Exclusive visuals of Hamid Ansari post his release

Hamid Nehal Ansari walks free, heads home to India

Progressive Pakistani thinkers have expressed their grave concerns over Pakistan's drift towards authoritarianism, expansion of the military's control over public policy and weakening of civilian institutions.

Addressing a conference titled 'Democracy, Human Rights and Ending Terrorism in Pakistan', <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/terrorism-and-international-isolation-threat-to-pak-says-former-pak-envoy-to-us-184530">Husain Haqqani</a>, the former Ambassador of Pakistan to the US said, "Pakistan is only a democracy in name not in reality."&nbsp;

The event was organised by South Asians Against Terrorism &amp; for Human Rights (SAATH) Forum.&nbsp;

He raised concerns over growing threats to minority communities and the deteriorating human rights situation in the country where the elected government has failed to protect civil rights.

Assurances given by current Pakistan Army Chief (General Qamar Javed Bajwa) proved sufficient to halt target killings of Hazara citizens in Balochistan, which raises questions as to why similar assurances and actions were not available under previous army chiefs, Haqqani said.

He added, "Sindhi and Balochi language provinces are the oppressed groups and communities in Pakistan. Their culture and languages are being eliminated in the name creating a uniform country. Countries don`t become strong by eliminating diversity - they become strong by embracing it."

The participants denounced blocking of websites, including Voice of America (VOA), stifling of debate and freedom of media.

The conference condemned the practice of abductions of journalists and bloggers and threats to Pakistani dissidents and social media activists abroad.

The conference demanded action to be taken against hate groups and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/pakistans-terror-triangle-general-zia-musharraf-the-hafiz-saeed-connection-578#who-was-zia-ul-haq-60079">extremist organisations</a> like the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, also known as Lashkar-e-Taiba, ostensibly being mainstreamed by the security establishment.

Haqqani said the people of Pakistan are paying a huge price for sheltering these terrorists.&nbsp;

He said, "The memories of Peshawar attack haunts the Pakistanis till today in which many students were massacred by the terrorists. We want a country where children can safely go to school rather than becoming targets of terrorists many of whom were cultivated by Pakistan itself."

The conference was attended by Congressmen Brad Sherman who showed his concern over the forced conversion of Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan.

He said, "We see the issue of forced conversions of about 1000 young women in Pakistan forcibly converted after marriage 70 per cent of them being Hindus. I want to condemn this in legislature."

"Media in Pakistan was fully controlled in 1971. We did not hear about the atrocities in East Pakistan. We did not know about the loss of half of our country," said Haqqani in his concluding remarks.

Progressive Pakistani thinkers have expressed their grave concerns over Pakistan's drift towards authoritarianism, expansion of the military's control over public policy and weakening of civilian institutions.

Progressive Pakistani thinkers have expressed their grave concerns over Pakistan's drift towards authoritarianism, expansion of the military's control over public policy and weakening of civilian institutions. Addressing a conference titled 'Democracy, Human Rights and Ending Terrorism in Pakistan', Husain Haqqani, the former Ambassador of Pakistan to the US said, "Pakistan is only a democracy in name not in reality." The event was organised by South Asians Against Terrorism & for Human Rights (SAATH) Forum. He raised concerns over growing threats to minority communities and the deteriorating human rights situation in the country where the elected government has failed to protect civil rights. Assurances given by current Pakistan Army Chief (General Qamar Javed Bajwa) proved sufficient to halt target killings of Hazara citizens in Balochistan, which raises questions as to why similar assurances and actions were not available under previous army chiefs, Haqqani said. He added, "Sindhi and Balochi language provinces are the oppressed groups and communities in Pakistan. Their culture and languages are being eliminated in the name creating a uniform country. Countries don`t become strong by eliminating diversity - they become strong by embracing it." The participants denounced blocking of websites, including Voice of America (VOA), stifling of debate and freedom of media. The conference condemned the practice of abductions of journalists and bloggers and threats to Pakistani dissidents and social media activists abroad. The conference demanded action to be taken against hate groups and extremist organisations like the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and Jamaat-ud-Dawa, also known as Lashkar-e-Taiba, ostensibly being mainstreamed by the security establishment. Haqqani said the people of Pakistan are paying a huge price for sheltering these terrorists. He said, "The memories of Peshawar attack haunts the Pakistanis till today in which many students were massacred by the terrorists. We want a country where children can safely go to school rather than becoming targets of terrorists many of whom were cultivated by Pakistan itself." The conference was attended by Congressmen Brad Sherman who showed his concern over the forced conversion of Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan. He said, "We see the issue of forced conversions of about 1000 young women in Pakistan forcibly converted after marriage 70 per cent of them being Hindus. I want to condemn this in legislature." "Media in Pakistan was fully controlled in 1971. We did not hear about the atrocities in East Pakistan. We did not know about the loss of half of our country," said Haqqani in his concluding remarks.

Pakistan is only a democracy in name, not in reality: Former ambassador Husain Haqqani

Pakistan Prime Minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-supreme-court-orders-imran-khans-sister-to-pay-rs-2940-crores-as-fine-tax-on-foreign-properties-183850">Imran Khan</a> on Sunday condemned the killing of seven civilians in Kashmir’s Pulwama and threatened to raise the issue at the UN.

Seven civilians died on Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an army man were killed.

In Srinagar, the army urged people not to march towards the headquarters of its Chinar Corps on the call of separatists to protest the killing of the civilians. Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP said the responsibility of such deaths lies with separatists and supporters of militants, including the mainstream political parties.

Khan took to Twitter to condemn the incident, saying only dialogue and not violence and killings will resolve this conflict. He threatened to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN and said the country will demand that the UN Security Council fulfil its plebiscite commitment in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Strongly condemn killing of innocent Kashmiri civilians in Pulwama IOK by Indian security forces. Only dialogue &amp; not violence &amp; killings will resolve this conflict. We will raise issue of India's human rights violations in IOK &amp; demand UNSC fulfil its J&amp;K plebiscite commitment
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1074291793775218689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the incident and said that Jammu and Kashmir was an internationally recognised dispute, pending on the agenda of the UN Security Council and the dissociation of India from reality was alarming.

The government and the people of Pakistan reaffirm their continued and resolute moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle, it said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday condemned the killing of seven civilians in Kashmir’s Pulwama and threatened to raise the issue at the UN. Seven civilians died on Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an army man were killed.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday condemned the killing of seven civilians in Kashmir’s Pulwama and threatened to raise the issue at the UN. Seven civilians died on Saturday when security forces opened fire at an unruly mob that thronged the site of an encounter in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district in which three terrorists and an army man were killed. In Srinagar, the army urged people not to march towards the headquarters of its Chinar Corps on the call of separatists to protest the killing of the civilians. Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP said the responsibility of such deaths lies with separatists and supporters of militants, including the mainstream political parties. Khan took to Twitter to condemn the incident, saying only dialogue and not violence and killings will resolve this conflict. He threatened to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN and said the country will demand that the UN Security Council fulfil its plebiscite commitment in Jammu and Kashmir. Strongly condemn killing of innocent Kashmiri civilians in Pulwama IOK by Indian security forces. Only dialogue & not violence & killings will resolve this conflict. We will raise issue of India's human rights violations in IOK & demand UNSC fulfil its J&K plebiscite commitment — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) December 16, 2018 × Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the incident and said that Jammu and Kashmir was an internationally recognised dispute, pending on the agenda of the UN Security Council and the dissociation of India from reality was alarming. The government and the people of Pakistan reaffirm their continued and resolute moral, diplomatic and political support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle, it said.

Pak PM Imran Khan condemns killing of seven civilians in Kashmir’s Pulwama, threatens to raise the issue at UN

The government is learnt to have decided to revoke passports of 23 Indians and issue them anew following reports that the original ones allegedly went missing from the Pakistan High Commission here after they applied for a visa to visit that country.

Official sources said the Ministry of External Affairs has issued instructions to its passport division to revoke the passports and issue new ones to the 23 Indians.

The Indians whose passport went missing belonged to the Sikh community and applied for a visa in Pakistan High Commission to visit Gurudwaras, including the Kartarpur Sahib, in that country.

There were apprehensions among the affected people that their passports may be misused.&nbsp;

There was no immediate reaction from the Pakistan High Commission.&nbsp; 
The affected people will be issued fresh passports, the sources said. 
Instructions have been issued to take necessary action in the case, they said.

Pakistan issued visas to over 3,800 Sikh pilgrims to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev there from November 21-30.

It is learnt that the 23 Indians, whose passports went missing, had applied for the visa to travel to Pakistan along with the group of 3,800 Sikh pilgrims. A number of persons have approached police after their passports went missing.&nbsp;

The government is learnt to have decided to revoke passports of 23 Indians and issue them anew following reports that the original ones allegedly went missing from the Pakistan High Commission here after they applied for a visa to visit that country.

The government is learnt to have decided to revoke passports of 23 Indians and issue them anew following reports that the original ones allegedly went missing from the Pakistan High Commission here after they applied for a visa to visit that country. Official sources said the Ministry of External Affairs has issued instructions to its passport division to revoke the passports and issue new ones to the 23 Indians. The Indians whose passport went missing belonged to the Sikh community and applied for a visa in Pakistan High Commission to visit Gurudwaras, including the Kartarpur Sahib, in that country. There were apprehensions among the affected people that their passports may be misused. There was no immediate reaction from the Pakistan High Commission. The affected people will be issued fresh passports, the sources said. Instructions have been issued to take necessary action in the case, they said. Pakistan issued visas to over 3,800 Sikh pilgrims to participate in the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev there from November 21-30. It is learnt that the 23 Indians, whose passports went missing, had applied for the visa to travel to Pakistan along with the group of 3,800 Sikh pilgrims. A number of persons have approached police after their passports went missing.

Government likely to revoke Indian passports that went missing from Pakistan mission over fear of misuse

Afghanistan on Saturday hosted a three-way meeting with Pakistan and China to discuss trade and development in the country with a focus on counter-terrorism cooperation.&nbsp;

The foreign minister of three countries,&nbsp;Shah Mahmood Qureshi,&nbsp;Wang Yi and Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani signed a Memorandum of Understanding on anti-terrorism cooperation in Kabul.

During the inaugural speech of the trilateral dialogue, Rabbani said that collective efforts are required to address the common challenge of terrorism.

He also said that Pakistan-Afghan relations are rooted in common faith and culture and added that he desire to strengthen their relations.

Reaffirming commitment to eradicate terrorism, Pakistan foreign minister Qureshi&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"better border management between Pakistan and Afghanistan and intelligence sharing will be greatly beneficial for both countries."

This was the second round of the trilateral dialogue Beijing initiated last year to help ease political tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.&nbsp;

Qureshi is also expected to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during his visit. This is his second&nbsp;visit to Afghanistan&nbsp;since assuming office this year.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are trying to improve ties despite lingering suspicions and mistrust about each other.&nbsp;

The Taliban are fighting to flush out international forces and re-establish their regime in Afghanistan after their ouster in 2001.&nbsp;

China, a close ally of Pakistan, has lent tens of billions of dollars to Pakistan and the two have forged close economic ties as part of Beijing's "One Belt, One Road" policy of expanding trade links across Asia.

 
&nbsp;

Afghanistan on Saturday hosted a three-way meeting with Pakistan and China to discuss trade and development in the country with a focus on counter-terrorism cooperation.

Afghanistan on Saturday hosted a three-way meeting with Pakistan and China to discuss trade and development in the country with a focus on counter-terrorism cooperation. The foreign minister of three countries, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Wang Yi and Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani signed a Memorandum of Understanding on anti-terrorism cooperation in Kabul. During the inaugural speech of the trilateral dialogue, Rabbani said that collective efforts are required to address the common challenge of terrorism. He also said that Pakistan-Afghan relations are rooted in common faith and culture and added that he desire to strengthen their relations. Reaffirming commitment to eradicate terrorism, Pakistan foreign minister Qureshi said, "better border management between Pakistan and Afghanistan and intelligence sharing will be greatly beneficial for both countries." This was the second round of the trilateral dialogue Beijing initiated last year to help ease political tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. Qureshi is also expected to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during his visit. This is his second visit to Afghanistan since assuming office this year. Pakistan and Afghanistan are trying to improve ties despite lingering suspicions and mistrust about each other. The Taliban are fighting to flush out international forces and re-establish their regime in Afghanistan after their ouster in 2001. China, a close ally of Pakistan, has lent tens of billions of dollars to Pakistan and the two have forged close economic ties as part of Beijing's "One Belt, One Road" policy of expanding trade links across Asia.

Afghanistan holds second round of trilateral dialogue with Pakistan, China

At the Tanjai Cheena school in northwest Pakistan, students squeeze into makeshift classrooms where plastic tarps serve as walls and electricity is sparse, as a surging population overstretches the country's fragile education system.

Sandwiched behind desks like sardines, students repeat words learned in Pashto and English during an anatomy lesson: "Guta is finger, laas is hand".

Two teachers rotate between four classrooms at the school, which lacks even the most basic amenities including toilets.

"The girls usually go to my house and the boys to the bushes," says principal Mohammad Bashir Khan, who has worked at the school in the picturesque Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for 19 years.

With birth control and family planning virtually unheard of in this ultraconservative region, the ill-equipped public school system has not kept up with population growth.

"In 1984, when my father started the school, there were 20 to 25 kids. Now they are more than 140," Khan says.&nbsp;

Pakistan sits on a demographic time bomb after years of exponential growth and high fertility rates resulted in a population of 207 million -- two-thirds of whom are under the age of 30.&nbsp;

And each year the country gains three to four million more people, overburdening public services from schools to hospitals.

'Emergency education'&nbsp;

At the Malok Abad primary school in the town of Mingora, 700 boys share six classrooms, many of which remain damaged from a 2005 earthquake with clumps of plaster still falling from their ceilings.

The youngest students study in the courtyard sitting on the ground, while others are forced to gather on the roof under the baking sun.

"We are doing our best. But those kids are neglected by the system," says teacher Inamullah Munir.

On the girls' side, the situation is even more dire with the smallest classes hosting up to 135 students packed into a space measuring about 20 square metres.

"This is emergency education," said Faisal Khalid, a local director at the education department in Swat.

The stakes are high in a country where education has long been neglected and received little in the way of funding as Pakistan focused on fighting militancy.

Swat shouldered the extra burden of combating a deadly Taliban insurgency that saw dozens of schools destroyed and the shooting of schoolgirl and education activist Malala Yousafzai in 2012.

As peace has returned to the region, public spending on education has increased, but it still falls short of the province's growing needs.

Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has made "quality education for all" its rallying cry since taking the helm of the provincial government in 2013.

In the last five years, 2,700 schools have been built or expanded, while 57,000 new teachers have been recruited.

Authorities have also more than doubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's education budget between 2013 and 2018.

"That was the biggest increase in the history of this province," explains Atif Khan, the former provincial education minister.

Low literacy levels

But the rise in spending is no match for Pakistan's swelling demographics, even as the government plans to expand existing facilities and extend working hours in an attempt to meet demand.

The top-ranked public high school in provincial capital Peshawar is a striking example of the challenges facing educators and students, who number 70 to a room despite the addition of a dozen new classrooms.

"The more classrooms we build, the more they will be filled," says Jaddi Kalil, who heads the educational services department in the area.

Pakistan now spends 2.2 per cent of its GDP on education, the country's Minister of Education Shafqat Mahmood told AFP, adding that the amount was set to double in the coming years.

Even more worrying, the increased funding has failed to put a dent in the province's illiteracy rates, with only 53 per cent of children above 10 years of age able to read and write.

The situation is replicated across Pakistan, with 22.6 million children out of school nationwide -- a figure that is likely to increase, given the country's unbridled population growth.

The quality of teaching is also a cause for concern with just one in two students able to solve basic math problems upon completing primary school, according to the finance ministry.

"Only elites have access to quality education," a recent report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said.&nbsp;

With its economy already on the rocks, Pakistan faces the unenviable task of having to create between 1.2 and 1.5 million skilled jobs annually to employ recent graduates, the UNDP report said.

Poor education is a "recipe for frustration", while good education "allows for more cohesion and less extremism", said Adil Najam, the author of the UNDP study.

"All the important problems of Pakistan are related to education."

At the Tanjai Cheena school in northwest Pakistan, students squeeze into makeshift classrooms where plastic tarps serve as walls and electricity is sparse, as a surging population overstretches the country's fragile education system.

At the Tanjai Cheena school in northwest Pakistan, students squeeze into makeshift classrooms where plastic tarps serve as walls and electricity is sparse, as a surging population overstretches the country's fragile education system. Sandwiched behind desks like sardines, students repeat words learned in Pashto and English during an anatomy lesson: "Guta is finger, laas is hand". Two teachers rotate between four classrooms at the school, which lacks even the most basic amenities including toilets. "The girls usually go to my house and the boys to the bushes," says principal Mohammad Bashir Khan, who has worked at the school in the picturesque Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for 19 years. With birth control and family planning virtually unheard of in this ultraconservative region, the ill-equipped public school system has not kept up with population growth. "In 1984, when my father started the school, there were 20 to 25 kids. Now they are more than 140," Khan says. Pakistan sits on a demographic time bomb after years of exponential growth and high fertility rates resulted in a population of 207 million -- two-thirds of whom are under the age of 30. And each year the country gains three to four million more people, overburdening public services from schools to hospitals. 'Emergency education' At the Malok Abad primary school in the town of Mingora, 700 boys share six classrooms, many of which remain damaged from a 2005 earthquake with clumps of plaster still falling from their ceilings. The youngest students study in the courtyard sitting on the ground, while others are forced to gather on the roof under the baking sun. "We are doing our best. But those kids are neglected by the system," says teacher Inamullah Munir. On the girls' side, the situation is even more dire with the smallest classes hosting up to 135 students packed into a space measuring about 20 square metres. "This is emergency education," said Faisal Khalid, a local director at the education department in Swat. The stakes are high in a country where education has long been neglected and received little in the way of funding as Pakistan focused on fighting militancy. Swat shouldered the extra burden of combating a deadly Taliban insurgency that saw dozens of schools destroyed and the shooting of schoolgirl and education activist Malala Yousafzai in 2012. As peace has returned to the region, public spending on education has increased, but it still falls short of the province's growing needs. Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has made "quality education for all" its rallying cry since taking the helm of the provincial government in 2013. In the last five years, 2,700 schools have been built or expanded, while 57,000 new teachers have been recruited. Authorities have also more than doubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's education budget between 2013 and 2018. "That was the biggest increase in the history of this province," explains Atif Khan, the former provincial education minister. Low literacy levels But the rise in spending is no match for Pakistan's swelling demographics, even as the government plans to expand existing facilities and extend working hours in an attempt to meet demand. The top-ranked public high school in provincial capital Peshawar is a striking example of the challenges facing educators and students, who number 70 to a room despite the addition of a dozen new classrooms. "The more classrooms we build, the more they will be filled," says Jaddi Kalil, who heads the educational services department in the area. Pakistan now spends 2.2 per cent of its GDP on education, the country's Minister of Education Shafqat Mahmood told AFP, adding that the amount was set to double in the coming years. Even more worrying, the increased funding has failed to put a dent in the province's illiteracy rates, with only 53 per cent of children above 10 years of age able to read and write. The situation is replicated across Pakistan, with 22.6 million children out of school nationwide -- a figure that is likely to increase, given the country's unbridled population growth. The quality of teaching is also a cause for concern with just one in two students able to solve basic math problems upon completing primary school, according to the finance ministry. "Only elites have access to quality education," a recent report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said. With its economy already on the rocks, Pakistan faces the unenviable task of having to create between 1.2 and 1.5 million skilled jobs annually to employ recent graduates, the UNDP report said. Poor education is a "recipe for frustration", while good education "allows for more cohesion and less extremism", said Adil Najam, the author of the UNDP study. "All the important problems of Pakistan are related to education."

In Pakistan, public education suffocates under surging population

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-army-pledges-to-support-stakeholders-to-bring-afghan-war-to-peaceful-conclusion-183904">Pakistan</a>'s Finance Minister Asad Umar said Thursday that an incoming investment package from Saudi Arabia would be "the biggest foreign investment" in the country's history.

The announcement of the package will be made following a cabinet approval next week, the Dawn reported.

"The ball is in our court. We have to get cabinet approval next week, after which an announcement will be made," the paper quoted Umar as saying at an event in Islamabad.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been in talks recently over a bailout package for Islamabad.

At a time when various foreign countries and business delegations were pulling out of an investment conference in Saudi after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the event, inviting foreign investors to put their money into projects in Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia announced to provide cash-strapped Pakistan $3 billion in balance of payment support and additionally give oil worth $3 billion on deferred payment after Prime Minister Khan met Saudi King Salman in Riyadh October.

Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar said Thursday that an incoming investment package from Saudi Arabia would be "the biggest foreign investment" in the country's history.

Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar said Thursday that an incoming investment package from Saudi Arabia would be "the biggest foreign investment" in the country's history. The announcement of the package will be made following a cabinet approval next week, the Dawn reported. "The ball is in our court. We have to get cabinet approval next week, after which an announcement will be made," the paper quoted Umar as saying at an event in Islamabad. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been in talks recently over a bailout package for Islamabad. At a time when various foreign countries and business delegations were pulling out of an investment conference in Saudi after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the event, inviting foreign investors to put their money into projects in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia announced to provide cash-strapped Pakistan $3 billion in balance of payment support and additionally give oil worth $3 billion on deferred payment after Prime Minister Khan met Saudi King Salman in Riyadh October.

Saudi package would be 'biggest foreign investment' in Pak history: Finance Minister Asad Umar 

A top court in Pakistan has given a one-month deadline to the federal government to complete formalities to deport Indian prisoner <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-court-orders-release-of-indian-national-hamid-nehal-ansari-183735">Hamid Nehal Ansari</a>, whose three-year jail term will end on December 15.

Ansari, a 33-year-old Mumbai resident, is currently lodged in the Peshawar Central Jail after being sentenced by a military court to three years' imprisonment for possessing a fake Pakistani identity card on December 15, 2015.

He was arrested in Pakistan in 2012 for illegally entering the country from Afghanistan, reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online.

A two-judge Peshawar High Court bench, comprising Justice Roohul Amin and Justice Qalandar Ali Khan, on Thursday heard an appeal filed by Ansari through a senior lawyer. The petition said that the federal government hasn't taken any steps for his release.

Ansari's lawyer, Qazi Muhammad Anwar, said that his client's prison term will end on December 15 and he should be released on the morning of December 16.

Anwar informed the bench that the sentence of Indian national would complete after two days and both the Ministry of Interior and authorities of prison, where he was lodged, were completely silent about his release and deportation to India.

After hearing this, Justice Khan asked the Additional Attorney General to explain how would they keep the prisoner in jail after completion of his term.

"I wonder that after two days the jail term of the prisoner would be completed and the government did not complete requirements for releasing and deportation of the prisoner," the judge observed after additional attorney general informed the court that documents for release and deportation of the prisoner were not ready.

An officer, representing the interior ministry, informed the court that a prisoner could be kept for one month while the legal documents were being prepared.

After knowing the legal position, the court directed the ministry to make all the arrangements within a month for releasing and deportation of the prisoner.

On previous hearing, deputy attorney general recorded his statement on behalf of the interior ministry and said Ansari would be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah border after completion of his term.&nbsp;

Ansari had gone missing after he was taken into custody by Pakistani intelligence agencies and local police in Kohat in 2012 and finally in reply to a habeas corpus petition filed by his mother, Fauzia Ansari, the high court was informed that he was in custody of the Pakistan Army and was being tried by a military court. 
&nbsp;

A top court in Pakistan has given a one-month deadline to the federal government to complete formalities to deport Indian prisoner Hamid Nehal Ansari, whose three-year jail term will end on December 15.

A top court in Pakistan has given a one-month deadline to the federal government to complete formalities to deport Indian prisoner Hamid Nehal Ansari, whose three-year jail term will end on December 15. Ansari, a 33-year-old Mumbai resident, is currently lodged in the Peshawar Central Jail after being sentenced by a military court to three years' imprisonment for possessing a fake Pakistani identity card on December 15, 2015. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2012 for illegally entering the country from Afghanistan, reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online. A two-judge Peshawar High Court bench, comprising Justice Roohul Amin and Justice Qalandar Ali Khan, on Thursday heard an appeal filed by Ansari through a senior lawyer. The petition said that the federal government hasn't taken any steps for his release. Ansari's lawyer, Qazi Muhammad Anwar, said that his client's prison term will end on December 15 and he should be released on the morning of December 16. Anwar informed the bench that the sentence of Indian national would complete after two days and both the Ministry of Interior and authorities of prison, where he was lodged, were completely silent about his release and deportation to India. After hearing this, Justice Khan asked the Additional Attorney General to explain how would they keep the prisoner in jail after completion of his term. "I wonder that after two days the jail term of the prisoner would be completed and the government did not complete requirements for releasing and deportation of the prisoner," the judge observed after additional attorney general informed the court that documents for release and deportation of the prisoner were not ready. An officer, representing the interior ministry, informed the court that a prisoner could be kept for one month while the legal documents were being prepared. After knowing the legal position, the court directed the ministry to make all the arrangements within a month for releasing and deportation of the prisoner. On previous hearing, deputy attorney general recorded his statement on behalf of the interior ministry and said Ansari would be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah border after completion of his term. Ansari had gone missing after he was taken into custody by Pakistani intelligence agencies and local police in Kohat in 2012 and finally in reply to a habeas corpus petition filed by his mother, Fauzia Ansari, the high court was informed that he was in custody of the Pakistan Army and was being tried by a military court.

Pakistan to release Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari one month after his jail term ends

The IMF will conduct a proper debt sustainability analysis of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/where-is-debt-ridden-pakistan-heading-175637">Pakistan</a> before granting it any loan, a senior official has said, amid concerns that Islamabad is seeking a multibillion-dollar bailout package from the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-ready-to-share-details-of-cpec-debts-with-imf-for-bailout-package-finance-minister-umar-171414">global financial body</a> to pay back Chinese creditors.

Cash-strapped Pakistan is seeking US $8 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bail itself out from a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country's economy.

A recent meeting between the IMF and Pakistan ended in a stalemate.&nbsp;

"Clearly debt transparency is essential to conduct a proper analysis of the sustainability of a country's debt. That's what the IMF does when we are going into a programme with our member countries. So that will be the case in Pakistan," IMF Director Communications Gerry Rice told reporters at a news conference here on Thursday.&nbsp;

China is making huge infrastructure investments as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI's flagship project is the US $60 billion <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/no-imf-money-to-pakistan-to-repay-chinese-debt-us-183669">China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)</a> that is planned to run from northwest China's Xinjiang province to Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province.&nbsp; 
There are concerns that given Pakistan's growing Chinese debt, the same could happen to the Gwadar port and other major CPEC-linked projects in Pakistan.

But China has rejected criticism that the CPEC projects have saddled Pakistan with expensive debt.&nbsp;

Following Pakistan's request for financial support, IMF team visited Islamabad in November for talks.&nbsp;

"The discussions are active. They continue to work reaching an understanding on the policy priorities and reforms to stabilise the economy, lay the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth," he said.&nbsp;

Rice was responding to questions on a US statement that it q making all efforts to ensure that any IMF loan to Pakistan is not used to repay its Chinese debt.&nbsp;

"One of the things that we do in every programme is to have a very detailed debt sustainability analysis to ensure that indeed the country's debt profile is sustainable. So kind of information and that level of detail will be available at such times as we reach conclusions on discussions and go forward with the programme,"&nbsp;he said.

Rice said debt sustainability in a country's debt profile is one of the priority issues that the IMF looks at in the context of a programme discussion with a member.&nbsp;

"So that definitely will be the case in the case of Pakistan. This level of detail and granularity will become public actually at the time of the programme agreement," he said.&nbsp;

The IMF will conduct a proper debt sustainability analysis of Pakistan before granting it any loan, a senior official has said, amid concerns that Islamabad is seeking a multibillion-dollar bailout package from the global financial body to pay back Chinese creditors.

The IMF will conduct a proper debt sustainability analysis of Pakistan before granting it any loan, a senior official has said, amid concerns that Islamabad is seeking a multibillion-dollar bailout package from the global financial body to pay back Chinese creditors. Cash-strapped Pakistan is seeking US $8 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bail itself out from a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country's economy. A recent meeting between the IMF and Pakistan ended in a stalemate. "Clearly debt transparency is essential to conduct a proper analysis of the sustainability of a country's debt. That's what the IMF does when we are going into a programme with our member countries. So that will be the case in Pakistan," IMF Director Communications Gerry Rice told reporters at a news conference here on Thursday. China is making huge infrastructure investments as part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI's flagship project is the US $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that is planned to run from northwest China's Xinjiang province to Gwadar port in Pakistan's Balochistan province. There are concerns that given Pakistan's growing Chinese debt, the same could happen to the Gwadar port and other major CPEC-linked projects in Pakistan. But China has rejected criticism that the CPEC projects have saddled Pakistan with expensive debt. Following Pakistan's request for financial support, IMF team visited Islamabad in November for talks. "The discussions are active. They continue to work reaching an understanding on the policy priorities and reforms to stabilise the economy, lay the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth," he said. Rice was responding to questions on a US statement that it q making all efforts to ensure that any IMF loan to Pakistan is not used to repay its Chinese debt. "One of the things that we do in every programme is to have a very detailed debt sustainability analysis to ensure that indeed the country's debt profile is sustainable. So kind of information and that level of detail will be available at such times as we reach conclusions on discussions and go forward with the programme," he said. Rice said debt sustainability in a country's debt profile is one of the priority issues that the IMF looks at in the context of a programme discussion with a member. "So that definitely will be the case in the case of Pakistan. This level of detail and granularity will become public actually at the time of the programme agreement," he said.

IMF to check Pakistan's debt sustainability before loan: Official

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Prime Minister Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khanum to pay a hefty Rs 2,940 crores in taxes and fine within a week in the foreign assets case.

A three-judge bench, while hearing a case against 44 politically exposed individuals who possess properties in the UAE, remarked that failure on Khanum's part to honour the court orders will result in confiscation of her properties.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) told the court that a fine and tax worth Rs 2,940 crores has been imposed on Khanum, who has been identified as ostensible owner (benamidar) of a property.

Khanum, who was present with her lawyer in the court, said that she had bought the property in 2008 against US $370,000 and that she had sold it in 2017 .

The FBR in previous hearings submitted properties and tax details of Khanum.

Khanum told the court that she had raised 50 per cent of the amount required by taking a loan.

According to Khanum's written testimony submitted to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), she owned properties in East UAE. The properties were created through the earnings of businesses owned abroad.

"I sold my properties and the FBR was notified about this development in advance," Khanum said in her written testimony.

During the hearing, the FIA submitted a summary regarding foreign properties in court.

According to the summary, 96 more Pakistanis have been identified for having properties abroad. The total number of Pakistanis with properties abroad is now 2,154.

Out of these, 1,208 people own properties in the UAE.

Taking suo motu notice of the matter, the apex court had observed that it appeared the money siphoned off abroad without payment of taxes through illegal channels represented either ill-gotten gains or kickbacks from public contracts.

"Such money creates gross disproportion, inequality and disparity in society, which warps economic activity and growth, and constitutes plunder and theft of national wealth," it had said.

In an earlier order, the court had also observed that it was common knowledge for years that a large number of Pakistani citizens were maintaining their bank accounts in other countries without disclosing these to the authorities competent under the laws of Pakistan or paying taxes on the same in accordance with the law.&nbsp;

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Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Prime Minister Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khanum to pay a hefty Rs 2,940 crores in taxes and fine within a week in the foreign assets case.

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Prime Minister Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khanum to pay a hefty Rs 2,940 crores in taxes and fine within a week in the foreign assets case. A three-judge bench, while hearing a case against 44 politically exposed individuals who possess properties in the UAE, remarked that failure on Khanum's part to honour the court orders will result in confiscation of her properties. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) told the court that a fine and tax worth Rs 2,940 crores has been imposed on Khanum, who has been identified as ostensible owner (benamidar) of a property. Khanum, who was present with her lawyer in the court, said that she had bought the property in 2008 against US $370,000 and that she had sold it in 2017 . The FBR in previous hearings submitted properties and tax details of Khanum. Khanum told the court that she had raised 50 per cent of the amount required by taking a loan. According to Khanum's written testimony submitted to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), she owned properties in East UAE. The properties were created through the earnings of businesses owned abroad. "I sold my properties and the FBR was notified about this development in advance," Khanum said in her written testimony. During the hearing, the FIA submitted a summary regarding foreign properties in court. According to the summary, 96 more Pakistanis have been identified for having properties abroad. The total number of Pakistanis with properties abroad is now 2,154. Out of these, 1,208 people own properties in the UAE. Taking suo motu notice of the matter, the apex court had observed that it appeared the money siphoned off abroad without payment of taxes through illegal channels represented either ill-gotten gains or kickbacks from public contracts. "Such money creates gross disproportion, inequality and disparity in society, which warps economic activity and growth, and constitutes plunder and theft of national wealth," it had said. In an earlier order, the court had also observed that it was common knowledge for years that a large number of Pakistani citizens were maintaining their bank accounts in other countries without disclosing these to the authorities competent under the laws of Pakistan or paying taxes on the same in accordance with the law.

Pak Supreme Court orders Imran Khan's sister to pay Rs 2,940 crores as fine, tax on foreign properties

Pakistan court on Thursday ordered the release of an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/wion-exclusive-pakistan-refuses-to-remit-sentence-of-indian-national-trapped-in-jail-23027">Indian citizen Hamid Nehal Ansari </a>who went missing in the country&nbsp;in 2012.

Ansari who was&nbsp;sentenced to three years of imprisonment in 2016 by a military court in Pakistan on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-says-it-awaits-consular-access-to-kulbhushan-jadhav-28279">charges of espionage</a>, has already spent six years in the Pak prison.

His term in the jail is due to end on December 13, however, the Pakistan&nbsp;court said that the complete process for the release of Ansari will take a month.

Ansari had filed a plea for remissions in his sentence which was rejected by Pakistan in 2017.

A remission or a shortening of a sentence is usually given to prisoners in lieu of good behaviour.&nbsp;

The jail authorities had rejected his plea claiming&nbsp;that the remission rules do not apply to him and he was charged and convicted for anti-state activities.

Ansari's lawyer, Qazi Mohammad Anwar had claimed Ansari should be granted remission since he was not involved in the anti-state activity.

Ansari initially went missing in Pakistan in 2012 after he crossed over from Afghanistan.

Ansari had come to Pakistan because of a love affair over the Internet.

The girl's family complained to authorities that he was travelling illegally, leading to his arrest in 2012. However, his arrest was not shown officially until 2016, when the authorities told the courts that he had been tried for espionage at a military court.

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Pakistan court on Thursday ordered the release of an Indian citizen Hamid Nehal Ansari who went missing in the country in 2012. Ansari who was sentenced to three years of imprisonment in 2016 by a military court in Pakistan on charges of espionage, has already spent six years in the Pak prison.

Pakistan court on Thursday ordered the release of an Indian citizen Hamid Nehal Ansari who went missing in the country in 2012. Ansari who was sentenced to three years of imprisonment in 2016 by a military court in Pakistan on charges of espionage, has already spent six years in the Pak prison. His term in the jail is due to end on December 13, however, the Pakistan court said that the complete process for the release of Ansari will take a month. Ansari had filed a plea for remissions in his sentence which was rejected by Pakistan in 2017. A remission or a shortening of a sentence is usually given to prisoners in lieu of good behaviour. The jail authorities had rejected his plea claiming that the remission rules do not apply to him and he was charged and convicted for anti-state activities. Ansari's lawyer, Qazi Mohammad Anwar had claimed Ansari should be granted remission since he was not involved in the anti-state activity. Ansari initially went missing in Pakistan in 2012 after he crossed over from Afghanistan. Ansari had come to Pakistan because of a love affair over the Internet. The girl's family complained to authorities that he was travelling illegally, leading to his arrest in 2012. However, his arrest was not shown officially until 2016, when the authorities told the courts that he had been tried for espionage at a military court.

Pakistan court orders release of Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari

WION Fineprint: Is religious freedom a myth in Pakistan?

Accusing India of perpetuating "dynamic rivalry", <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-rejects-us-blacklisting-over-religious-freedom-violations-183409">Pakistan Foreign Secretary</a> Tehmina Janjua has said New Delhi's negative attitude was not only unhelpful for improving bilateral ties, but was also stopping South Asia from making progress and attaining peace.

Speaking at a conference on 'Conflict and Cooperation in South Asia: Role of Major Powers' hosted by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Janjua said that India, by refusing to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad, was holding the regional body's summit process hostage.

Referring to India's approach on ties with Pakistan, Janjua said India was "spinning hatred" and perpetuating "dynamic rivalry", according to Dawn newspaper.

This, she maintained, "was not only unhelpful for improving Pakistan-India ties but was also stopping South Asia from making progress and attaining peace".

India, which blames Pakistan for several terror attacks in the country, has firmly told Islamabad that terror and talks cannot go together.

She regretted that India tried to drown in controversy Pakistan's gesture of agreeing to the Kartarpur Corridor, for facilitating Sikh pilgrimage to one of their holiest sites, due to its domestic politics, but Islamabad ignored the Indian negativity and decided to "stay the course".&nbsp;

"We are convinced that we will continue to try for peace and stability in the region," she said.

About the new Pakistan government's policy on India, Janjua spoke of Prime Minister Imran Khan's first address to the nation after the July elections in which he had offered to take two steps for every single step that India would take for normalisation of ties with Pakistan.

She said Khan in his letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi expressed willingness to discuss all issues that were part of the 'Composite Dialogue'.

"Unfortunately we haven't seen the kind of reciprocation that was required," she said.&nbsp;

The ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived in recent years with no bilateral talks taking place.

The ties strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups in 2016 and India's surgical strikes inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The sentencing of alleged Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death by a military court in April over espionage charges last year further deteriorated bilateral ties.

The two sides often accuse each other of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, resulting in civilian casualties.

The foreign secretary also criticised India for "spending massively on force modernisation" and questioned the support being extended to it by the world powers in its acquisition of weapons.

"Recently held India-US 2+2 dialogue provides India access to advanced and sensitive US military hardware, technology and weaponry," she said.&nbsp;

She also took a jab at Russia for signing a deal with India for providing it advanced S-400 air defence systems.

"This would undermine the delicate strategic balance in the region and beyond," she said.

Reiterating Pakistan's position on the Indian arms build-up, she said: "Pakistan is concerned that such an arms race will be detrimental to peace and stability of the region. Pakistan doesn't subscribe to any nuclear or conventional arms race in the region."

Janjua said Pakistan would continue to pursue its policy of "credible minimum deterrence" to maintain strategic stability and cater for its interests.

Contending that Pakistan's foreign policy has been successful, the foreign secretary said it was proven by the country's counterterrorism operations, the progress achieved by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the emerging consensus on seeking a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict.

"Our viewpoint on Afghanistan on the futility of kinetic approaches and merit of pursuing Afghan-owned and Afghan-led reconciliation process is finding greater traction today than ever before," she underscored.

Accusing India of perpetuating "dynamic rivalry", Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua has said New Delhi's negative attitude was not only unhelpful for improving bilateral ties, but was also stopping South Asia from making progress and attaining peace.

Accusing India of perpetuating "dynamic rivalry", Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua has said New Delhi's negative attitude was not only unhelpful for improving bilateral ties, but was also stopping South Asia from making progress and attaining peace. Speaking at a conference on 'Conflict and Cooperation in South Asia: Role of Major Powers' hosted by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), Janjua said that India, by refusing to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad, was holding the regional body's summit process hostage. Referring to India's approach on ties with Pakistan, Janjua said India was "spinning hatred" and perpetuating "dynamic rivalry", according to Dawn newspaper. This, she maintained, "was not only unhelpful for improving Pakistan-India ties but was also stopping South Asia from making progress and attaining peace". India, which blames Pakistan for several terror attacks in the country, has firmly told Islamabad that terror and talks cannot go together. She regretted that India tried to drown in controversy Pakistan's gesture of agreeing to the Kartarpur Corridor, for facilitating Sikh pilgrimage to one of their holiest sites, due to its domestic politics, but Islamabad ignored the Indian negativity and decided to "stay the course". "We are convinced that we will continue to try for peace and stability in the region," she said. About the new Pakistan government's policy on India, Janjua spoke of Prime Minister Imran Khan's first address to the nation after the July elections in which he had offered to take two steps for every single step that India would take for normalisation of ties with Pakistan. She said Khan in his letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi expressed willingness to discuss all issues that were part of the 'Composite Dialogue'. "Unfortunately we haven't seen the kind of reciprocation that was required," she said. The ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived in recent years with no bilateral talks taking place. The ties strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups in 2016 and India's surgical strikes inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The sentencing of alleged Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav to death by a military court in April over espionage charges last year further deteriorated bilateral ties. The two sides often accuse each other of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, resulting in civilian casualties. The foreign secretary also criticised India for "spending massively on force modernisation" and questioned the support being extended to it by the world powers in its acquisition of weapons. "Recently held India-US 2+2 dialogue provides India access to advanced and sensitive US military hardware, technology and weaponry," she said. She also took a jab at Russia for signing a deal with India for providing it advanced S-400 air defence systems. "This would undermine the delicate strategic balance in the region and beyond," she said. Reiterating Pakistan's position on the Indian arms build-up, she said: "Pakistan is concerned that such an arms race will be detrimental to peace and stability of the region. Pakistan doesn't subscribe to any nuclear or conventional arms race in the region." Janjua said Pakistan would continue to pursue its policy of "credible minimum deterrence" to maintain strategic stability and cater for its interests. Contending that Pakistan's foreign policy has been successful, the foreign secretary said it was proven by the country's counterterrorism operations, the progress achieved by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the emerging consensus on seeking a peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict. "Our viewpoint on Afghanistan on the futility of kinetic approaches and merit of pursuing Afghan-owned and Afghan-led reconciliation process is finding greater traction today than ever before," she underscored.

Pakistan foreign secretary accuses India of 'dynamic rivalry'

The United States said Tuesday it has added Pakistan to its blacklist of countries that violate religious freedom, ramping up pressure over its treatment of minorities.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he had designated Pakistan among "countries of particular concern" in a congressionally mandated annual report, a year after the State Department put Pakistan on a watchlist without legal consequences.

Pompeo a year earlier had placed Pakistan on a special watch list -- a step short of the designation -- in what had been seen as a US tactic to press Islamabad into reforms.

Human rights advocates have long voiced worry about the treatment of minorities in Pakistan, including Shiites, Ahmadis and Christians.

This comes at a time when the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/us-blocks-aid-to-pakistan-4271">Trump administration suspended &nbsp;$3 billion security aid to Pakistan </a>over its failure to counter terrorist groups.

US president Donald Trump said earlier that Pakistan did not "do a damn thing" for the US despite billions of dollars in American aid for the South Asian nation.

Responding to him Pak PM Imran Khan said that the US aid to Pakistan was a "miniscule" $20 billion, while the country lost 75,000 people and more than $123 billion fighting the 'US War on Terror'.

Trump became the first US president to announce the suspension of security aid to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fatf-dissatisfied-over-pakistans-efforts-to-combat-terror-financing-report-172508">Financial Action Task Force (FATF) </a>had also placed Pakistan on the grey list for failing to curb anti-terror financing.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States said Tuesday it has added Pakistan to its blacklist of countries that violate religious freedom, ramping up pressure over its treatment of minorities.

The United States said Tuesday it has added Pakistan to its blacklist of countries that violate religious freedom, ramping up pressure over its treatment of minorities. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he had designated Pakistan among "countries of particular concern" in a congressionally mandated annual report, a year after the State Department put Pakistan on a watchlist without legal consequences. Pompeo a year earlier had placed Pakistan on a special watch list -- a step short of the designation -- in what had been seen as a US tactic to press Islamabad into reforms. Human rights advocates have long voiced worry about the treatment of minorities in Pakistan, including Shiites, Ahmadis and Christians. This comes at a time when the Trump administration suspended $3 billion security aid to Pakistan over its failure to counter terrorist groups. US president Donald Trump said earlier that Pakistan did not "do a damn thing" for the US despite billions of dollars in American aid for the South Asian nation. Responding to him Pak PM Imran Khan said that the US aid to Pakistan was a "miniscule" $20 billion, while the country lost 75,000 people and more than $123 billion fighting the 'US War on Terror'. Trump became the first US president to announce the suspension of security aid to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had also placed Pakistan on the grey list for failing to curb anti-terror financing. (With inputs from agencies)

US adds Pakistan to blacklist for religious freedom violations

Probably for the first time, Pakistan has acknowledged that India has stakes in Afghanistan and that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/opinion-future-of-afghanistan-will-be-won-through-peace-talks-with-taliban-161009">its cooperation is necessary for the peace process in the war-torn country</a>.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Monday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan alone could not bring peace in Afghanistan as it was a "shared responsibility" of regional countries.&nbsp;

"Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that peace could not be established in Afghanistan through military power. Today the US, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Taliban also wanted a solution through dialogue," The Express Tribune quoted Qureshi as saying.

"Some meetings have taken place (among key stakeholders) for establishment of peace in Afghanistan. India also has stakes in Afghanistan and its cooperation will also be needed," Qureshi said.

The US has indicated that it plans to give a role to India in Afghanistan, whereas Pakistan's stance over the years was quite clear that India had no role to play in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Pakistan perceives India's development contributions in Afghanistan as part of New Delhi's strategic encirclement policy that Islamabad feels would leave it vulnerable in any potential conflict.

He said US president Donald Trump in a letter to Prime Minister Khan had asked Pakistan to help and facilitate the peace process in Afghanistan which Qureshi said Pakistan was already doing.&nbsp;

Speaking about relations with India, Qureshi expressed the hope that New Delhi will reciprocate Pakistan's goodwill gesture of taking the initiative to open the Kartarpur corridor for Indian Sikh pilgrims.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of India "unwillingly" had to accept the Pakistani offer to open the corridor and they later approved it through a resolution in a Cabinet meeting, he said.

Pakistan hopes that India will review its policy in Kashmir, he said.&nbsp;

Probably for the first time, Pakistan has acknowledged that India has stakes in Afghanistan and that its cooperation is necessary for the peace process in the war-torn country.

Probably for the first time, Pakistan has acknowledged that India has stakes in Afghanistan and that its cooperation is necessary for the peace process in the war-torn country. Speaking in the National Assembly on Monday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistan alone could not bring peace in Afghanistan as it was a "shared responsibility" of regional countries. "Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that peace could not be established in Afghanistan through military power. Today the US, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Taliban also wanted a solution through dialogue," The Express Tribune quoted Qureshi as saying. "Some meetings have taken place (among key stakeholders) for establishment of peace in Afghanistan. India also has stakes in Afghanistan and its cooperation will also be needed," Qureshi said. The US has indicated that it plans to give a role to India in Afghanistan, whereas Pakistan's stance over the years was quite clear that India had no role to play in Afghanistan. Pakistan perceives India's development contributions in Afghanistan as part of New Delhi's strategic encirclement policy that Islamabad feels would leave it vulnerable in any potential conflict. He said US president Donald Trump in a letter to Prime Minister Khan had asked Pakistan to help and facilitate the peace process in Afghanistan which Qureshi said Pakistan was already doing. Speaking about relations with India, Qureshi expressed the hope that New Delhi will reciprocate Pakistan's goodwill gesture of taking the initiative to open the Kartarpur corridor for Indian Sikh pilgrims. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of India "unwillingly" had to accept the Pakistani offer to open the corridor and they later approved it through a resolution in a Cabinet meeting, he said. Pakistan hopes that India will review its policy in Kashmir, he said.

India's role in Afghanistan peace process crucial: Pakistan

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rbi-governor-urjit-patel-resigns-cites-personal-reasons-182915">RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigns, says it's for 'personal reasons'</a>

RBI Governor Urjit Patel has resigned, saying he was doing so for "personal reasons".&nbsp;

"On account of personal reasons, I have decided to step down from my current position (RBI Governor) effective immediately. It has been my privilege and honour to serve in the Reserve Bank of India in various capacities over the years," Patel said in a statement.&nbsp;

Pointedly, he did not mention the finance ministry or the government in his statement.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/legal-team-will-take-proper-steps-over-whatever-judgement-is-pronounced-mallya-182872">UK court orders Vijay Mallya's extradition to India, CBI says 'we welcome the verdict'</a>

UK's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday ordered liquor baron Vijay Mallya's extradition to India.

According to reports, Mallya has 14 days to appeal his extradition in the High Court.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-will-continue-to-lend-full-support-to-people-of-kashmir-imran-khan-182917">Pakistan will continue to lend full support to people of Kashmir: Imran Khan</a>

Pakistan would continue to lend full diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Monday.&nbsp;

Khan's remarks came in a message on the Human Rights Day which is observed every year on December 10.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/had-bitter-experience-tried-putting-forth-my-words-while-in-nda-rlsp-chief-upendra-kushwaha-quits-as-union-minister-pulls-out-from-nda-182866">'Bihar is still where it was,' RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha says after pulling out of NDA</a>

RLSP Chief Upendra Kushwaha quit as union minister on Monday and stated that his party will no longer be a part of the National Democratic Alliance.&nbsp;

The minister stated that he has had a "bitter experience" with the BJP, adding that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar "has done injustice to people of all fronts".&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/eu-insists-will-not-renegotiate-brexit-deal-182934">EU says it will not renegotiate Brexit deal</a>

The EU has already offered Britain the "best and only possible" Brexit divorce deal and will not renegotiate it, the European Commission warned Monday on the eve of a vote in the British parliament.

"Our position has not changed and as far as we're concerned the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union on the 29th of March 2019," spokeswoman Mina Andreeva told reporters.

RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigns, says it's for 'personal reasons' RBI Governor Urjit Patel has resigned, saying he was doing so for "personal reasons". "On account of personal reasons, I have decided to step down from my current position (RBI Governor) effective immediately.

RBI Governor Urjit Patel resigns, says it's for 'personal reasons' RBI Governor Urjit Patel has resigned, saying he was doing so for "personal reasons". "On account of personal reasons, I have decided to step down from my current position (RBI Governor) effective immediately. It has been my privilege and honour to serve in the Reserve Bank of India in various capacities over the years," Patel said in a statement. Pointedly, he did not mention the finance ministry or the government in his statement. UK court orders Vijay Mallya's extradition to India, CBI says 'we welcome the verdict' UK's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday ordered liquor baron Vijay Mallya's extradition to India. According to reports, Mallya has 14 days to appeal his extradition in the High Court. Pakistan will continue to lend full support to people of Kashmir: Imran Khan Pakistan would continue to lend full diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Monday. Khan's remarks came in a message on the Human Rights Day which is observed every year on December 10. 'Bihar is still where it was,' RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha says after pulling out of NDA RLSP Chief Upendra Kushwaha quit as union minister on Monday and stated that his party will no longer be a part of the National Democratic Alliance. The minister stated that he has had a "bitter experience" with the BJP, adding that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar "has done injustice to people of all fronts". EU says it will not renegotiate Brexit deal The EU has already offered Britain the "best and only possible" Brexit divorce deal and will not renegotiate it, the European Commission warned Monday on the eve of a vote in the British parliament. "Our position has not changed and as far as we're concerned the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union on the 29th of March 2019," spokeswoman Mina Andreeva told reporters.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Registering a strong protest at the SAARC charter meeting held in Islamabad Indian diplomat Shubham Singh left the meet after Pakistan invited the PoK minister Chaudhary Muhammad Saeed to speak at the dais.&nbsp;

The diplomat left the SAARC meet when Pakistan gave the platform to Pok minister.

India has not released any official response in the matter.

This is yet another attempt in recent past where Pakistan has tried to push its agenda and propagate it's legitimacy to PoK.

During Imran Khan swearing-in ceremony too, cricketer Sidhu was made to sit next to the PoK prime minister.

 
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Registering a strong protest at the SAARC charter meeting held in Islamabad Indian diplomat Shubham Singh left the meet after Pakistan invited the PoK minister Chaudhary Muhammad Saeed to speak at the dais.

Registering a strong protest at the SAARC charter meeting held in Islamabad Indian diplomat Shubham Singh left the meet after Pakistan invited the PoK minister Chaudhary Muhammad Saeed to speak at the dais. The diplomat left the SAARC meet when Pakistan gave the platform to Pok minister. India has not released any official response in the matter. This is yet another attempt in recent past where Pakistan has tried to push its agenda and propagate it's legitimacy to PoK. During Imran Khan swearing-in ceremony too, cricketer Sidhu was made to sit next to the PoK prime minister.

Indian diplomat walks out of SAARC meet after Pakistan's invitation to PoK minister

Days after United States President Donald Trump slammed Pakistan for providing safe haven to Osama Bin Laden and justified the aid cut to the country, the outgoing <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-postponed-us-talks-because-they-werent-ready-nikki-haley-176424">American ambassador</a> to United Nation <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nikki-haley-resigns-from-trump-cabinet-speculation-is-she-may-run-against-him-in-2020-170533">Nikki Haley</a> has said that country continues to harbour terrorist and Washington should not give them any money.

In an interview to The Atlantic, Nikki Haley said, "look at Pakistan. Giving them over a billion dollars, and they continue to harbour terrorists that turn around and kill our soldiers—that’s never okay. We shouldn’t even give them a dollar until they correct it. Use the billion dollars. That’s not a small amount of change.".

Haley's response came on a question by The Atlantic's Uri Friedman asking, what does she feel about "What America’s role is?"

Talking about American Aid, Haley said, "We don’t need to be giving money to countries that say “Death to America.” We don’t need to be giving money to countries that go behind our back and try and stop us from doing things. We don’t need to be giving money to those that don’t want to be our partners, because there’s a lot of countries that do want to be our partners, and we just need to be smart about it."

Remember, In an interview to Fox news channel US President Trump had said Pakistan doesn't &nbsp;"do a damn thing for us." and slammed Islamabad for providing a safe haven to 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden.

The first tweet this year by US President was on Pakistan aid cut and the "lies and deceit". He tweeted on 1 January that "The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies &amp; deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!"

In an email reply to WION, the Pentagon had confirmed that the US had suspended, Coalition Support Funds (CSF) security assistance that Washington provides to Pakistan, last January. The suspension remains in place totalling approximately $1.66 billion in security assistance dollars to Pakistan that has been frozen to date.&nbsp;

US-Pakistan relations have&nbsp;deteriorated due to inaction by Pakistan on terror groups in its territory. US President and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also had a Twitter spat in which Khan said the US is making Islamabad a scapegoat due to its failures in Afghanistan.

The development comes days after, India slammed Pakistan at United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) for destabilising Afghanistan and continuing to provide sanctuaries to terror organisations in its territory.&nbsp;

Indian Diplomat Eenam Gambhir while delivering India's statement in UNGA said, " Offensives are planned and launched by those who are harboured in safe havens in the neighbourhood of Afghanistan. These sanctuaries have, for years, provided safety for the dark agendas of ideologically and operationally-fused terror networks like the Taliban, Haqqani network, Daesh, Al-Qaeda and its prescribed affiliates such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed".

Days after United States President Donald Trump slammed Pakistan for providing safe haven to Osama Bin Laden and justified the aid cut to the country, the outgoing American ambassador to United Nation Nikki Haley has said that country continues to harbour terrorist and Washington should not give them any money.

Days after United States President Donald Trump slammed Pakistan for providing safe haven to Osama Bin Laden and justified the aid cut to the country, the outgoing American ambassador to United Nation Nikki Haley has said that country continues to harbour terrorist and Washington should not give them any money. In an interview to The Atlantic, Nikki Haley said, "look at Pakistan. Giving them over a billion dollars, and they continue to harbour terrorists that turn around and kill our soldiers—that’s never okay. We shouldn’t even give them a dollar until they correct it. Use the billion dollars. That’s not a small amount of change.". Haley's response came on a question by The Atlantic's Uri Friedman asking, what does she feel about "What America’s role is?" Talking about American Aid, Haley said, "We don’t need to be giving money to countries that say “Death to America.” We don’t need to be giving money to countries that go behind our back and try and stop us from doing things. We don’t need to be giving money to those that don’t want to be our partners, because there’s a lot of countries that do want to be our partners, and we just need to be smart about it." Remember, In an interview to Fox news channel US President Trump had said Pakistan doesn't "do a damn thing for us." and slammed Islamabad for providing a safe haven to 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden. The first tweet this year by US President was on Pakistan aid cut and the "lies and deceit". He tweeted on 1 January that "The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!" In an email reply to WION, the Pentagon had confirmed that the US had suspended, Coalition Support Funds (CSF) security assistance that Washington provides to Pakistan, last January. The suspension remains in place totalling approximately $1.66 billion in security assistance dollars to Pakistan that has been frozen to date. US-Pakistan relations have deteriorated due to inaction by Pakistan on terror groups in its territory. US President and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also had a Twitter spat in which Khan said the US is making Islamabad a scapegoat due to its failures in Afghanistan. The development comes days after, India slammed Pakistan at United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) for destabilising Afghanistan and continuing to provide sanctuaries to terror organisations in its territory. Indian Diplomat Eenam Gambhir while delivering India's statement in UNGA said, " Offensives are planned and launched by those who are harboured in safe havens in the neighbourhood of Afghanistan. These sanctuaries have, for years, provided safety for the dark agendas of ideologically and operationally-fused terror networks like the Taliban, Haqqani network, Daesh, Al-Qaeda and its prescribed affiliates such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed".

Pakistan continues to harbour terrorists: Nikki Haley

Breaking News: Nikki Haley slams Pakistan over terrorism

India slams Pakistan at UNGA

SAARC: Indian Diplomat walks out

Pakistan will no longer act as a hired gun in someone else's war, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday, striking a note of defiance against US demands for Islamabad to do more in the battle against militancy.

Khan -- who also reiterated his backing for a recent push by the US for talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan -- said in a televised address that he wants Pakistan to move forward with "honour".

"We will no longer fight someone else's war, nor will we bow down in front of anyone", the former cricketer said.

Islamabad joined Washington's "war on terror" in 2001, and says it has paid a heavy price for the alliance, which sparked an Islamist backlash and homegrown militant groups who turned their guns on the Pakistani state, costing thousands of lives.&nbsp;

Security has dramatically improved in recent years after a military crackdown.

But the US continues to accuse Islamabad of ignoring or even collaborating with groups such as the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, which allegedly attack Afghanistan from safe havens along the border between the two countries.

The White House believes that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency and other military bodies have long helped fund and arm the Taliban both for ideological reasons and to counter rising Indian influence in Afghanistan.

It believes that a Pakistani crackdown on the militants could be pivotal in deciding the outcome of the war.&nbsp;

Khan, who has long been vocal about Pakistan's role in the war on terror, said his country wants "peace with all".&nbsp;

"Thanks (God) that today, the same people who were asking to do more are now asking us to help them in Afghanistan, to establish peace and to negotiate," he said.

More than 17 years after the US invasion, Washington has stepped up its bid for talks with the resurgent Taliban with a flurry of recent diplomatic efforts.

This week the Pakistani foreign ministry said Khan had been sent a letter by US President Donald Trump seeking Islamabad's support in securing a peace deal.

In the letter, Trump said a settlement is "his most important regional priority", the Pakistani foreign ministry stated.

"In this regard, he has sought Pakistan's support and facilitation", it continued.

Trump's letter was followed by a visit from US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has said he hopes a deal can be in place before the Afghan presidential elections, set for April next year.&nbsp;

Pakistan will no longer act as a hired gun in someone else's war, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday, striking a note of defiance against US demands for Islamabad to do more in the battle against militancy.

Pakistan will no longer act as a hired gun in someone else's war, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday, striking a note of defiance against US demands for Islamabad to do more in the battle against militancy. Khan -- who also reiterated his backing for a recent push by the US for talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan -- said in a televised address that he wants Pakistan to move forward with "honour". "We will no longer fight someone else's war, nor will we bow down in front of anyone", the former cricketer said. Islamabad joined Washington's "war on terror" in 2001, and says it has paid a heavy price for the alliance, which sparked an Islamist backlash and homegrown militant groups who turned their guns on the Pakistani state, costing thousands of lives. Security has dramatically improved in recent years after a military crackdown. But the US continues to accuse Islamabad of ignoring or even collaborating with groups such as the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network, which allegedly attack Afghanistan from safe havens along the border between the two countries. The White House believes that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency and other military bodies have long helped fund and arm the Taliban both for ideological reasons and to counter rising Indian influence in Afghanistan. It believes that a Pakistani crackdown on the militants could be pivotal in deciding the outcome of the war. Khan, who has long been vocal about Pakistan's role in the war on terror, said his country wants "peace with all". "Thanks (God) that today, the same people who were asking to do more are now asking us to help them in Afghanistan, to establish peace and to negotiate," he said. More than 17 years after the US invasion, Washington has stepped up its bid for talks with the resurgent Taliban with a flurry of recent diplomatic efforts. This week the Pakistani foreign ministry said Khan had been sent a letter by US President Donald Trump seeking Islamabad's support in securing a peace deal. In the letter, Trump said a settlement is "his most important regional priority", the Pakistani foreign ministry stated. "In this regard, he has sought Pakistan's support and facilitation", it continued. Trump's letter was followed by a visit from US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who has said he hopes a deal can be in place before the Afghan presidential elections, set for April next year.

Pakistan will no longer fight someone else's war: Imran Khan

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will visit Afghanistan on December 15 to hold talks with top Afghan leadership on "political reconciliation and durable peace" in the war-torn country.&nbsp;

Qureshi announced his visit to Kabul after US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, seeking Pakistan's help with stuttering Afghan peace talks and support in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table to end the 17-year brutal war in the country.

Addressing a ceremony in Multan on Saturday, Qureshi said it was the robustness of Pakistan's foreign policy that the US requested for assistance in Afghan issue, Radio Pakistan reported.&nbsp;

He said Pakistan was committed to Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.

The foreign minister said "he will visit Kabul on December 15 to hold talks with "Afghan leadership on political reconciliation and durable peace in Afghanistan."

Trump's letter was followed by visit to Islamabad by US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalizad who held talks with top officials and also called on Queshi and the prime minister.

It would be Qureshi's second trip to Kabul after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government came to power in August.

In the letter, Trump "stated that his most important regional priority was achieving a negotiated settlement of the Afghan war. In this regard, he has sought Pakistan's support and facilitation," the Foreign Office said.

The president also acknowledged that the war had cost both the US and Pakistan and emphasised that both the countries "should explore opportunities to work together and renew partnership".

The Trump administration, in the recent months, has intensified its efforts to seek a negotiated settlement of America's longest war in Afghanistan where the US has lost over 2,400 soldiers since late 2001, when it invaded the country after the 9/11 terror attacks.

The Taliban are fighting to flush out international forces and re-establish their regime in Afghanistan after their ouster in 2001.&nbsp;

Pakistan and Afghanistan are trying to improve ties despite lingering suspicions and mistrust about each other.'&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Addressing the ceremony in Multan, Qureshi also said that Pakistan made the decision of opening Kartarpur Corridor to facilitate Sikh pilgrims.&nbsp;

"This step gave a message of peace and love from Pakistan,"&nbsp;he said.

He said Pakistan's foreign policy "is on a positive trajectory based on national interest and self-reliance."

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will visit Afghanistan on December 15 to hold talks with top Afghan leadership on "political reconciliation and durable peace" in the war-torn country.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will visit Afghanistan on December 15 to hold talks with top Afghan leadership on "political reconciliation and durable peace" in the war-torn country. Qureshi announced his visit to Kabul after US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, seeking Pakistan's help with stuttering Afghan peace talks and support in bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table to end the 17-year brutal war in the country. Addressing a ceremony in Multan on Saturday, Qureshi said it was the robustness of Pakistan's foreign policy that the US requested for assistance in Afghan issue, Radio Pakistan reported. He said Pakistan was committed to Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. The foreign minister said "he will visit Kabul on December 15 to hold talks with "Afghan leadership on political reconciliation and durable peace in Afghanistan." Trump's letter was followed by visit to Islamabad by US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalizad who held talks with top officials and also called on Queshi and the prime minister. It would be Qureshi's second trip to Kabul after Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government came to power in August. In the letter, Trump "stated that his most important regional priority was achieving a negotiated settlement of the Afghan war. In this regard, he has sought Pakistan's support and facilitation," the Foreign Office said. The president also acknowledged that the war had cost both the US and Pakistan and emphasised that both the countries "should explore opportunities to work together and renew partnership". The Trump administration, in the recent months, has intensified its efforts to seek a negotiated settlement of America's longest war in Afghanistan where the US has lost over 2,400 soldiers since late 2001, when it invaded the country after the 9/11 terror attacks. The Taliban are fighting to flush out international forces and re-establish their regime in Afghanistan after their ouster in 2001. Pakistan and Afghanistan are trying to improve ties despite lingering suspicions and mistrust about each other.' Addressing the ceremony in Multan, Qureshi also said that Pakistan made the decision of opening Kartarpur Corridor to facilitate Sikh pilgrims. "This step gave a message of peace and love from Pakistan," he said. He said Pakistan's foreign policy "is on a positive trajectory based on national interest and self-reliance."

Pak Foreign Minister Qureshi to visit Afghanistan on December 15

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