian pressure WION's Palki Sharma deconstructs the confessions & their impact on Imran Khan's political future.

Gravitas: Pakistan admits to Pulwama attack

Pakistani authorities Wednesday vowed to carry out a "massive" crackdown targeting <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-using-social-media-to-radicalise-kashmiri-youths-jk-police-chief-193786">hate speech and extremism on social media,</a> as a minister boasted arrests have already been made.&nbsp;

Officials in Pakistan are frequently accused of muzzling the media and targeting individuals critical of the country’s powerful military establishment and have blocked hundreds of websites and social media accounts over the years.

Information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced the government was setting up a new enforcement arm to regulate social media during a speech in the capital Islamabad.

"We made some arrests last week and by the will of Allah we are launching a massive crackdown against social media users spreading hate speech and violence," he said.

Self-censorship in the South Asia nation is widely believed to be rife at traditional news outlets.

"Our problem is that digital media is overtaking formal media so it is important for us to regulate this," Chaudhry added, saying: "Informal media is a greater problem than formal media.”

The announcement comes days after authorities arrested a journalist for allegedly posting defamatory content on social media.&nbsp;

And on Tuesday an opinion piece in the International New York Times criticising Pakistan's powerful army was censored by its local publisher and replaced by a blank space.

Activists and bloggers frequently report receiving warnings from Facebook and Twitter for posting unlawful content.

Local media also complained about pressure in the run-up to a general election in July to self-censor in favour of the eventual victor, cricketer-turned-prime-minister Imran Khan.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said the army had "quietly but effectively, set restrictions on reporting" in a report released September last year.

Pakistani authorities Wednesday vowed to carry out a "massive" crackdown targeting hate speech and extremism on social media, as a minister boasted arrests have already been made.

Pakistani authorities Wednesday vowed to carry out a "massive" crackdown targeting hate speech and extremism on social media, as a minister boasted arrests have already been made. Officials in Pakistan are frequently accused of muzzling the media and targeting individuals critical of the country’s powerful military establishment and have blocked hundreds of websites and social media accounts over the years. Information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced the government was setting up a new enforcement arm to regulate social media during a speech in the capital Islamabad. "We made some arrests last week and by the will of Allah we are launching a massive crackdown against social media users spreading hate speech and violence," he said. Self-censorship in the South Asia nation is widely believed to be rife at traditional news outlets. "Our problem is that digital media is overtaking formal media so it is important for us to regulate this," Chaudhry added, saying: "Informal media is a greater problem than formal media.” The announcement comes days after authorities arrested a journalist for allegedly posting defamatory content on social media. And on Tuesday an opinion piece in the International New York Times criticising Pakistan's powerful army was censored by its local publisher and replaced by a blank space. Activists and bloggers frequently report receiving warnings from Facebook and Twitter for posting unlawful content. Local media also complained about pressure in the run-up to a general election in July to self-censor in favour of the eventual victor, cricketer-turned-prime-minister Imran Khan. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the army had "quietly but effectively, set restrictions on reporting" in a report released September last year.

Pakistan announces 'massive' social media crackdown

Pakistan on Friday announced introduction of a new visa policy in a bid to revive the tourism sector which was decimated by years of neglect and terrorism.

Under the new policy, the citizens of 175 countries will be able to get visa electronically, over the internet, while visa-on-arrival facility would be provided to the nationals of 60 countries, including the Indian-origin US and UK nationals on their American and British passports.

Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary told reporters here that Pakistan had open visa policy until 1965 and was one of the leading tourism destinations.

"The new policy will attract more tourists. We have mountain tourism, religious tourism, beach tourism, cities and huge food tourism," he said.

Chaudhary said that after consulting with different departments, the government decided to provide the e-visa facility to the nationals of 175 countries.

The government has also decided to ease the process for granting work visa to the nationals of 96 countries.

To promote business, a businessman would get a visa in 7-10 days, but they would need a letter from the Board of Investment.

Changing the visa rules for diplomats, Chaudhary said now diplomats would be issued a visa for three years, instead of one year earlier while student will get a visa for two years, instead of one year.

Visas issued for religious purposes would remain valid for 45 days, the Minister added.

In another major development, the Pakistan government has decided to lift the restriction on the movement of journalists in the country.

Earlier, journalists were restricted to move in three cities only but under the new regime, journalist visas would be issued for visiting other cities on the recommendation of the information ministry.

Chaudhary said that foreign tourists will get visa to visit the whole country but they will have to take special permission to travel to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

He said the Cabinet on Thursday also decided to relax visa policy for the nationals of 60 countries and given them Pakistani visas on arrival.

"This is massive change in the country's visa regime to facilitate people to come to Pakistan," the Minister said. "We are going to open Pakistan to foreign journalists, businessmen, tourists and investors."

The decision to ease visa regime was taken following a meeting of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa who approved the decision to relax the visa rules.

Chaudhry said the Cabinet also decided to reform media regulatory regime by merging different bodies created to oversee print and electronic media.

Cabinet approved formation of the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) after merging the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) that will regulate all kinds of media. P

Pakistan on Friday announced introduction of a new visa policy in a bid to revive the tourism sector which was decimated by years of neglect and terrorism. Under the new policy, the citizens of 175 countries will be able to get visa electronically, over the internet, while visa-on-arrival facility would be provided to the nationals of 60 countries, including the Indian-origin US and UK nationals on their American and British passports.

Pakistan on Friday announced introduction of a new visa policy in a bid to revive the tourism sector which was decimated by years of neglect and terrorism. Under the new policy, the citizens of 175 countries will be able to get visa electronically, over the internet, while visa-on-arrival facility would be provided to the nationals of 60 countries, including the Indian-origin US and UK nationals on their American and British passports. Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary told reporters here that Pakistan had open visa policy until 1965 and was one of the leading tourism destinations. "The new policy will attract more tourists. We have mountain tourism, religious tourism, beach tourism, cities and huge food tourism," he said. Chaudhary said that after consulting with different departments, the government decided to provide the e-visa facility to the nationals of 175 countries. The government has also decided to ease the process for granting work visa to the nationals of 96 countries. To promote business, a businessman would get a visa in 7-10 days, but they would need a letter from the Board of Investment. Changing the visa rules for diplomats, Chaudhary said now diplomats would be issued a visa for three years, instead of one year earlier while student will get a visa for two years, instead of one year. Visas issued for religious purposes would remain valid for 45 days, the Minister added. In another major development, the Pakistan government has decided to lift the restriction on the movement of journalists in the country. Earlier, journalists were restricted to move in three cities only but under the new regime, journalist visas would be issued for visiting other cities on the recommendation of the information ministry. Chaudhary said that foreign tourists will get visa to visit the whole country but they will have to take special permission to travel to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. He said the Cabinet on Thursday also decided to relax visa policy for the nationals of 60 countries and given them Pakistani visas on arrival. "This is massive change in the country's visa regime to facilitate people to come to Pakistan," the Minister said. "We are going to open Pakistan to foreign journalists, businessmen, tourists and investors." The decision to ease visa regime was taken following a meeting of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa who approved the decision to relax the visa rules. Chaudhry said the Cabinet also decided to reform media regulatory regime by merging different bodies created to oversee print and electronic media. Cabinet approved formation of the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority (PMRA) after merging the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) that will regulate all kinds of media. P

Pakistan announces introduction of new visa policy to promote tourism, investment

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