Author: Amjad Qaimkhani

Rising attacks by TTP, Al-Qaeda, and ISKP expose Pakistan’s persistent security vulnerabilities, highlighting that the true challenge extends far beyond mere diplomatic posturing By Amjad Qaimkhani NEW YORK: The latest UNSC monitoring team report has reignited an old but unresolved debate: is Afghanistan once again becoming a safe space for militant groups, and what does that mean for Pakistan and the wider region? The report challenges the Afghan Taliban`s claim that no terrorist organizations operate from Afghan soil. It states that groups such as TTP, Al-Qaeda and ISKP remain active, and that attacks against Pakistan have increased. The real issue,…

Asim Iftikhar warned that over 80 Pakistanis had been killed in recent cross-border attacks, urging urgent action against militants operating from Afghan soil By Amjad Qaimkhani NEW YORK: Pakistan’s envoy to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, delivered a forceful warning to the Security Council on Wednesday, condemning the use of Afghan territory by militant groups to launch attacks against Pakistan. In a speech marked by urgency and detailed evidence, Ahmad said cross-border terrorism was not only unacceptable but also a direct challenge to Pakistan’s sovereignty, stressing that the country would not compromise on the safety of its citizens. He…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: The US State Department has begun offering financial incentives to Afghan citizens stranded at a camp in Qatar as preparations are made to close the facility, a move that human rights groups and some politicians have condemned as a “betrayal.” Since early last year, more than 1,100 Afghans have been living at the former US military base, Camp As-Saliyah, unable to continue their resettlement in the United States after the Trump administration suspended their relocation. Many of those affected include Afghans who worked alongside US forces during the 20-year war in Afghanistan, as well as family…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: The Washington Post announced on Saturday that its CEO and publisher, Will Lewis, was leaving immediately, just days after the newspaper, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, carried out sweeping job cuts that angered readers. Lewis, who is English, faced sharp criticism from both subscribers and staff during his two-year tenure as he attempted to reverse financial losses at the paper. He has been replaced by Jeff D’Onofrio, a former CEO of social media platform Tumblr who joined the Post last year as chief financial officer. In an email to staff shared on social media, Lewis…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said promoting interfaith harmony had become an urgent global priority, arguing that peace and sustainable development could not be achieved without mutual respect and cooperation among nations and communities of different faiths. Speaking to young leaders at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Bhutto said societies across the world were facing deep divisions driven by intolerance, mistrust and the misuse of religion. He warned that these divisions continued to fuel conflict and instability, making dialogue and understanding more important than ever. Global peace, he said, depended on collective effort…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: Pakistan People’s Party chair Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called for an end to discrimination rooted in color, race and religion, saying such divisions continue to undermine global peace and progress. Speaking at a reception for young leaders in Washington, Bhutto said his family had made “great sacrifices” in the struggle for democracy, adding that equality and inclusion must remain central to political life. He urged countries to work together to secure peace and development, stressing that young people had a critical role to play in driving positive change across the world. Bhutto also highlighted the importance…

By Amjad Qaimkhani NEW YORK: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, highlighted the profound and lasting impact of decades of occupation on the daily lives of people in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) during a side-event in New York marking Kashmir Solidarity Day. The event, titled “Leaving No One Behind: Social Development Challenges in Conflict-Affected and Occupied Territories,” brought together diplomats and international representatives to discuss the human cost of prolonged conflict. Speaking before an audience that included permanent representatives from Turkiye, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Azerbaijan, Asim Iftikhar described how…

By Amjad Qaimkhani NEW YORK: At the United Nations, Pakistan called for urgent international action to tackle  threats emanating from Afghanistan, warning of growing regional and global risks posed by armed groups operating across the border. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, during a briefing to the UN Security Council on “Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Acts.” He said externally sponsored and foreign-funded proxy groups, including Fitna al Khawarij TTP, Fitna al Hindustan BLA, and its Majeed Brigade, had gained renewed strength in recent years, particularly after the Taliban took control of Kabul. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative added that these organizations…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: Donald Trump has said Iran is now engaged in talks and does not want the United States to launch an attack against it. The US president made the remarks while addressing the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, calling the event a long-standing American tradition and saying he was pleased to attend it again. Speaking about Iran, Trump said a large US naval fleet was moving towards the country. He added that Tehran had entered negotiations because it did not want to face a military strike. The comments follow Trump’s statement a day earlier in which he…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: American media reports acknowledged that weapons abandoned in Afghanistan following the United States’ withdrawal were being used by militant groups to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, adding fresh weight to long-standing concerns raised by Islamabad about regional security. A report published by CNN said that US-supplied arms left behind in Afghanistan had become a serious obstacle to counter-terrorism efforts, enabling militant organizations to carry out more lethal and sophisticated attacks. According to the report, fighters belonging to groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were increasingly using US-manufactured rifles, machine…