&nbsp;

Pakistan is committed to countering &quot;all militant groups&quot; operating within its territory, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has assured US Defence Secretary James Mattis during their first telephonic conversation. 
Gen (retd) Mattis reaffirmed the importance of bilateral military relationship during his conversation with Pakistan&#39;s Chief of Army Staff, the Pentagon said.

 
&quot;Gen Bajwa reiterated Pakistan&#39;s commitment to counter all militant groups operating in its territory,&quot; Pentagon Spokesman Capt Jeff Davis said.

 
&quot;Mattis recognised the significant sacrifices the Pakistan military has made in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and expressed appreciation for the Pakistan military&#39;s recent support for efforts to defeat ISIS-Khorasan Province,&quot; he said.

 
&quot;Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral military-to-military relationship, and highlighted the importance of continuing to work together on counter-terrorism and regional stability,&quot; Davis said. 
Pakistan Army spokesman Major Gen Asif Ghafoor said in a statement that General Bajwa and Secretary Mattis &quot;had a twenty minutes telephone conversation&quot;.

 
He said they reaffirmed the commitment towards the common goal of peace and stability in the region and discussed measures towards that end. Bajwa and Mattis also agreed on continued engagement at multiple levels. 
&quot;Secretary Mattis commended the sacrifices and resilience of the people and armed forces of Pakistan and appreciated the role Pakistan Army has played in battling the scourge of terrorism,&quot; Ghafoor said.

 
The army chief also congratulated the Secretary on his assumption of new responsibility and expressed the hope that his vast experience in the field will be of great value to the region, Ghafoor said. 
Pakistan has been trying to establish a rapport with the new administration but so far without much success.

 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s close foreign policy aide Tariq Fatemi had visited Washington in December but could not meet any top official of then president-designate.

 
The only high-level contact so far between the two sides was a brief telephonic talk between Trump and Sharif, who had called the former to congratulate him after his electoral triumph.

 
The call became controversial after its transcript was issued by Pakistan.&nbsp;It is believed that Mattis knows Pakistan well as he served as head of the US Central Command and has been to the country many times. 
In his confirmation hearing before the Senate, Mattis had emphasised on remaining engaged with Pakistan.

&nbsp; 
General John Nicholson, who leads the US and international forces in Afghanistan, has called for a &quot;holistic review&quot; of the relationship with Islamabad.&nbsp;

(PTI)

Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has assured US Defence Secretary James Mattis of all help to countering "all militant groups"

Pakistan is committed to countering "all militant groups" operating within its territory, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has assured US Defence Secretary James Mattis during their first telephonic conversation. Gen (retd) Mattis reaffirmed the importance of bilateral military relationship during his conversation with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, the Pentagon said. "Gen Bajwa reiterated Pakistan's commitment to counter all militant groups operating in its territory," Pentagon Spokesman Capt Jeff Davis said. "Mattis recognised the significant sacrifices the Pakistan military has made in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and expressed appreciation for the Pakistan military's recent support for efforts to defeat ISIS-Khorasan Province," he said. "Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral military-to-military relationship, and highlighted the importance of continuing to work together on counter-terrorism and regional stability," Davis said. Pakistan Army spokesman Major Gen Asif Ghafoor said in a statement that General Bajwa and Secretary Mattis "had a twenty minutes telephone conversation". He said they reaffirmed the commitment towards the common goal of peace and stability in the region and discussed measures towards that end. Bajwa and Mattis also agreed on continued engagement at multiple levels. "Secretary Mattis commended the sacrifices and resilience of the people and armed forces of Pakistan and appreciated the role Pakistan Army has played in battling the scourge of terrorism," Ghafoor said. The army chief also congratulated the Secretary on his assumption of new responsibility and expressed the hope that his vast experience in the field will be of great value to the region, Ghafoor said. Pakistan has been trying to establish a rapport with the new administration but so far without much success. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's close foreign policy aide Tariq Fatemi had visited Washington in December but could not meet any top official of then president-designate. The only high-level contact so far between the two sides was a brief telephonic talk between Trump and Sharif, who had called the former to congratulate him after his electoral triumph. The call became controversial after its transcript was issued by Pakistan. It is believed that Mattis knows Pakistan well as he served as head of the US Central Command and has been to the country many times. In his confirmation hearing before the Senate, Mattis had emphasised on remaining engaged with Pakistan. General John Nicholson, who leads the US and international forces in Afghanistan, has called for a "holistic review" of the relationship with Islamabad. (PTI)

Terror talk on agenda: Pakistan army chief calls up US Defence Secretary

The government, today, has said that 74 missing defence personnel (MDP) are believed to be in Pakistan&#39;s custody but their presence hasn&#39;t been acknowledged by the country. &nbsp;

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, the minister of state for external affairs said, &quot;As per available information, there are 74 MDP that are believed to be in Pakistan&#39;s custody but whose presence has not been acknowledged so far by Pakistan.&quot;

&quot;A committee of kin of MDP visited jails in Pakistan in 2007 but could not find evidence of their presence. However, the government continues to raise this matter with the government there,&quot; the minister added.

He said that the government has raised the matter with the Pakistan government on numerous occasions, including at high levels.

He also said there are &quot;at present 208 individuals -- 61 civil prisoners and 147 fishermen -- who are Indian or believed to be Indian are in Pakistani jails&quot;.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

The government has raised the matter with the Pakistan government on numerous occasions, including at high levels

The government, today, has said that 74 missing defence personnel (MDP) are believed to be in Pakistan's custody but their presence hasn't been acknowledged by the country. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, the minister of state for external affairs said, "As per available information, there are 74 MDP that are believed to be in Pakistan's custody but whose presence has not been acknowledged so far by Pakistan." "A committee of kin of MDP visited jails in Pakistan in 2007 but could not find evidence of their presence. However, the government continues to raise this matter with the government there," the minister added. He said that the government has raised the matter with the Pakistan government on numerous occasions, including at high levels. He also said there are "at present 208 individuals -- 61 civil prisoners and 147 fishermen -- who are Indian or believed to be Indian are in Pakistani jails". (WION with inputs from PTI)

74 missing defence personnel in Pakistan's custody: Indian govt

The External Affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj, has said that the government of India was in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels.

In a written reply to Lok Sabha, the minister said that &quot;the governments of India and Pakistan remained in touch through bilateral diplomatic channels, including for addressing all urgent humanitarian and other matters concerning people-to- people ties&quot;.&nbsp;

The minister said that the talks between the foreign secretaries of the two countries to decide the modalities of the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue, agreed during her visit to Islamabad in December 2015, could not take place due to the terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase in January last year.

&quot;The government was also able to effectively neutralise Pakistan&#39;s efforts to internationalise Kashmir issue, and conveyed to India&#39;s interlocutors that normalisation of India-Pakistan relations through a peaceful bilateral dialogue can take place only in a conducive environment free from violence and terrorism,&quot; Swaraj said.

The Indian foreign secretary, S. Jaishankar, in exchange of letters with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry last year, made it clear that the talks could go ahead only if Pakistan is willing to take action on terrorists responsible for the Pathankot airbase attack and the 2008 Mumbai attack. He also said that Pakistan will have to vacate from the illegally occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir. &nbsp;

(WION with inputs from PTI)

Swaraj said that the two governments were in touch through bilateral diplomatic channels addressing humanitarian, people-to-people concerns

The External Affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj, has said that the government of India was in touch with Pakistan through diplomatic channels. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, the minister said that "the governments of India and Pakistan remained in touch through bilateral diplomatic channels, including for addressing all urgent humanitarian and other matters concerning people-to- people ties". The minister said that the talks between the foreign secretaries of the two countries to decide the modalities of the Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue, agreed during her visit to Islamabad in December 2015, could not take place due to the terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase in January last year. "The government was also able to effectively neutralise Pakistan's efforts to internationalise Kashmir issue, and conveyed to India's interlocutors that normalisation of India-Pakistan relations through a peaceful bilateral dialogue can take place only in a conducive environment free from violence and terrorism," Swaraj said. The Indian foreign secretary, S. Jaishankar, in exchange of letters with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry last year, made it clear that the talks could go ahead only if Pakistan is willing to take action on terrorists responsible for the Pathankot airbase attack and the 2008 Mumbai attack. He also said that Pakistan will have to vacate from the illegally occupied parts of Jammu and Kashmir. (WION with inputs from PTI)

India, Pakistan remained in touch through diplomatic channel: India's foreign minister

A security guard has shot dead a diplomat in the Afghan consulate in Pakistan&#39;s southern city of Karachi, officials say.

The consulate&#39;s third secretary was killed by a private guard, who had been arrested, police official Saqib Ismail said, adding that the guard was an Afghan national and using his automatic weapon.

Another police official, deputy Inspector general Azad Khan, told reporters off camera that the shooting appeared to be the result of a personal dispute.

Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal confirmed the shooting on his official Facebook account.

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(Reuters) 
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The diplomat was a third secretary in the consulate who was killed by a private guard with an automatic weapon

A security guard has shot dead a diplomat in the Afghan consulate in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi, officials say. The consulate's third secretary was killed by a private guard, who had been arrested, police official Saqib Ismail said, adding that the guard was an Afghan national and using his automatic weapon. Another police official, deputy Inspector general Azad Khan, told reporters off camera that the shooting appeared to be the result of a personal dispute. Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal confirmed the shooting on his official Facebook account. (Reuters)

Afghan diplomat shot in Pakistan

Britain scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday to escort a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft to Stansted airport.

&quot;Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this afternoon from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft,&quot; the Ministry of Defence official told Reuters.

&quot;The aircraft was intercepted and safely escorted to Stansted airport,&quot; the ministry said. Reports said there was a bomb on board the flight.&nbsp;

Media reports said officials are scanning passengers, their luggage and sweeping the plane for any suspicious objects.

Flight tracking websites said PIA flight PK757 from Lahore to Heathrow had been diverted to Stansted in south-east England. PIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reports said.

(WION with agency inputs)

Media reports said officials are scanning passengers, their luggage and sweeping the plane for any suspicious objects.

Britain scrambled fighter jets on Tuesday to escort a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft to Stansted airport. "Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this afternoon from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft," the Ministry of Defence official told Reuters. "The aircraft was intercepted and safely escorted to Stansted airport," the ministry said. Reports said there was a bomb on board the flight. Media reports said officials are scanning passengers, their luggage and sweeping the plane for any suspicious objects. Flight tracking websites said PIA flight PK757 from Lahore to Heathrow had been diverted to Stansted in south-east England. PIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reports said. (WION with agency inputs)

?UK fighter jets escort Pakistan Airlines flight to Stansted airport over bomb threat

The US has moved the United Nations to ban Jaish-e-Mohammed&nbsp;chief Masood Azhar but China has opposed the move, PTI reports.

India&#39;s repeated attempts to get him declared a UN-designated terrorist have been blocked by China.

Masood Azhar, who heads the terrorist organistaion Jaish-e-Mohammed, is allegedly the mastermind of the&nbsp;attack on the Pathankot airbase in India last year.&nbsp;Masood&#39;s Jaish-e-Mohammed is also linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.&nbsp;

In October 2016, China had blocked India&#39;s appeal to the United Nations to label Masood a terrorist. This time,&nbsp;in a first, the US administration headed by President Trump has moved the United Nations to declare Masood a terrorist.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency&#39;s(NIA) special court in India today&nbsp;issued proclamation order against JeM&#39;s chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others, news agencies reported.&nbsp;

PTI quoting senior government sources said, the US, supported by two other permanent members of UN Security Council - the UK and France - moved a proposal at the UN&#39;s Sanctions Committee 1267 in the second-half of the last month to proscribe Azhar, adding India had no role in the proposal.

The proposal, which was finalised after &quot;consultations&quot; between Washington and New Delhi, said JeM is a designated terror outfit and so its leaders cannot go scot-free, sources told PTI. It was submitted just a day before the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, according to officials.

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We&#39;ve been informed of this development.Taken up matter with Chinese Govt-V Swarup on China blocking US&#39; move at UN for banning Masood Azhar <a href="https://t.co/QSbta679ZR">pic.twitter.com/QSbta679ZR</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/828956016859451393">February 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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(WION with inputs from PTI)

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India's repeated attempts to get Masood Azhar declared a UN-designated terrorist have been blocked by China

The US has moved the United Nations to ban Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar but China has opposed the move, PTI reports. India's repeated attempts to get him declared a UN-designated terrorist have been blocked by China. Masood Azhar, who heads the terrorist organistaion Jaish-e-Mohammed, is allegedly the mastermind of the attack on the Pathankot airbase in India last year. Masood's Jaish-e-Mohammed is also linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks. In October 2016, China had blocked India's appeal to the United Nations to label Masood a terrorist. This time, in a first, the US administration headed by President Trump has moved the United Nations to declare Masood a terrorist. Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency's(NIA) special court in India today issued proclamation order against JeM's chief Maulana Masood Azhar and three others, news agencies reported. PTI quoting senior government sources said, the US, supported by two other permanent members of UN Security Council - the UK and France - moved a proposal at the UN's Sanctions Committee 1267 in the second-half of the last month to proscribe Azhar, adding India had no role in the proposal. The proposal, which was finalised after "consultations" between Washington and New Delhi, said JeM is a designated terror outfit and so its leaders cannot go scot-free, sources told PTI. It was submitted just a day before the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, according to officials. We've been informed of this development.Taken up matter with Chinese Govt-V Swarup on China blocking US' move at UN for banning Masood Azhar pic.twitter.com/QSbta679ZR — ANI (@ANI_news) February 7, 2017 × (WION with inputs from PTI)

US moves UN to ban JeM chief Masood Azhar, China opposes

Jamaat-ud-Dawa has rebranded under the new name of &#39;Tehreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir&#39;, just days after its chief Hafiz Saeed was put under house arrest and a crackdown launched on the organisation&#39;s activities.

The Mumbai attack mastermind had indicated about a week before his arrest that he might launch Tehreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir (TAJK) to &quot;expedite the freedom of Kashmir&quot;.

It shows that Saeed had got a wind of the official plans and already had worked out how to resurface and survive after the clampdown on his ostensible network of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF).

Official sources confirmed that the two organisations have started activities under the name new of TAJK and were planning to organise events on February 5, which is observed a &#39;Kashmir Day&#39; in Pakistan. The TAJK banners have been displayed in Lahore and other cities and towns.

The group is also planning to hold a big Kashmir conference tomorrow in Lahore after evening prayers.

The TAJK has reactivated its donations centres and ambulance services in different districts of Punjab, including Lahore, which is the hub of its activities.

Local media reported that even after the crackdown on their activities, the volunteers of Saeed&#39;s network yesterday actively participated in the rescue operation after a boat carrying about 100 passengers capsized in the Ravi river near Nankana Sahib town in Punjab.

A police official said law enforcement agencies were keeping a close eye on the activities of Saeed&#39;s network and appropriate action would be taken.

&quot;It is a sensitive issue and a measured response is needed to fulfil the international obligations of the country and deal with any possible fallout due to protest by followers of Saeed,&quot; he said.

Various offices of both JuD and FIF were closed on Monday following the house arrest of Saeed. Both organisations were also put on observation under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The Pakistani government on Monday had placed Saeed and his four accomplices -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- under house arrest in Lahore.

The country&#39;s Interior Ministry had also placed Saeed and 37 other JuD and FIF members on the Exit Control List (ECL), barring them from leaving the country.

&nbsp;

(PTI)

The group is also planning to hold a Kashmir conference tomorrow in Lahore after evening prayers

Jamaat-ud-Dawa has rebranded under the new name of 'Tehreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir', just days after its chief Hafiz Saeed was put under house arrest and a crackdown launched on the organisation's activities. The Mumbai attack mastermind had indicated about a week before his arrest that he might launch Tehreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir (TAJK) to "expedite the freedom of Kashmir". It shows that Saeed had got a wind of the official plans and already had worked out how to resurface and survive after the clampdown on his ostensible network of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF). Official sources confirmed that the two organisations have started activities under the name new of TAJK and were planning to organise events on February 5, which is observed a 'Kashmir Day' in Pakistan. The TAJK banners have been displayed in Lahore and other cities and towns. The group is also planning to hold a big Kashmir conference tomorrow in Lahore after evening prayers. The TAJK has reactivated its donations centres and ambulance services in different districts of Punjab, including Lahore, which is the hub of its activities. Local media reported that even after the crackdown on their activities, the volunteers of Saeed's network yesterday actively participated in the rescue operation after a boat carrying about 100 passengers capsized in the Ravi river near Nankana Sahib town in Punjab. A police official said law enforcement agencies were keeping a close eye on the activities of Saeed's network and appropriate action would be taken. "It is a sensitive issue and a measured response is needed to fulfil the international obligations of the country and deal with any possible fallout due to protest by followers of Saeed," he said. Various offices of both JuD and FIF were closed on Monday following the house arrest of Saeed. Both organisations were also put on observation under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The Pakistani government on Monday had placed Saeed and his four accomplices -- Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz -- under house arrest in Lahore. The country's Interior Ministry had also placed Saeed and 37 other JuD and FIF members on the Exit Control List (ECL), barring them from leaving the country. (PTI)

Pakistan: Jamaat-ud-Dawa rebrands as 'Tehreek Azadi Jammu & Kashmir' days after chief Hafiz Saeed's house arrest

Pakistan on Wednesday asked India to come up with &quot;concrete evidence&quot; against Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed if it was serious about its allegations against him, a day after New Delhi said that only a credible crackdown on the Mumbai attack mastermind would be proof of Islamabad&#39;s sincerity.

&quot;Pakistan does not need any certification or endorsement from India over the recent actions it has taken in relation to Hafiz Saeed,&quot; an interior ministry Spokesperson said here, referring to Saeed&#39;s detention on Monday.

Saeed and four other JuD leaders , Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz.were put under house arrest after an order was issued by Punjab province&#39;s interior ministry on Monday in pursuance to a directive from the federal interior ,ministry on January 27.

He said the actions taken by Pakistan have been carried out as per obligations vis-a-vis listing of JuD under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. &quot;India has constantly been using Saeed&#39;s political activities as a tool to malign Pakistan. The international community should take note and understand that Pakistan is a democratic society where judiciary takes free, independent and transparent decisions,&quot; the official said in a statement.

&quot;If indeed India is serious about its allegations, it should come up with concrete evidence against Hafiz Saeed which is sustainable in court of law in Pakistan or for that matter anywhere in the world,&quot; he said, adding mere casting aspersions and leveling allegations without any corroborating evidence would not help the cause of peace in the region.

He said that various actions that needed to be taken under the relevant resolution i.e arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze were not carried out for some reasons by the previous governments.

India yesterday said that it was not impressed by Saeed&#39;s detention and only a &quot;credible crackdown&quot; on terror outfits, including Saeed&#39;s, will prove Pakistan&#39;s sincerity as such actions had been taken against him in the past too.

Meanwhile, the ministry placed Saeed&#39;s name among 38 others on the Exit Control List, two days after his detention.

The ministry has forwarded a letter to all provincial governments and the Federal Investigation Agency, which included names of all 38 individuals placed on the ECL.

All of them were said to be affiliated with JuD or Lashkar-e-Taiba.

&quot;Saeed, Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz are reportedly active members of the aforementioned organizations within the meaning of Section 11EEE(1) of the ATA 1997 (as amended),&quot; read a notification issued by the Interior Ministry. &quot;As such, they must be placed under preventive detention.&quot;

The interior ministry&nbsp;had &quot;placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa (JUD) on the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and have listed these organizations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended).&quot; The spokesperson further said that &quot;Pakistan is still looking for justification and explanation from India as to how all the accused involved in Samjhauta Express bombing where 68 Pakistani nationals lost their lives have gone scot-free.&quot;

&nbsp;

(PTI)

This comes after India said that only a 'credible crackdown' on the Mumbai attack mastermind would be proof of Islamabad's sincerity

Pakistan on Wednesday asked India to come up with "concrete evidence" against Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed if it was serious about its allegations against him, a day after New Delhi said that only a credible crackdown on the Mumbai attack mastermind would be proof of Islamabad's sincerity. "Pakistan does not need any certification or endorsement from India over the recent actions it has taken in relation to Hafiz Saeed," an interior ministry Spokesperson said here, referring to Saeed's detention on Monday. Saeed and four other JuD leaders , Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz.were put under house arrest after an order was issued by Punjab province's interior ministry on Monday in pursuance to a directive from the federal interior ,ministry on January 27. He said the actions taken by Pakistan have been carried out as per obligations vis-a-vis listing of JuD under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. "India has constantly been using Saeed's political activities as a tool to malign Pakistan. The international community should take note and understand that Pakistan is a democratic society where judiciary takes free, independent and transparent decisions," the official said in a statement. "If indeed India is serious about its allegations, it should come up with concrete evidence against Hafiz Saeed which is sustainable in court of law in Pakistan or for that matter anywhere in the world," he said, adding mere casting aspersions and leveling allegations without any corroborating evidence would not help the cause of peace in the region. He said that various actions that needed to be taken under the relevant resolution i.e arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze were not carried out for some reasons by the previous governments. India yesterday said that it was not impressed by Saeed's detention and only a "credible crackdown" on terror outfits, including Saeed's, will prove Pakistan's sincerity as such actions had been taken against him in the past too. Meanwhile, the ministry placed Saeed's name among 38 others on the Exit Control List, two days after his detention. The ministry has forwarded a letter to all provincial governments and the Federal Investigation Agency, which included names of all 38 individuals placed on the ECL. All of them were said to be affiliated with JuD or Lashkar-e-Taiba. "Saeed, Ubaid, Iqbal, Abid and Niaz are reportedly active members of the aforementioned organizations within the meaning of Section 11EEE(1) of the ATA 1997 (as amended)," read a notification issued by the Interior Ministry. "As such, they must be placed under preventive detention." The interior ministry had "placed Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa (JUD) on the Watch List as per UNSC 1267 Sanctions and have listed these organizations in the Second Schedule of the ATA 1997 (as amended)." The spokesperson further said that "Pakistan is still looking for justification and explanation from India as to how all the accused involved in Samjhauta Express bombing where 68 Pakistani nationals lost their lives have gone scot-free." (PTI)

Pakistan: Hafiz Saeed placed on exit control list, India asked to come up with 'concrete evidence'

Two Pakistani bloggers freed after vanishing earlier this month have now left the country because of safety fears following a virulent media campaign painting them as blasphemers, relatives said Monday.&nbsp;

They were among five men who went missing from various cities in Pakistan.&nbsp;

Four of the five,who had taken a stance against religious intolerance and criticised the military,&nbsp;have been freed, their families said.&nbsp;

They would not comment on where the men had been held.&nbsp;

Their disappearance triggered nationwide protests and raised concerns of government involvement, claims denied by officials.

Allegations on social media networks Facebook and Twitter and by right-wing TV hosts that the missing men were blasphemers have triggered a flood of threats despite denials from their worried families.

Such allegations can be fatal in deeply conservative Muslim Pakistan, where 17 people remain on death row for blasphemy.

Liaqat Ali Goraya, the father of blogger Waqas Goraya, confirmed to AFP that his son had left the country.&nbsp;

&quot;Waqas has gone, we`ve sent him abroad,&quot; said his father, declining to comment on who had held him. Before he went missing, Goraya was based in the Netherlands but had returned to Pakistan for a family wedding.

A source close to the family of blogger Asim Saeed confirmed he too had left the country.&nbsp;

His father Ghulam Haider Akbar declined to specify his son`s whereabouts but said the family had received death threats purporting to come from the anti-Shiite Laskhar-e-Jhangvi group.

&quot;You who have blasphemed deserve death. You are out of Islam and should be ready for a painful punishment, which will be remembered by your generations to come,&quot; a text message said, according to Akbar.

A relative of a third blogger, who asked to remain anonymous, said both he and his family had left their home town and were in hiding.&nbsp;

&quot;We are going to think about it for a few days and assess the situation. If it seems OK, we`ll return, else we`ll try to go abroad,&quot; the relative said.

Zeeshan Haider said his brother, poet and activist Salman Haider, was &quot;fine and safe&quot;.

The whereabouts of the fifth man remains unknown. Rights groups have long criticised the colonial-era blasphemy legislation as a vehicle for personal vendettas as even unproven allegations can result in mob lynchings.

Several NGOs and observers say the online campaigns are intended to silence progressive voices and are carefully coordinated.

Pakistan has had a history of enforced disappearances over the past decade, but this has mainly been confined to conflict zones near the Afghanistan border or Balochistan province, where separatists are battling for independence.

The country is among the world&#39;s most dangerous countries for journalists. Reporting which is critical of security policies controlled by the powerful military is considered a major red flag, with reporters at times detained, beaten and even killed.

On Monday satirical news site Khabaristan Times announced it had been blocked by Pakistan&#39;s Internet regulatory authority. (The <a href="https://khabaristantimes.com/">website</a>, however, can be accessed from WION&#39;s headquarters in New Delhi.)

The site &quot;has been blocked on complaints of objectionable content&quot;, a government source confirmed to AFP, requesting anonymity.

The site often poked fun at the military and politicians.

(AFP)

They were among five men who went missing from various cities in Pakistan

Two Pakistani bloggers freed after vanishing earlier this month have now left the country because of safety fears following a virulent media campaign painting them as blasphemers, relatives said Monday. They were among five men who went missing from various cities in Pakistan. Four of the five,who had taken a stance against religious intolerance and criticised the military, have been freed, their families said. They would not comment on where the men had been held. Their disappearance triggered nationwide protests and raised concerns of government involvement, claims denied by officials. Allegations on social media networks Facebook and Twitter and by right-wing TV hosts that the missing men were blasphemers have triggered a flood of threats despite denials from their worried families. Such allegations can be fatal in deeply conservative Muslim Pakistan, where 17 people remain on death row for blasphemy. Liaqat Ali Goraya, the father of blogger Waqas Goraya, confirmed to AFP that his son had left the country. "Waqas has gone, we`ve sent him abroad," said his father, declining to comment on who had held him. Before he went missing, Goraya was based in the Netherlands but had returned to Pakistan for a family wedding. A source close to the family of blogger Asim Saeed confirmed he too had left the country. His father Ghulam Haider Akbar declined to specify his son`s whereabouts but said the family had received death threats purporting to come from the anti-Shiite Laskhar-e-Jhangvi group. "You who have blasphemed deserve death. You are out of Islam and should be ready for a painful punishment, which will be remembered by your generations to come," a text message said, according to Akbar. A relative of a third blogger, who asked to remain anonymous, said both he and his family had left their home town and were in hiding. "We are going to think about it for a few days and assess the situation. If it seems OK, we`ll return, else we`ll try to go abroad," the relative said. Zeeshan Haider said his brother, poet and activist Salman Haider, was "fine and safe". The whereabouts of the fifth man remains unknown. Rights groups have long criticised the colonial-era blasphemy legislation as a vehicle for personal vendettas as even unproven allegations can result in mob lynchings. Several NGOs and observers say the online campaigns are intended to silence progressive voices and are carefully coordinated. Pakistan has had a history of enforced disappearances over the past decade, but this has mainly been confined to conflict zones near the Afghanistan border or Balochistan province, where separatists are battling for independence. The country is among the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. Reporting which is critical of security policies controlled by the powerful military is considered a major red flag, with reporters at times detained, beaten and even killed. On Monday satirical news site Khabaristan Times announced it had been blocked by Pakistan's Internet regulatory authority. (The website, however, can be accessed from WION's headquarters in New Delhi.) The site "has been blocked on complaints of objectionable content", a government source confirmed to AFP, requesting anonymity. The site often poked fun at the military and politicians. (AFP)

Freed Pakistani bloggers leave country over safety concerns, say relatives

A special committee will begin the process of issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) to allow screening of Indian movies in Pakistan, minister of state for information Marriyum Aurangzeb said.

The clearance to foreign content will be given pertaining to commerce ministry&#39;s new import order. The committee was formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

&quot;Importing the foreign content will be planned and the content will be shared with the censor board and passed through other procedure,&quot; the Dawn quoted Marriyum as saying.

Marriyum said that the process is expected to take some time. The certificates cannot be issued without the consent and endorsement of the commerce ministry, she added.

Meanwhile, the commerce minister in an official statement said that the government has decided to maintain the present policy regarding the import of Indian films after reviewing the benefits Pakistani cinema trade can derive from their exhibition, ANI reported.

&quot;The close examination of historical and empirical data including the trends of the industry since 1965 till date, it is evident that, the inclusion of all foreign content, including Indian film content in local cinemas, has a multiplier impact on the commerce and development of the Pakistani film trade and industry as a whole,&quot; she said, adding the panel also reviewed investment plans of the local film industry.

Film Exhibitors Association of Pakistan imposed the ban on&nbsp;screenings last October after tensions escalated between the two countries&nbsp;following ceasefire violations across the Line of Control.

(With inputs from ANI)

The process will take time as the no objection certificate cannot be issued without the consent and endorsement of commerce ministry

A special committee will begin the process of issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) to allow screening of Indian movies in Pakistan, minister of state for information Marriyum Aurangzeb said. The clearance to foreign content will be given pertaining to commerce ministry's new import order. The committee was formed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. "Importing the foreign content will be planned and the content will be shared with the censor board and passed through other procedure," the Dawn quoted Marriyum as saying. Marriyum said that the process is expected to take some time. The certificates cannot be issued without the consent and endorsement of the commerce ministry, she added. Meanwhile, the commerce minister in an official statement said that the government has decided to maintain the present policy regarding the import of Indian films after reviewing the benefits Pakistani cinema trade can derive from their exhibition, ANI reported. "The close examination of historical and empirical data including the trends of the industry since 1965 till date, it is evident that, the inclusion of all foreign content, including Indian film content in local cinemas, has a multiplier impact on the commerce and development of the Pakistani film trade and industry as a whole," she said, adding the panel also reviewed investment plans of the local film industry. Film Exhibitors Association of Pakistan imposed the ban on screenings last October after tensions escalated between the two countries following ceasefire violations across the Line of Control. (With inputs from ANI)

Pakistan: Panel to take call on screening of Indian movies

Pakistan and Iran have agreed to raise the volume of bilateral trade to five billion dollars, said Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of Iran.&nbsp;

Boroujerdi made the comment&nbsp;while addressing a press conference in Islamabad during a three-day visit to Pakistan.&nbsp;

On Friday, Boroujerdi met with Pakistan National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua to discuss the security of the region.&nbsp;

Pakistan, Russia, China and Iran should cooperate with each other for regional peace and stability, Boroujerdi added. He said that Iran was a close ally of Pakistan and there was no need to further improve relations between the two countries.&nbsp;

Boroujerdi also declared that Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar port and Iran&#39;s Chahbaha are&nbsp;sister ports which will enhance bilateral trade. He indicated that Iran wished to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and that Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline was the main priority.&nbsp;

Boroujerdi also hinted at joining Pakistan, China and Russia&#39;s talks on ending the long-running unrest in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from ANI)

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of Iran's Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security, announced the hike during a 3-day visit to Pakistan

Pakistan and Iran have agreed to raise the volume of bilateral trade to five billion dollars, said Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of Iran. Boroujerdi made the comment while addressing a press conference in Islamabad during a three-day visit to Pakistan. On Friday, Boroujerdi met with Pakistan National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua to discuss the security of the region. Pakistan, Russia, China and Iran should cooperate with each other for regional peace and stability, Boroujerdi added. He said that Iran was a close ally of Pakistan and there was no need to further improve relations between the two countries. Boroujerdi also declared that Pakistan's Gwadar port and Iran's Chahbaha are sister ports which will enhance bilateral trade. He indicated that Iran wished to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and that Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline was the main priority. Boroujerdi also hinted at joining Pakistan, China and Russia's talks on ending the long-running unrest in Afghanistan. (WION with inputs from ANI)

Pakistan, Iran agree to increase trade to $5 billion

A female Pakistani lawmaker threatened to self-immolate after she was harassed by male colleagues in parliament, telling AFP that the widely-publicised incident shows how laws to protect women are not being enforced.

Nusrat Sahar Abbasi, an MP in Sindh province, spoke of her fury after provincial minister Imdad Pitafi invited her to his private chambers on the floor of the assembly Friday in comments seen as sexual harassment in conservative Pakistan. She said she protested strongly but the deputy speaker of the assembly, also a woman, refused to take any action.

A frustrated Abbasi was then pictured Saturday holding a small bottle said to be of petrol and threatening to self-immolate if action was not taken.

Federal party chiefs were forced to intervene as the incident exploded on social media, with Pitafi finally caving to the pressure and apologising in the assembly while offering Abbasi a chador, or veil, as a mark of his respect. Abbasi told AFP Tuesday that the incident was now &quot;over&quot;, but that it poses a question on the implementation of laws protecting women from such sexual harassment.

&quot;Their implementation is still a dream,&quot; Abbasi said. &quot;Even us, the parliamentarians are not safe from gender biases and harassment.&quot;

Pakistani women have spent decades fighting for their rights in a deeply conservative country, where so-called honour killings and acid attacks are not uncommon.

Pakistan has passed several laws to increase protections&nbsp;available to women in recent years, some at the provincial level, but critics have warned that without proper enforcement, they will have little impact.&nbsp;

Last year a bill passed in Punjab province redefined &quot;violence&quot; to include &quot;any offence committed against women&quot;, prompting an Islamic religious body to protest that men should be allowed to &quot;lightly beat&quot; their wives.

(AFP)

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Nusrat Sahar Abbasi, a Pakistani female lawmaker, threatened to self-immolate after she was harassed by a male colleague. (WION)
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Abbasi said she protested strongly but the assembly's deputy speaker, also a woman, refused to take any action

A female Pakistani lawmaker threatened to self-immolate after she was harassed by male colleagues in parliament, telling AFP that the widely-publicised incident shows how laws to protect women are not being enforced. Nusrat Sahar Abbasi, an MP in Sindh province, spoke of her fury after provincial minister Imdad Pitafi invited her to his private chambers on the floor of the assembly Friday in comments seen as sexual harassment in conservative Pakistan. She said she protested strongly but the deputy speaker of the assembly, also a woman, refused to take any action. A frustrated Abbasi was then pictured Saturday holding a small bottle said to be of petrol and threatening to self-immolate if action was not taken. Federal party chiefs were forced to intervene as the incident exploded on social media, with Pitafi finally caving to the pressure and apologising in the assembly while offering Abbasi a chador, or veil, as a mark of his respect. Abbasi told AFP Tuesday that the incident was now "over", but that it poses a question on the implementation of laws protecting women from such sexual harassment. "Their implementation is still a dream," Abbasi said. "Even us, the parliamentarians are not safe from gender biases and harassment." Pakistani women have spent decades fighting for their rights in a deeply conservative country, where so-called honour killings and acid attacks are not uncommon. Pakistan has passed several laws to increase protections available to women in recent years, some at the provincial level, but critics have warned that without proper enforcement, they will have little impact. Last year a bill passed in Punjab province redefined "violence" to include "any offence committed against women", prompting an Islamic religious body to protest that men should be allowed to "lightly beat" their wives. (AFP) Nusrat Sahar Abbasi, a Pakistani female lawmaker, threatened to self-immolate after she was harassed by a male colleague. (WION) ×

Pakistan: Female lawmaker alleges harassment by male colleagues, threatens self-immolation

Pakistan today successfully conducted the first test flight of the &#39;Ababeel&#39; surface-to- surface ballistic missile (SSM) capable of carrying a nuclear warhead up to 2,200 kms.

Ababeel has a maximum range of 2,200 kilometres and is capable of delivering multiple warheads using Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

&quot;The test flight was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system,&quot; the statement added.

Ababeel is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has the capability to engage multiple targets with high precision, defeating hostile radars, the ISPR said.

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Ababeel has a maximum range of 2,200 km and is capable of delivering warheads using multiple independent re-entry vehicle technology (WION)
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&quot;The development of the Ababeel weapon system was aimed at ensuring survivability of Pakistan&#39;s ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment,&quot; the release said, in an obvious reference to India.

The Ababeel test came on the heels of a successful test of submarine-launched cruise missile Babur-III on December 9.

&quot;The successful attainment of a second strike capability by Pakistan represents a major scientific milestone; it is a manifestation of the strategy of measured response to nuclear strategies and postures being adopted in Pakistan&#39;s neighbourhood,&quot; the military had said after the Babur-III test.

(PTI)

Ababeel has a maximum range of 2,200 km and is capable of delivering warheads using multiple independent re-entry vehicle technology

Pakistan today successfully conducted the first test flight of the 'Ababeel' surface-to- surface ballistic missile (SSM) capable of carrying a nuclear warhead up to 2,200 kms. Ababeel has a maximum range of 2,200 kilometres and is capable of delivering multiple warheads using Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. "The test flight was aimed at validating various design and technical parameters of the weapon system," the statement added. Ababeel is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has the capability to engage multiple targets with high precision, defeating hostile radars, the ISPR said. Ababeel has a maximum range of 2,200 km and is capable of delivering warheads using multiple independent re-entry vehicle technology (WION) × "The development of the Ababeel weapon system was aimed at ensuring survivability of Pakistan's ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment," the release said, in an obvious reference to India. The Ababeel test came on the heels of a successful test of submarine-launched cruise missile Babur-III on December 9. "The successful attainment of a second strike capability by Pakistan represents a major scientific milestone; it is a manifestation of the strategy of measured response to nuclear strategies and postures being adopted in Pakistan's neighbourhood," the military had said after the Babur-III test. (PTI)

Pakistan conducts flight test of nuclear-capable Ababeel missile

India has hit back at China for its statement that Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership can&#39;t be a &quot;farewell gift&quot;, saying it was not seeking the membership to the 48-nation grouping as a&nbsp;gift but instead based on its non-proliferation record.

&quot;India is not seeking NSG membership as a gift. India is seeking it on its non-proliferation record,&quot; external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said&nbsp;in Delhi.

&quot;I, of course, cannot speak for other applicants,&quot; he said in an obvious reference to Pakistan, with questionable non-proliferation record, also making efforts to get into the NSG.

Earlier this week, China had strongly reacted to outgoing Obama administration&#39;s assertion that Beijing was an &quot;outlier&quot; in the efforts to make India a member of the elite nuclear club. &quot;Regarding India&#39;s application to the NSG, regarding non-NPT countries&#39; admission to the NSG, we have made our position clear before so I will not repeat it,&quot; Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying had said.

&quot;I just want to point out that NSG membership shall not be some kind of a&nbsp;farewell gift for countries to give to each other,&quot; Hua had said, reacting to remarks by US assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal said that &quot;clearly there is one outlier that needs to be addressed and that is China&quot;.

China has been blocking India&#39;s NSG membership bid despite backing from majority members on the grounds that India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). China is advocating a two-step approach for admission of countries which have not signed the NPT.

As per the new stand announced by Beijing, it first wants to find a solution that is applicable to the admission of all non-NPT countries followed by discussions on admitting specific nations. Besides India, China is also interacting with Pakistan on the issue as Islamabad too applied for NSG membership after India.

(PTI)

India's reaction came after China said NSG membership can't be a 'farewell gift' by the Obama administration to India

India has hit back at China for its statement that Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership can't be a "farewell gift", saying it was not seeking the membership to the 48-nation grouping as a gift but instead based on its non-proliferation record. "India is not seeking NSG membership as a gift. India is seeking it on its non-proliferation record," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in Delhi. "I, of course, cannot speak for other applicants," he said in an obvious reference to Pakistan, with questionable non-proliferation record, also making efforts to get into the NSG. Earlier this week, China had strongly reacted to outgoing Obama administration's assertion that Beijing was an "outlier" in the efforts to make India a member of the elite nuclear club. "Regarding India's application to the NSG, regarding non-NPT countries' admission to the NSG, we have made our position clear before so I will not repeat it," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying had said. "I just want to point out that NSG membership shall not be some kind of a farewell gift for countries to give to each other," Hua had said, reacting to remarks by US assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal said that "clearly there is one outlier that needs to be addressed and that is China". China has been blocking India's NSG membership bid despite backing from majority members on the grounds that India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). China is advocating a two-step approach for admission of countries which have not signed the NPT. As per the new stand announced by Beijing, it first wants to find a solution that is applicable to the admission of all non-NPT countries followed by discussions on admitting specific nations. Besides India, China is also interacting with Pakistan on the issue as Islamabad too applied for NSG membership after India. (PTI)

Not seeking NSG membership as 'farewell gift': India

Bihar Police are claiming that the two recent train accidents near Kanpur that left 151 people dead and injured close to 200 were caused by Pakistan&#39;s ISI. &nbsp;

A Times of India report on Wednesday said the ISI&#39;s alleged role in the accidents was unearthed after Bihar police arrested three men -- Umashankar Patel, Motilal Paswan, and Mukesh Yadav --&nbsp;from Motihari near the Indo-Nepal border. Bihar Police told the Times of India that the three men were arrested for their role in &quot;placing a cooker bomb on the railway tracks near Ghorasaran on October 1 last year&quot;.&nbsp;

Ghorasaran is in the state of Bihar -- the two train derailments near Kanpur occurred in the state of Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

The first, on November 20, left 151 people dead and more than 150 injured.&nbsp;

The second, on December 28 and again near Kanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh, left more than 40 people injured. There were no deaths.&nbsp;

Bihar Police told the Times of India that the three men they had arrested were working on the orders of an ISI agent, a Nepalese citizen based in Dubai.

Bihar Police told the Times of India that the arrested trio had so far received Rs 3 lakh from Brij Kishore Giri, a Nepalese citizen, for &quot;engineering train accidents&quot;.

The report added that Girl, along with a Shambhu Giri and a&nbsp;Mujahir Ansari, was recently arrested by Nepalese police.&nbsp;

The pressure cooker bomb that had been placed on the tracks in Ghorsaran in Bihar on October 1 was found by villagers and defused by police.&nbsp;

The Times of India report said: &quot;Sources said Motilal told police he had planted explosives on the tracks near Kanpur for derailing the two trains.&quot;&nbsp;

And, &quot;quoting a police officer involved in the investigation&quot;, the report added&nbsp;that: &quot;Brij had promised flats, vehicles and finances to produce a Bhojpuri movie to the trio arrested from Motihari.&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The Times of India report added that the National Investigation Agency is following the Bihar Police investigation.&nbsp;

(WION)

The two derailments left 151 people dead and close to 200 injured

Bihar Police are claiming that the two recent train accidents near Kanpur that left 151 people dead and injured close to 200 were caused by Pakistan's ISI. A Times of India report on Wednesday said the ISI's alleged role in the accidents was unearthed after Bihar police arrested three men -- Umashankar Patel, Motilal Paswan, and Mukesh Yadav -- from Motihari near the Indo-Nepal border. Bihar Police told the Times of India that the three men were arrested for their role in "placing a cooker bomb on the railway tracks near Ghorasaran on October 1 last year". Ghorasaran is in the state of Bihar -- the two train derailments near Kanpur occurred in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The first, on November 20, left 151 people dead and more than 150 injured. The second, on December 28 and again near Kanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh, left more than 40 people injured. There were no deaths. Bihar Police told the Times of India that the three men they had arrested were working on the orders of an ISI agent, a Nepalese citizen based in Dubai. Bihar Police told the Times of India that the arrested trio had so far received Rs 3 lakh from Brij Kishore Giri, a Nepalese citizen, for "engineering train accidents". The report added that Girl, along with a Shambhu Giri and a Mujahir Ansari, was recently arrested by Nepalese police. The pressure cooker bomb that had been placed on the tracks in Ghorsaran in Bihar on October 1 was found by villagers and defused by police. The Times of India report said: "Sources said Motilal told police he had planted explosives on the tracks near Kanpur for derailing the two trains." And, "quoting a police officer involved in the investigation", the report added that: "Brij had promised flats, vehicles and finances to produce a Bhojpuri movie to the trio arrested from Motihari." The Times of India report added that the National Investigation Agency is following the Bihar Police investigation. (WION)

India: Bihar Police claim recent train accidents near Kanpur caused by Pak's ISI

Taking a tough stand against Pakistan ahead of his confirmation hearing, US defence secretary-designate James Mattis has said that he will tell Pakistan to &quot;expel or neutralise&quot; externally-focused militant groups operating with impunity within the country.

Mattis also said that US-Pakistan ties have had its highs and lows and that he will work towards rebuilding the trust that is needed for an effective partnership.

&quot;If confirmed, I will work with the State Department and the Congress to incentivise Pakistan&#39;s co-operation on issues critical to our national interests and the region&#39;s security, with focus on Pakistan&#39;s need to expel or neutralise externally-focused militant groups that operate within its borders,&quot; said Mattis.

Responding to a question if he supports conditioning US aid to Pakistan, the former Marine general said that &quot;conditioning our security assistance&quot; to Pakistan has a mixed history and that he will &quot;review all options&quot;.

Mattis told the lawmakers that Pakistan should collaborate more with its neighbour in combating terror.

&quot;I believe they should do more to collaborate with their neighbour. We should urge Pakistan to take further actions against the Taliban and the Haqqani network,&quot; Mattis said.

The Haqqani Network is a terrorist organisation which has targeted many Western and Indian interests including the bombing of Indian mission in Kabul in 2008.

Mattis also underlined&nbsp;that&nbsp;safe sanctuaries for Afghan Taliban and other terror groups inside Pakistan is a worry and that he will review efforts being done to deny such safe havens. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Sanctuaries and freedom of movement for the Afghan Taliban and associated militant networks inside Pakistani territory is a key operational issue faced by the Afghan security forces. If confirmed, I will examine efforts to deny sanctuary to the extremist forces undermining the stability and security of Afghanistan,&quot; he said, responding to a query.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

Mattis said that US-Pak ties have had its 'highs and lows' and that he will work towards rebuilding the trust needed for a partnership

Taking a tough stand against Pakistan ahead of his confirmation hearing, US defence secretary-designate James Mattis has said that he will tell Pakistan to "expel or neutralise" externally-focused militant groups operating with impunity within the country. Mattis also said that US-Pakistan ties have had its highs and lows and that he will work towards rebuilding the trust that is needed for an effective partnership. "If confirmed, I will work with the State Department and the Congress to incentivise Pakistan's co-operation on issues critical to our national interests and the region's security, with focus on Pakistan's need to expel or neutralise externally-focused militant groups that operate within its borders," said Mattis. Responding to a question if he supports conditioning US aid to Pakistan, the former Marine general said that "conditioning our security assistance" to Pakistan has a mixed history and that he will "review all options". Mattis told the lawmakers that Pakistan should collaborate more with its neighbour in combating terror. "I believe they should do more to collaborate with their neighbour. We should urge Pakistan to take further actions against the Taliban and the Haqqani network," Mattis said. The Haqqani Network is a terrorist organisation which has targeted many Western and Indian interests including the bombing of Indian mission in Kabul in 2008. Mattis also underlined that safe sanctuaries for Afghan Taliban and other terror groups inside Pakistan is a worry and that he will review efforts being done to deny such safe havens. "Sanctuaries and freedom of movement for the Afghan Taliban and associated militant networks inside Pakistani territory is a key operational issue faced by the Afghan security forces. If confirmed, I will examine efforts to deny sanctuary to the extremist forces undermining the stability and security of Afghanistan," he said, responding to a query. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Incoming US defence secretary to Pakistan: Rein in 'externally-focused' terror groups

A journalist was shot dead close to the Afghan and Iranian border in the restive province of Balochistan in Pakistan&nbsp;by unidentified attackers, police said Friday.&nbsp;

Muhammad Jan, 37, who worked for local Urdu language daily newspaper Qudrat, was shot late Thursday while on his way home on a motorcycle in Qalat district, some 160 kilometres south of Quetta, the provincial capital.

&quot;Two attackers on motorcycle opened fire on him, using a pistol and killing him on the spot,&quot; senior police officer Muhammad Ali told AFP.

The attackers fled the scene, he said.

Pakistan is ranked among the world&#39;s most dangerous countries for journalists.&nbsp;

Reporting critical of the military is considered a major red flag, with journalists at times detained, beaten and even killed; while restive Balochistan has been wracked for more than a decade by Islamist, sectarian and separatist insurgencies.

However the motive for Jan`s killing is not yet clear, Ali said. He had not complained of any threats from militant groups or mentioned any family or tribal dispute.&nbsp;

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing, and Ali said police were investigating.

Jan was also working as a press secretary for the Balochistan media council as well as a teacher in a government school.

(AFP)

Pakistan is ranked among the world's most dangerous countries for journalists

A journalist was shot dead close to the Afghan and Iranian border in the restive province of Balochistan in Pakistan by unidentified attackers, police said Friday. Muhammad Jan, 37, who worked for local Urdu language daily newspaper Qudrat, was shot late Thursday while on his way home on a motorcycle in Qalat district, some 160 kilometres south of Quetta, the provincial capital. "Two attackers on motorcycle opened fire on him, using a pistol and killing him on the spot," senior police officer Muhammad Ali told AFP. The attackers fled the scene, he said. Pakistan is ranked among the world's most dangerous countries for journalists. Reporting critical of the military is considered a major red flag, with journalists at times detained, beaten and even killed; while restive Balochistan has been wracked for more than a decade by Islamist, sectarian and separatist insurgencies. However the motive for Jan`s killing is not yet clear, Ali said. He had not complained of any threats from militant groups or mentioned any family or tribal dispute. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing, and Ali said police were investigating. Jan was also working as a press secretary for the Balochistan media council as well as a teacher in a government school. (AFP)

Journalist shot dead in Pakistan's restive province of Balochistan

&nbsp;

Emotional scenes were witnessed when a small packet containing the holy soil of ancient Sharada temple arrived from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). No sooner was the packet opened in a function at Jammu, the Kashmiri Pandits lined up to apply the sacred soil on their foreheads as a mark of respect and devotion to Goddess Mata Sharada.

It was after almost 70 years that the Kashmiri Pandits, who have been fighting for permission to visit the ancient temple, received a memorabilia from the holy temple. The ancient temple lies in ruins in PoK, and the faithful haven&rsquo;t had access to it given that almost all Hindus living across the LoC migrated to India after the partition.

What added an interesting dimension to the cross-border bonhomie was that a local Muslim forester in PoK, Rayees Ahmad, sent a packet of holy soil by registered post to Ravinder Pandita, Delhi chapter head of All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC), so that Kashmiri Pandits could have a feel of the holy temple.

&ldquo;Tilak was applied by all the participants from the soil brought from Sharada. It was a poignant and an emotional scene when the soil was received and obeisance paid for the first time after Partition,&rdquo; said Pandita.

Situated 207 kilometres north of Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK, in Athmuqam Neelam Valley, the Sharada temple is located near the confluence of Kishan Ganga river and Mudhumati stream. The exact date of establishing the temple is unknown, however, the present style and form of the shrine was established by King Lalitaditya in 724 AD.

Before independence, the annual yatra to Sharada temple was a tradition conducted from ancient times. During the Dogra rule in 1846, it became a regular feature. Historical facts reveal that a Buddhist University was established near the shrine during the period of Emperor Ashoka in 273 BC known as Sharada Peeth.

&ldquo;The last pilgrimage was undertaken by Swami Nand Lal Ji of Tikker Kupwara fame in 1947. He left for heavenly abode in 1968 but one of his disciples, Swami Mast Bab Ji of Hushru fame, is still alive. In fact, at the time of partition, Swami Nand Lal Ji carried idols from Sharda to Tikker on horses. A few of these stone idols are lying at Devibal in Baramulla besides Tikker in Kupwara,&rdquo; informed Pandita.

70 years on, the Kashmiri Pandits have been demanding revival of the pilgrimage and reopening of Sharada temple for Hindu devotees of the country and Jammu and Kashmir. In fact, APMCC chairperson Vinod Pandit led a fast unto death some years ago for reopening of the temple as well as some other issues.

&ldquo;A few years back, I applied for permission to visit the temple using the cross LoC peace bus, but I was told by the state government to approach the Pakistan high commission for visa. If a Muslim can go to PoK on a permit, why should I not be allowed to visit on permit system,&rdquo; questioned Vinod.

In fact, locals in PoK have set up Save Sharada Committee, and APMCC is in the process of opening and registering such a committee in India too. History was scripted in November last year when flowers were offered at the temple on behalf of Ravinder Pandita by the Civil Society of Neelum Valley for the first time since 1947.

(DNA)

A Muslim forester in PoK sent holy soil to Indian authorities so that Kashmiri Pandits could have a feel of the Sharada temple

Emotional scenes were witnessed when a small packet containing the holy soil of ancient Sharada temple arrived from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). No sooner was the packet opened in a function at Jammu, the Kashmiri Pandits lined up to apply the sacred soil on their foreheads as a mark of respect and devotion to Goddess Mata Sharada. It was after almost 70 years that the Kashmiri Pandits, who have been fighting for permission to visit the ancient temple, received a memorabilia from the holy temple. The ancient temple lies in ruins in PoK, and the faithful haven’t had access to it given that almost all Hindus living across the LoC migrated to India after the partition. What added an interesting dimension to the cross-border bonhomie was that a local Muslim forester in PoK, Rayees Ahmad, sent a packet of holy soil by registered post to Ravinder Pandita, Delhi chapter head of All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC), so that Kashmiri Pandits could have a feel of the holy temple. “Tilak was applied by all the participants from the soil brought from Sharada. It was a poignant and an emotional scene when the soil was received and obeisance paid for the first time after Partition,” said Pandita. Situated 207 kilometres north of Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK, in Athmuqam Neelam Valley, the Sharada temple is located near the confluence of Kishan Ganga river and Mudhumati stream. The exact date of establishing the temple is unknown, however, the present style and form of the shrine was established by King Lalitaditya in 724 AD. Before independence, the annual yatra to Sharada temple was a tradition conducted from ancient times. During the Dogra rule in 1846, it became a regular feature. Historical facts reveal that a Buddhist University was established near the shrine during the period of Emperor Ashoka in 273 BC known as Sharada Peeth. “The last pilgrimage was undertaken by Swami Nand Lal Ji of Tikker Kupwara fame in 1947. He left for heavenly abode in 1968 but one of his disciples, Swami Mast Bab Ji of Hushru fame, is still alive. In fact, at the time of partition, Swami Nand Lal Ji carried idols from Sharda to Tikker on horses. A few of these stone idols are lying at Devibal in Baramulla besides Tikker in Kupwara,” informed Pandita. 70 years on, the Kashmiri Pandits have been demanding revival of the pilgrimage and reopening of Sharada temple for Hindu devotees of the country and Jammu and Kashmir. In fact, APMCC chairperson Vinod Pandit led a fast unto death some years ago for reopening of the temple as well as some other issues. “A few years back, I applied for permission to visit the temple using the cross LoC peace bus, but I was told by the state government to approach the Pakistan high commission for visa. If a Muslim can go to PoK on a permit, why should I not be allowed to visit on permit system,” questioned Vinod. In fact, locals in PoK have set up Save Sharada Committee, and APMCC is in the process of opening and registering such a committee in India too. History was scripted in November last year when flowers were offered at the temple on behalf of Ravinder Pandita by the Civil Society of Neelum Valley for the first time since 1947. (DNA)

PoK Muslim sends sacred soil to Kashmiri Pandits in India

The head of the Xinjiang government was quoted as saying by China&rsquo;s official Xinuha news agency on Tuesday that security along the China-Pakistan border would be further tightened &quot;to prevent terrorists from entering or leaving the region illegally in 2017&quot;, according to a report in The Times of India.

Xinjiang Communist Party leaders expressed fears of militants getting training in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and returning to the province to carry out terror attacks.

China is tightening border controls in its northwestern Xinjiang region amid rising terrorism threats, Xinjiang chairman Shohrat Zakir said. He was speaking at the regional People&#39;s Congress on Monday.&nbsp;

The statement&nbsp;comes after a raid on Sunday in Xinjiang&#39;s Hotan prefecture in which three terrorists were shot dead for killing five people on December 28.&nbsp;

Xinjiang has been hit by a series of violent attacks in recent years. The authorities have blamed the attacks on Islamist terrorists.&nbsp;

(WION)

Beijing wants 'to prevent terrorists from entering or leaving the region illegally in 2017'

The head of the Xinjiang government was quoted as saying by China’s official Xinuha news agency on Tuesday that security along the China-Pakistan border would be further tightened "to prevent terrorists from entering or leaving the region illegally in 2017", according to a report in The Times of India. Xinjiang Communist Party leaders expressed fears of militants getting training in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and returning to the province to carry out terror attacks. China is tightening border controls in its northwestern Xinjiang region amid rising terrorism threats, Xinjiang chairman Shohrat Zakir said. He was speaking at the regional People's Congress on Monday. The statement comes after a raid on Sunday in Xinjiang's Hotan prefecture in which three terrorists were shot dead for killing five people on December 28. Xinjiang has been hit by a series of violent attacks in recent years. The authorities have blamed the attacks on Islamist terrorists. (WION)

China to seal Pakistan border to tackle terrorism

Pakistan today successfully test-fired its first Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead up to 450 kms from an undisclosed location in the Indian Ocean, giving the country a &quot;credible&quot; second-strike capability, the military said.

The missile, Babur-3, was fired from an underwater, mobile platform and hit its target with precise accuracy, the Inter Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani military said in a statement.

Babur-3, which has a range of 450 km, is a sea-based variant of Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) Babur-2, which was successfully tested earlier in December, last year.

The Babur-3 SLCM incorporates state-of-the-art technologies including underwater controlled propulsion and advanced guidance and navigation features, duly augmented by Global Navigation, Terrain and Scene Matching Systems.

The missile features terrain hugging and sea skimming flight capabilities to evade hostile radars and air defenses, in addition to certain stealth technologies, in an emerging regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment, the release said.

Babur-3 SLCM in land-attack mode, is capable of delivering various types of payloads and will provide Pakistan with a &quot;credible second-strike capability, augmenting deterrence,&quot; the statement said.

While the pursuit and now the successful attainment of a second strike capability by Pakistan represents a major scientific milestone, it is manifestation of the strategy of measured response to nuclear strategies and postures being adopted in Pakistan&#39;s neighbourhood, it said, in an obvious reference to India.

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has congratulated the nation and the military on the first successful test-fire of the SLCM, his office said in a statement.

&quot;The successful test of Babur-3 is a manifestation of Pakistan&#39;s technological progress and self-reliance,&quot; according to the statement.

Sharif further said that Pakistan always maintains policy of peaceful co-existence but this test is a step towards reinforcing policy of credible minimum deterrence.

(PTI)

The missile, Babur-3, was fired from an underwater, mobile platform and hit its target with precise accuracy

Pakistan today successfully test-fired its first Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead up to 450 kms from an undisclosed location in the Indian Ocean, giving the country a "credible" second-strike capability, the military said. The missile, Babur-3, was fired from an underwater, mobile platform and hit its target with precise accuracy, the Inter Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani military said in a statement. Babur-3, which has a range of 450 km, is a sea-based variant of Ground Launched Cruise Missile (GLCM) Babur-2, which was successfully tested earlier in December, last year. The Babur-3 SLCM incorporates state-of-the-art technologies including underwater controlled propulsion and advanced guidance and navigation features, duly augmented by Global Navigation, Terrain and Scene Matching Systems. The missile features terrain hugging and sea skimming flight capabilities to evade hostile radars and air defenses, in addition to certain stealth technologies, in an emerging regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment, the release said. Babur-3 SLCM in land-attack mode, is capable of delivering various types of payloads and will provide Pakistan with a "credible second-strike capability, augmenting deterrence," the statement said. While the pursuit and now the successful attainment of a second strike capability by Pakistan represents a major scientific milestone, it is manifestation of the strategy of measured response to nuclear strategies and postures being adopted in Pakistan's neighbourhood, it said, in an obvious reference to India. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has congratulated the nation and the military on the first successful test-fire of the SLCM, his office said in a statement. "The successful test of Babur-3 is a manifestation of Pakistan's technological progress and self-reliance," according to the statement. Sharif further said that Pakistan always maintains policy of peaceful co-existence but this test is a step towards reinforcing policy of credible minimum deterrence. (PTI)

Pakistan test-fires nuclear-capable submarine cruise missile

The dusty desert city of Khuzdar in southwestern Pakistan has no hospital and no commercial flights into its tiny airport, but government officials who visited recently spoke in glowing terms of its future as a hub of commerce.

Pakistan&#39;s new army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, was among a flock of dignitaries who descended upon Khuzdar, a city of 400,000, to tout the benefits of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for the southwestern province of Baluchistan.

How much the $57 billion network of energy projects, roads and a deep-water port linking western China with Pakistan&#39;s southwestern coast will benefit ordinary Pakistanis has been debated in recent months, with critics saying Chinese banks and companies will gain most.

Pakistani officials, however, assured students, officials and citizens at a seminar in Khuzdar that CPEC would bring new prosperity to Pakistan&#39;s largest, least-populous and poverty-plagued province.

&quot;Baluchistan unfortunately had been neglected in the past, for a host of reasons, but not anymore,&quot; Bajwa told the gathering at Khuzdar&#39;s Baluchistan University of Engineering and Technology.

The head of the army is one of the most powerful positions in Pakistan, where the military not only controls security but also operates a vast business empire and often dictates key areas of foreign policy.

Students in the audience were sceptical about whether CPEC would benefit the province.

Baluchistan, which has rich reserves of natural gas, copper and gold, has long complained that the national government takes far more from the province than it gives back. Ire over this has contributed to a long-running ethnic separatist rebellion.

A study late last year by the Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) estimated CPEC would create 700,000 jobs in Pakistan and a Chinese newspaper recently placed the number at more than 2 million. But in Khuzdar, questions about how many jobs would come to Baluchistan from CPEC went unanswered.

&quot;I want to know what share Baluchistan will get and what the other provinces will get and on what basis?&quot; a female student asked during a question and answer session.

Where&#39;s the gas?

Concerns over how much Baluchistan will benefit were even voiced by a national official, Minister for Ports and Shipping Hasil Khan Bizenjo.

&quot;We just want to make sure that under CPEC the same thing does not happen to us as 1952, when gas was found in Baluchistan and yet in 2017 there is no gas in Khuzdar,&quot; said Bizenjo, originally from Baluchistan and a speaker at the conference.

Other speakers, however, envisioned Khuzdar as a centre of trade and industry.

Baluchistan chief minister Sanaullah Zehri said that Khuzdar would be one of 29 Special Economic Zones under CPEC that would &quot;greatly benefit the people of the city&quot;.

Khuzdar does not connect the provincial capital, Quetta, to the port city of Gwadar, but state representatives at the conference highlighted its significance as the second-largest city in the province and a potential transit point between Quetta and Karachi, Pakistan&#39;s biggest city and economic hub.

&quot;We believe that Khuzdar has the ability to attract a great deal of local and foreign investment,&quot; said Anwar Ul-Haq Kakar, a spokesman for the Baluchistan government.

The Khuzdar university&#39;s vice chancellor, Mohammad Amin, said he hoped CPEC could bring investment and jobs, because the city&#39;s location four hours&#39; drive from Quetta had made it difficult to attract even faculty at the school.

&quot;No one is coming because there is no infrastructure here as yet,&quot; Amin said of the university. &quot;We will offer any PhD who accepts a job here a brand new Toyota Corolla and a 100 per cent pay increase.&quot;

(Reuters)

General Qamar Javed Bajwa assured people at a seminar in Khuzdar that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will bring prosperity to Baluchistan

The dusty desert city of Khuzdar in southwestern Pakistan has no hospital and no commercial flights into its tiny airport, but government officials who visited recently spoke in glowing terms of its future as a hub of commerce. Pakistan's new army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, was among a flock of dignitaries who descended upon Khuzdar, a city of 400,000, to tout the benefits of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for the southwestern province of Baluchistan. How much the $57 billion network of energy projects, roads and a deep-water port linking western China with Pakistan's southwestern coast will benefit ordinary Pakistanis has been debated in recent months, with critics saying Chinese banks and companies will gain most. Pakistani officials, however, assured students, officials and citizens at a seminar in Khuzdar that CPEC would bring new prosperity to Pakistan's largest, least-populous and poverty-plagued province. "Baluchistan unfortunately had been neglected in the past, for a host of reasons, but not anymore," Bajwa told the gathering at Khuzdar's Baluchistan University of Engineering and Technology. The head of the army is one of the most powerful positions in Pakistan, where the military not only controls security but also operates a vast business empire and often dictates key areas of foreign policy. Students in the audience were sceptical about whether CPEC would benefit the province. Baluchistan, which has rich reserves of natural gas, copper and gold, has long complained that the national government takes far more from the province than it gives back. Ire over this has contributed to a long-running ethnic separatist rebellion. A study late last year by the Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) estimated CPEC would create 700,000 jobs in Pakistan and a Chinese newspaper recently placed the number at more than 2 million. But in Khuzdar, questions about how many jobs would come to Baluchistan from CPEC went unanswered. "I want to know what share Baluchistan will get and what the other provinces will get and on what basis?" a female student asked during a question and answer session. Where's the gas? Concerns over how much Baluchistan will benefit were even voiced by a national official, Minister for Ports and Shipping Hasil Khan Bizenjo. "We just want to make sure that under CPEC the same thing does not happen to us as 1952, when gas was found in Baluchistan and yet in 2017 there is no gas in Khuzdar," said Bizenjo, originally from Baluchistan and a speaker at the conference. Other speakers, however, envisioned Khuzdar as a centre of trade and industry. Baluchistan chief minister Sanaullah Zehri said that Khuzdar would be one of 29 Special Economic Zones under CPEC that would "greatly benefit the people of the city". Khuzdar does not connect the provincial capital, Quetta, to the port city of Gwadar, but state representatives at the conference highlighted its significance as the second-largest city in the province and a potential transit point between Quetta and Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city and economic hub. "We believe that Khuzdar has the ability to attract a great deal of local and foreign investment," said Anwar Ul-Haq Kakar, a spokesman for the Baluchistan government. The Khuzdar university's vice chancellor, Mohammad Amin, said he hoped CPEC could bring investment and jobs, because the city's location four hours' drive from Quetta had made it difficult to attract even faculty at the school. "No one is coming because there is no infrastructure here as yet," Amin said of the university. "We will offer any PhD who accepts a job here a brand new Toyota Corolla and a 100 per cent pay increase." (Reuters)

Pakistan army chief promotes CPEC in Baluchistan

Pakistan has handed over a dossier on India&#39;s alleged &quot;interference&quot; in the country to new UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and asked the world body to play a role in &quot;restraining&quot; India from such activities.

Pakistan&#39;s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi delivered the dossier on &quot;India&#39;s interference and terrorism in Pakistan&quot; in a meeting with the UN chief on Friday along with a letter from the Prime Minister&#39;s adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz.

Guterres&#39; spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the meeting was held at the request of the Pakistani envoy. When asked about what was discussed in the meeting, which took place at around noon, he said he did not have &quot;any indication&quot; of what was discussed in the meeting.

&quot;The dossier contains additional information and proof of Indian/RAW interference in Pakistan and involvement in terrorism particularly in Balochistan, FATA and Karachi. This is a follow up to the three dossiers, which were shared with the United Nations in October 2015,&quot; the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement in Islamabad.

In the covering letter sent with the dossier, Aziz claimed that the arrest of &quot;Indian RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav from Balochistan and his confessional statement admitting involvement in activities aimed at destabilising Pakistan, and support to terrorist elements vindicated Pakistan&#39;s long-standing position about India&#39;s involvement in such activities.&quot;

He also claimed that India was carrying out these activities in clear contravention of the UN Charter and the resolutions of the UN Security Council on counter-terrorism and international conventions on terrorism.

Jadhav has been accused by Pakistan of planning &quot;subversive activities&quot; in the country. India has acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government.

India&#39;s &quot;hostile intentions&quot; towards Pakistan were also borne out by recent statements of its political and military leadership, Aziz was quoted as saying in the letter.

He claimed Pakistan had made a major contribution to global counter terrorism efforts and secured significant gains in its domestic fight against terrorism.

Aziz urged the Secretary-General and relevant UN bodies to seriously consider the matter in the light of information shared by Pakistan and play a role in &quot;restraining India from these activities, which were in clear violation of international law and posed a threat to regional and international peace and security&quot;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(PTI)

Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the meeting was held at the request of the Pakistani envoy

Pakistan has handed over a dossier on India's alleged "interference" in the country to new UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and asked the world body to play a role in "restraining" India from such activities. Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi delivered the dossier on "India's interference and terrorism in Pakistan" in a meeting with the UN chief on Friday along with a letter from the Prime Minister's adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz. Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the meeting was held at the request of the Pakistani envoy. When asked about what was discussed in the meeting, which took place at around noon, he said he did not have "any indication" of what was discussed in the meeting. "The dossier contains additional information and proof of Indian/RAW interference in Pakistan and involvement in terrorism particularly in Balochistan, FATA and Karachi. This is a follow up to the three dossiers, which were shared with the United Nations in October 2015," the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement in Islamabad. In the covering letter sent with the dossier, Aziz claimed that the arrest of "Indian RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav from Balochistan and his confessional statement admitting involvement in activities aimed at destabilising Pakistan, and support to terrorist elements vindicated Pakistan's long-standing position about India's involvement in such activities." He also claimed that India was carrying out these activities in clear contravention of the UN Charter and the resolutions of the UN Security Council on counter-terrorism and international conventions on terrorism. Jadhav has been accused by Pakistan of planning "subversive activities" in the country. India has acknowledged that Jadhav had served with the navy but denied that he has any connection with the government. India's "hostile intentions" towards Pakistan were also borne out by recent statements of its political and military leadership, Aziz was quoted as saying in the letter. He claimed Pakistan had made a major contribution to global counter terrorism efforts and secured significant gains in its domestic fight against terrorism. Aziz urged the Secretary-General and relevant UN bodies to seriously consider the matter in the light of information shared by Pakistan and play a role in "restraining India from these activities, which were in clear violation of international law and posed a threat to regional and international peace and security". (PTI)

Pakistan hands over dossier on 'India's interference' to UN chief

&nbsp;

David Warner clubbed the second fastest half-century in Test history to help fire Australia to the verge of a 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The tourists were 55 for one at close of play on the rain-disrupted fourth day of the third Test, still&nbsp;410 runs short of their unlikely victory target of 465.

Warner needed just 23 balls to score his half-century - two more than the record set by Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq against Australia&nbsp;in Abu Dhabi in 2014 - to help the hosts knock off 241-2 before declaring after tea.

Steve Smith (59), Usman Khawaja (79 not out) and Peter Handscomb (40 not out) also poured on the runs after Warner was dismissed for a swashbuckling 55 off 27 deliveries.

&quot;The way the guys batted today, especially Warner&nbsp;of course, to get those runs as quickly as possible and do some pretty unselfish batting, and got us in the position we are in now,&quot; said paceman Josh Hazlewood, who took 4-55.

&quot;The wicket&#39;s still pretty good, but I think there&#39;s enough there to create nine more chances, if it&#39;s reverse swing or spin.&quot;&nbsp;

Earlier, after the opening session was washed out for the second day in a row, Younus Khan completed an imperious 175 not out before running out of partners as Pakistan were dismissed for 315, still 223 behind Australia&#39;s first innings 538-8.

Khawaja opened in his place but spent his first 40 minutes mostly a spectator as Warner, who on Tuesday become the first batsman to score a century in the opening session of a Test in Australia, again attacked the Pakistan bowlers.&nbsp;Warner slapped a four over midwicket from the first ball he faced and had added 10 more boundaries by the time Wahab Riaz removed him&nbsp;some 42 minutes later.&nbsp;In one stunning over, the left-hander smashed spinner Yasir for two sixes and two fours from the first four deliveries before adding a single off the fifth for good measure.&nbsp;

&quot;We want to finish this Test series on a good note, so I think it will be better for us if we show some fight,&quot; Younus said.

&quot;It will not be easy because it is the fifth day&nbsp;in Sydney and they have two spinners and good fast bowlers as well. It is our wish that we finish this Test match on a good note,&quot; the Pakistani batting legend added.

David Warner clubbed the second fastest half-century against Pakistan on the fourth day of the Sydney Test.

David Warner clubbed the second fastest half-century in Test history to help fire Australia to the verge of a 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The tourists were 55 for one at close of play on the rain-disrupted fourth day of the third Test, still 410 runs short of their unlikely victory target of 465. Warner needed just 23 balls to score his half-century - two more than the record set by Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014 - to help the hosts knock off 241-2 before declaring after tea. Steve Smith (59), Usman Khawaja (79 not out) and Peter Handscomb (40 not out) also poured on the runs after Warner was dismissed for a swashbuckling 55 off 27 deliveries. "The way the guys batted today, especially Warner of course, to get those runs as quickly as possible and do some pretty unselfish batting, and got us in the position we are in now," said paceman Josh Hazlewood, who took 4-55. "The wicket's still pretty good, but I think there's enough there to create nine more chances, if it's reverse swing or spin." Earlier, after the opening session was washed out for the second day in a row, Younus Khan completed an imperious 175 not out before running out of partners as Pakistan were dismissed for 315, still 223 behind Australia's first innings 538-8. Khawaja opened in his place but spent his first 40 minutes mostly a spectator as Warner, who on Tuesday become the first batsman to score a century in the opening session of a Test in Australia, again attacked the Pakistan bowlers. Warner slapped a four over midwicket from the first ball he faced and had added 10 more boundaries by the time Wahab Riaz removed him some 42 minutes later. In one stunning over, the left-hander smashed spinner Yasir for two sixes and two fours from the first four deliveries before adding a single off the fifth for good measure. "We want to finish this Test series on a good note, so I think it will be better for us if we show some fight," Younus said. "It will not be easy because it is the fifth day in Sydney and they have two spinners and good fast bowlers as well. It is our wish that we finish this Test match on a good note," the Pakistani batting legend added.

Cricket: David Warner puts Australia on top

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