During their meeting on Wednesday, Kuwait’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, and Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar decided to strengthen their bilateral ties in a number of areas. According to the PM Office’s Media Wing, the prime minister emphasised the value Pakistan placed on its relationship with Kuwait and the desire to increase bilateral collaboration in a variety of fields. PM Kakar reaffirmed Pakistan and Kuwait’s commitment to establishing stronger economic ties in the areas of trade, energy, IT, labour, minerals, and investments. He conveyed his appreciation with the two nations’ close collaboration in multilateral forums.
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the caretaker prime minister, honoured the nation’s heroes on Tuesday by visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) martyrs memorial in Abu Dhabi. To honour the Emiratis who lost their lives while performing their duties, the prime minister placed a wreath at “Wahat Al Karama,” the national and cultural landmark that means “the oasis of dignity.” PM Kakar was informed by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the chairman of the Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs, regarding the monument’s significance as a symbol of the heroic sacrifices made by our country’s heroes. On this occasion, the prime minister received a static guard of honour.
As Israel and Hamas began a two-day prolongation of a truce that has halted the deadly Gaza war, a fresh batch of Israeli hostages was scheduled to be released on Tuesday in return for Palestinian prisoners. After seven weeks of fighting, the brief end to hostilities and the release of prisoners were welcomed as signs of hope. According to a source close to the Palestinian movement Hamas, in the first exchanges under the extended truce, 30 inmates released from Israeli jails on Tuesday would be exchanged for the release of 10 hostages held in Gaza. “Lists of the 10 Israeli hostages and 30 Palestinian prisoners for the fifth day of the truce were exchanged without objections,” a source told AFP.
Imam-e-Kaaba , Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Humaid paid a visit to COAS Gen Asim Munir at the General Headquarters on Friday. Mutually beneficial topics were discussed at the meeting, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The COAS greeted the dignitary and emphasised that the Imam-e-Kaaba’s visit to Pakistan was an honour for the people of this country. He claimed that Muslims all over the world held “Harmain Shraifain” in the highest regard and showed great respect for their caretaker. Islam is a religion of peace and fraternity, according to the Imam-e-Kaaba, and it cannot be misunderstood. The dignitaries showed their support for the people of Palestine and Kashmir and denounced the continued horrors in the Gaza conflict as well as the persecution of Muslims in IIOJK.
Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories: After seven weeks of fighting that has claimed thousands of lives, a four-day ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict was declared on Friday. In exchange for prisoners, hostages are expected to be freed. After Hamas launched its deadly raids into Israel on October 7, the two sides in the war decided to put an end to hostilities by silencing weapons and stopping bombings at 7:00 am (0500 GMT). According to Qatari mediators, the agreement calls for the release of 13 women and children who have been kept captive in Gaza at 4:00 pm. A number of Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons would also be released.
In exchange for 150 Palestinians detained in Israel, the Israeli government and Hamas agreed to a four-day ceasefire on Wednesday. This would also permit the entry of humanitarian supplies into the besieged enclave and the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza. For days, representatives of the US, Israel, Hamas, and Qatar, which has been mediating the talks, have claimed that a settlement was almost certain. Israeli counts indicate that Hamas killed 1,200 people on October 7 when its members stormed into Israel, taking more than 200 hostages. According to a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 50 women and children will be freed over the course of four days, during which time there would be no fighting.
Jalil Abbas Jilani, the caretaker minister of foreign affairs, reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution to the Palestine conflict on Tuesday and emphasised the significance of reaching a resolution that is in line with the aspirations of the Palestinian people. He said these things in response to PPPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani’s concerns during a Senate session on a President Secretariat press release on the Palestine problem that was later refuted. The minister made it clear that the President Secretariat’s initial statement did not include any input from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although he admitted not knowing the context of the statement, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian problem.
Today in Islamabad, Dutch Ambassador Mrs. Henny De Vries paid a visit to Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, the acting finance minister. Numerous facets of the two nations’ bilateral economic connections were discussed. Both parties emphasised the value of democratic processes as they talked about the impending elections in the Netherlands. In addition to congratulating Dr. Shamshad Akhtar on obtaining the Staff Level Agreement of the first Review of the IMF Pakistan Standby Arrangement, Ambassador Mrs. Henny De Vries also noted the general improvement in Pakistan’s economic circumstances. During the event, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar emphasised the reforms the government is doing across a number of areas, particularly those pertaining to the “Broadening of the Tax Base” project, which is aimed at expanding the tax net.
In a statement released on Telegram on Tuesday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh declared that his armed group was getting close to a ceasefire with Israel. Haniyeh stated, “We are close to reaching a deal on a truce,” as stated in the post. In an attempt to reach an agreement, negotiators have been trying to free some 240 hostages, most of whom are Israelis, who were taken during the worst attack on Israel in recorded history on October 7. During their cross-border attack, Hamas fighters also claimed the lives of some 1,200 persons, the most of whom were civilians. In response, Israel promised to destroy Hamas and secure the release of the captives. It began a relentless bombing campaign and land offensive.
The Foreign Office announced on Friday that Pakistan and Russia have decided to further up their joint efforts to successfully fight terrorism, highlighting the advantages of such cooperation for both parties. According to a news release from the FO, the parties talked about the proliferation of terrorist ideas, different types of radicalization, and the improper use of ICTs for terrorist activities. Tenth meeting of Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group on “Combating International Terrorism and Other Challenges to Security” was held here on Thursday. Sergey Vershinin, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, and Syed Haider Shah, Additional Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, co-chaired the meeting. The parties agreed to cooperate in other crucial areas of counterterrorism, including the fight against terrorism financing.
