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Showing posts with label Pakistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pakistan. Show all posts

Sputnik: India on high alert as defense chief says China and Pakistan are coordinating against them

Sputnik: India on high alert as defense chief says China and Pakistan are coordinating against them

India’s Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat

India has put its security agencies and forces on high alert after a skirmish with the Chinese military on the evening of August 29th and New Delhi’s claim that Pakistan is allegedly trying to take advantage of the situation to infiltrate the Ladakh region, Sputnik reported.


According to the Sputnik report citing a senior official from the Indian security forces, the Pakistan is capable of taking advantage of the issue going on between India and China. 

“We have taken adequate precautionary measures to ensure that Pakistan does not succeed in their mission to enter the valley. "

"There have been situations where Pakistan has been involved in a proxy war against us (India). It was learnt that the terrorists are trying to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir to carry out attacks as the focus is completely on China”, the official from the Indian security forces told Sputnik.

On Thursday, India’s Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat also stated the Indian troops are well prepared to face a coordinated threat from Pakistan and China as Beijing continues to lend support to Islamabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Rawat has warned Pakistan against trying to take advantage, while stating it may suffer heavy losses for any misadventure.

India and China have been involved in several face-offs at multiple junctions across the LAC since May. While following the recent clashes in Chushul, the two sides have been engaged in commander-level talks to advance the settlement of the bilateral border dispute rather than armed provocations aimed at a unilateral change of the status quo.

Source: Sputnik
India’s Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat

India has put its security agencies and forces on high alert after a skirmish with the Chinese military on the evening of August 29th and New Delhi’s claim that Pakistan is allegedly trying to take advantage of the situation to infiltrate the Ladakh region, Sputnik reported.


According to the Sputnik report citing a senior official from the Indian security forces, the Pakistan is capable of taking advantage of the issue going on between India and China. 

“We have taken adequate precautionary measures to ensure that Pakistan does not succeed in their mission to enter the valley. "

"There have been situations where Pakistan has been involved in a proxy war against us (India). It was learnt that the terrorists are trying to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir to carry out attacks as the focus is completely on China”, the official from the Indian security forces told Sputnik.

On Thursday, India’s Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat also stated the Indian troops are well prepared to face a coordinated threat from Pakistan and China as Beijing continues to lend support to Islamabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Rawat has warned Pakistan against trying to take advantage, while stating it may suffer heavy losses for any misadventure.

India and China have been involved in several face-offs at multiple junctions across the LAC since May. While following the recent clashes in Chushul, the two sides have been engaged in commander-level talks to advance the settlement of the bilateral border dispute rather than armed provocations aimed at a unilateral change of the status quo.

Source: Sputnik

Pakistan will not recognise Israel until there is a Palestinian state: PM Khan

Pakistan will not recognise Israel until there is a Palestinian state: PM Khan

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said his country will not recognise Israel until there is a Palestinian state acceptable to the Palestinians.

In an interview with local broadcaster Dunya News, Khan said on Tuesday Islamabad would not follow suit in recognising Israel as a state, in a thinly veiled reference to the United Arab Emirates which struck a United States-brokered deal last week to normalise ties with Israel. "Whatever any country does, our position is very clear. And our position was made clear by [Pakistan's founder] Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah ... in 1948: that we cannot ever accept Israel as long as Palestinians are not given their rights and there is no just settlement," Khan said.

The UAE on August 13 became the first Gulf Arab country - and third in the Middle East after Egypt and Jordan - to reach a deal on normalising relations with Israel, capping years of discreet contacts between the two countries in commerce and technology.

Khan said if Pakistan accepted Israel and ignored the oppression of the Palestinians, "we will have to give up Kashmir as well then", adding that this was not something Pakistan could do.

"When you talk of Israel and Palestine, we need to think, will we be able to answer [God] if we abandon those people who have faced every kind of injustice and whose rights were taken away? My own conscience will never allow me to do this, I can never accept it," Khan said.

The Palestinian embassy in Islamabad thanked Khan for his stance, according to Pakistani media outlet Dawn.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it would not follow the UAE in establishing diplomatic ties with Israel until it had signed an internationally recognised peace accord with the Palestinians.

"Peace must be achieved with the Palestinians on the basis of international agreements as a pre-condition for any normalisation of relations," Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told reporters during a visit to Germany's capital, Berlin.

"Once that is achieved all things are possible," he added.


Sources: Aljazeera and News Agencies
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has said his country will not recognise Israel until there is a Palestinian state acceptable to the Palestinians.

In an interview with local broadcaster Dunya News, Khan said on Tuesday Islamabad would not follow suit in recognising Israel as a state, in a thinly veiled reference to the United Arab Emirates which struck a United States-brokered deal last week to normalise ties with Israel. "Whatever any country does, our position is very clear. And our position was made clear by [Pakistan's founder] Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah ... in 1948: that we cannot ever accept Israel as long as Palestinians are not given their rights and there is no just settlement," Khan said.

The UAE on August 13 became the first Gulf Arab country - and third in the Middle East after Egypt and Jordan - to reach a deal on normalising relations with Israel, capping years of discreet contacts between the two countries in commerce and technology.

Khan said if Pakistan accepted Israel and ignored the oppression of the Palestinians, "we will have to give up Kashmir as well then", adding that this was not something Pakistan could do.

"When you talk of Israel and Palestine, we need to think, will we be able to answer [God] if we abandon those people who have faced every kind of injustice and whose rights were taken away? My own conscience will never allow me to do this, I can never accept it," Khan said.

The Palestinian embassy in Islamabad thanked Khan for his stance, according to Pakistani media outlet Dawn.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it would not follow the UAE in establishing diplomatic ties with Israel until it had signed an internationally recognised peace accord with the Palestinians.

"Peace must be achieved with the Palestinians on the basis of international agreements as a pre-condition for any normalisation of relations," Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told reporters during a visit to Germany's capital, Berlin.

"Once that is achieved all things are possible," he added.


Sources: Aljazeera and News Agencies

Indian Modi warns China over border tensions

Indian Modi warns China over border tensions

AFP: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a new warning to China over deadly border tensions on Saturday, using his most important speech of the year to promise to build a stronger military.

With talks on easing a military build-up in their Himalayan border region at a stalemate, Modi told an Independence Day ceremony that India's sovereignty was "supreme" and that relations with neighbours depended on security and trust.

Attendance at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi for the speech was cut by more than half to 4,000 people, all of whom sat two metres (six feet) apart because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hindu nationalist prime minister mentioned confrontations with Pakistan and China on their disputed borders, but without naming either country.

"Anyone who has cast an eye on the country's sovereignty, the country's army has answered them in their own language," he said.

"India's integrity is supreme for us. What we can do, what our soldiers can do -- everyone saw that in Ladakh," referring to a border clash with Chinese troops in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas on June 15.

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the clash, which saw the two sides fighting with batons, stones and bare fists.

China has also acknowledged that it suffered casualties but without giving numbers.

The two sides have blamed each other for the fighting and tens of thousands of Indian and Chinese troops, who also fought a border war in 1962, have since been sent to the region.

Modi has insisted that no land was lost in the battle but military experts have used satellite images to counter that Chinese troops occupy frontier territory that India had claimed for decades.

India has in turn used economic weapons against China. It has banned at least 59 apps, including the major video-sharing platform TikTok, and taken other measures to freeze Chinese firms out of contracts and block its imports.

Modi said that relations with neighbours are now linked to "security, progress and trust".


"A neighbour isn't just someone who shares our geography but those who share our hearts. Where the relationship is respected, it becomes warmer," he said.

The 1.4-million-strong military would be built up, he added.

"India is just as committed to its security and strengthening its army as the attempts it has made for peace and harmony," he said, stressing efforts to make India "self-reliant" in defence production.

Modi also said that his priority was getting India out of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

India is expected to pass 50,000 deaths in the coming days and three million cases within a week. It has the fastest-growing caseload in the world and is now only behind Brazil and the United States in terms of total case numbers.

With the economy expected to shrink this year, Modi reaffirmed an election promise to spend 1.3 trillion dollars on 7,000 infrastructure projects "to get us out of the pandemic situation".

bb/tw/jah

AFP: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a new warning to China over deadly border tensions on Saturday, using his most important speech of the year to promise to build a stronger military.

With talks on easing a military build-up in their Himalayan border region at a stalemate, Modi told an Independence Day ceremony that India's sovereignty was "supreme" and that relations with neighbours depended on security and trust.

Attendance at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi for the speech was cut by more than half to 4,000 people, all of whom sat two metres (six feet) apart because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hindu nationalist prime minister mentioned confrontations with Pakistan and China on their disputed borders, but without naming either country.

"Anyone who has cast an eye on the country's sovereignty, the country's army has answered them in their own language," he said.

"India's integrity is supreme for us. What we can do, what our soldiers can do -- everyone saw that in Ladakh," referring to a border clash with Chinese troops in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas on June 15.

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the clash, which saw the two sides fighting with batons, stones and bare fists.

China has also acknowledged that it suffered casualties but without giving numbers.

The two sides have blamed each other for the fighting and tens of thousands of Indian and Chinese troops, who also fought a border war in 1962, have since been sent to the region.

Modi has insisted that no land was lost in the battle but military experts have used satellite images to counter that Chinese troops occupy frontier territory that India had claimed for decades.

India has in turn used economic weapons against China. It has banned at least 59 apps, including the major video-sharing platform TikTok, and taken other measures to freeze Chinese firms out of contracts and block its imports.

Modi said that relations with neighbours are now linked to "security, progress and trust".


"A neighbour isn't just someone who shares our geography but those who share our hearts. Where the relationship is respected, it becomes warmer," he said.

The 1.4-million-strong military would be built up, he added.

"India is just as committed to its security and strengthening its army as the attempts it has made for peace and harmony," he said, stressing efforts to make India "self-reliant" in defence production.

Modi also said that his priority was getting India out of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

India is expected to pass 50,000 deaths in the coming days and three million cases within a week. It has the fastest-growing caseload in the world and is now only behind Brazil and the United States in terms of total case numbers.

With the economy expected to shrink this year, Modi reaffirmed an election promise to spend 1.3 trillion dollars on 7,000 infrastructure projects "to get us out of the pandemic situation".

bb/tw/jah

VIDEO: Pakistani plane with 99 persangers, 8 crews approaching Karachi airport crashes in residential area

VIDEO: Pakistani plane with 99 persangers, 8 crews approaching Karachi airport crashes in residential area

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight en route from Lahore has crashed near Karachi airport. The aircraft, with almost 100 people on board, hit a residential district.

The plane crashed in the populated Model Colony area located on the outskirts of the city, approximately two kilometers from Jinnah International Airport.

A spokesman for PIA said the A320 Airbus had 107 people on board, as quoted by Reuters. He explained there were 99 passengers and eight crew members.

The mayor of Karachi initially announced there were no survivors from the crash, but it later emerged that at least two people had made it out alive. Authorities have confirmed that at least 76 people have died in the disaster so far.

It is not yet clear how many fatalities there were among those affected on the ground, but rescue workers said around 15-20 have been helped out from under rubble, according to the local Geo news channel.

Pakistan's Dawn website reports that Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has ordered the city's fire brigades to the crash site to begin rescue operations. The Pakistani army's quick reaction force has also reached the site to assist rescue workers.
Airbus A320-214 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) © Basil Lutfi/Plane Spotters Pakistan

The PIA spokesman said contact with the plane was lost at 2:37am, but that it was "too early to say" what had caused the crash.

According to Geo, PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik confirmed that the pilot of the plane had been told both runways at the Karachi airport were ready for him to land, but a technical fault had caused him to perform a go-around before attempting to land.

Pakistan's independent safety investigations agency will inquire into the causes of the crash, Malik told reporters at a news conference.

Shocked & saddened by the PIA crash. Am in touch with PIA CEO Arshad Malik, who has left for Karachi & with the rescue & relief teams on ground as this is the priority right now. Immediate inquiry will be instituted. Prayers & condolences go to families of the deceased.— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 22, 2020

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims and said an "immediate inquiry" into the crash will begin.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Twitter that he was “deeply aggrieved” over the “devastating” crash, while the country’s Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari called the crash a "national tragedy."

The crash comes only days after commercial flights began operating again, following the Covid-19 lockdown in the country.
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight en route from Lahore has crashed near Karachi airport. The aircraft, with almost 100 people on board, hit a residential district.

The plane crashed in the populated Model Colony area located on the outskirts of the city, approximately two kilometers from Jinnah International Airport.

A spokesman for PIA said the A320 Airbus had 107 people on board, as quoted by Reuters. He explained there were 99 passengers and eight crew members.

The mayor of Karachi initially announced there were no survivors from the crash, but it later emerged that at least two people had made it out alive. Authorities have confirmed that at least 76 people have died in the disaster so far.

It is not yet clear how many fatalities there were among those affected on the ground, but rescue workers said around 15-20 have been helped out from under rubble, according to the local Geo news channel.

Pakistan's Dawn website reports that Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has ordered the city's fire brigades to the crash site to begin rescue operations. The Pakistani army's quick reaction force has also reached the site to assist rescue workers.
Airbus A320-214 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) © Basil Lutfi/Plane Spotters Pakistan

The PIA spokesman said contact with the plane was lost at 2:37am, but that it was "too early to say" what had caused the crash.

According to Geo, PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik confirmed that the pilot of the plane had been told both runways at the Karachi airport were ready for him to land, but a technical fault had caused him to perform a go-around before attempting to land.

Pakistan's independent safety investigations agency will inquire into the causes of the crash, Malik told reporters at a news conference.

Shocked & saddened by the PIA crash. Am in touch with PIA CEO Arshad Malik, who has left for Karachi & with the rescue & relief teams on ground as this is the priority right now. Immediate inquiry will be instituted. Prayers & condolences go to families of the deceased.— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 22, 2020

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims and said an "immediate inquiry" into the crash will begin.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Twitter that he was “deeply aggrieved” over the “devastating” crash, while the country’s Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari called the crash a "national tragedy."

The crash comes only days after commercial flights began operating again, following the Covid-19 lockdown in the country.

US offers to help Pakistan in Economy, fighting COVID-19

US offers to help Pakistan in Economy, fighting COVID-19

The United States has offered its support to Pakistan in aiding the fight against the country's coronavirus outbreak, promising to provide ventilators and unspecified help "in the economic arena", a Pakistani statement released after a telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan says.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus. He emphasized that Pakistan was facing a dual challenge of overcoming the pandemic and saving people, particularly the most vulnerable segments of the population, from hunger due to lockdown," said the statement from Khan's office.

Khan, alongside other leaders from the developing world, has been calling for developed nations to offer debt relief to developing countries in the wake of a global economic slowdown due to the coronavirus.

On Thursday, he will launch a $595 million appeal to fund Pakistan's Preparedness and Response plan to COVID-19, mainly targeting international financial institutions and world powers.
The United States has offered its support to Pakistan in aiding the fight against the country's coronavirus outbreak, promising to provide ventilators and unspecified help "in the economic arena", a Pakistani statement released after a telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan says.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus. He emphasized that Pakistan was facing a dual challenge of overcoming the pandemic and saving people, particularly the most vulnerable segments of the population, from hunger due to lockdown," said the statement from Khan's office.

Khan, alongside other leaders from the developing world, has been calling for developed nations to offer debt relief to developing countries in the wake of a global economic slowdown due to the coronavirus.

On Thursday, he will launch a $595 million appeal to fund Pakistan's Preparedness and Response plan to COVID-19, mainly targeting international financial institutions and world powers.

COVID-19: IMF approves $1.4 billion in coronavirus aid to Pakistan

COVID-19: IMF approves $1.4 billion in coronavirus aid to Pakistan

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved $1.4 billion in coronavirus aid to Pakistan, AFP reported on Thursday.

The IMF approved nearly $1.4 billion in emergency aid to Pakistan to help it weather the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. "While uncertainty remains high, the near-term economic impact of COVID-19 is expected to be significant, giving rise to large fiscal and external financing needs," the international lender said in a statement.

Pakistan has recorded just over 100 deaths but experts have voiced fear that the country of 215 million people could see a rapid and devastating increase due to its shortage of medical infrastructure and crowded cities.

Worried about hurting an already weak economy, Prime Minister Imran Khan has resisted a sweeping, nationwide lockdown but provinces have shuttered schools and companies.

"The domestic containment measures, coupled with the global downturn, are severely affecting growth and straining external financing," said Geoffrey Okamoto, the IMF's first deputy managing director.

"This has created an urgent balance of payments need," he said.

He voiced support for actions taken in Pakistan including a boost in spending on public health and the social safety net to brace for a worsening crisis.

He also credited the central State Bank of Pakistan with measures that have included lowering its benchmark rate and supporting liquidity.

The IMF said it was providing the $1.386 billion under a so-called rapid financing instrument, which addresses emergencies and does not subject a country to a full-fledged reform program that undergoes review.

Pakistan is a longtime recipient of help from the IMF and is already under a three-year, $6 billion program that was approved last year.

Okamoto said Pakistan needed to recommit to its goals under the package once the crisis abates, including restoring its public finances and governance.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved $1.4 billion in coronavirus aid to Pakistan, AFP reported on Thursday.

The IMF approved nearly $1.4 billion in emergency aid to Pakistan to help it weather the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. "While uncertainty remains high, the near-term economic impact of COVID-19 is expected to be significant, giving rise to large fiscal and external financing needs," the international lender said in a statement.

Pakistan has recorded just over 100 deaths but experts have voiced fear that the country of 215 million people could see a rapid and devastating increase due to its shortage of medical infrastructure and crowded cities.

Worried about hurting an already weak economy, Prime Minister Imran Khan has resisted a sweeping, nationwide lockdown but provinces have shuttered schools and companies.

"The domestic containment measures, coupled with the global downturn, are severely affecting growth and straining external financing," said Geoffrey Okamoto, the IMF's first deputy managing director.

"This has created an urgent balance of payments need," he said.

He voiced support for actions taken in Pakistan including a boost in spending on public health and the social safety net to brace for a worsening crisis.

He also credited the central State Bank of Pakistan with measures that have included lowering its benchmark rate and supporting liquidity.

The IMF said it was providing the $1.386 billion under a so-called rapid financing instrument, which addresses emergencies and does not subject a country to a full-fledged reform program that undergoes review.

Pakistan is a longtime recipient of help from the IMF and is already under a three-year, $6 billion program that was approved last year.

Okamoto said Pakistan needed to recommit to its goals under the package once the crisis abates, including restoring its public finances and governance.

COVID-19: Pakistan confirms first two coronavirus deaths, Cases on the rise

COVID-19: Pakistan confirms first two coronavirus deaths, Cases on the rise

Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed the first two deaths from the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. The two deaths were reported in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, one in its capital Peshawar and the other in Mardan district.

The first victim was a 50-year-old man who recently returned to Mardan after performing the Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In a tweet, Pakistan’s State Minister for Health Zafar Mirza said the man “developed fever, cough, and breathing difficulty” after coming to Pakistan and tested positive for COVID-19.

He said the victim’s family members and other people he came into contact with were being screened. The second victim was a 36-year-old man from KP’s Hangu district, who passed away at a hospital in Peshawar.

The minister said the man had recently come back to Pakistan from Dubai.

Cases on the rise

The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan rose to 304, with 208 in the southern Sindh province alone, officials said on Wednesday. Health officials said new cases were reported in KP, Sindh, and the northeastern Punjab province.

Most of the new patients had recently returned from neighboring Iran, which has the highest number of cases and deaths after China and Italy.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the nation of a possible spread of the virus in the country, if people did not "act responsibly”.

"The virus will spread in the country as the countries with better facilities than us could not contain it. But there is no need to panic. Together we will face and live up to this challenge", Khan said in televised address.

The virus emerged in Wuhan, China, last December, and has spread to at least 164 countries and territories around the globe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO has declared the outbreak a pandemic and its data showed there were over 194,000 confirmed cases and nearly 7,900 deaths around the world by Wednesday evening.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, is not fatal in all cases and a vast majority of patients do fully recover.


Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed the first two deaths from the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. The two deaths were reported in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, one in its capital Peshawar and the other in Mardan district.

The first victim was a 50-year-old man who recently returned to Mardan after performing the Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In a tweet, Pakistan’s State Minister for Health Zafar Mirza said the man “developed fever, cough, and breathing difficulty” after coming to Pakistan and tested positive for COVID-19.

He said the victim’s family members and other people he came into contact with were being screened. The second victim was a 36-year-old man from KP’s Hangu district, who passed away at a hospital in Peshawar.

The minister said the man had recently come back to Pakistan from Dubai.

Cases on the rise

The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan rose to 304, with 208 in the southern Sindh province alone, officials said on Wednesday. Health officials said new cases were reported in KP, Sindh, and the northeastern Punjab province.

Most of the new patients had recently returned from neighboring Iran, which has the highest number of cases and deaths after China and Italy.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan warned the nation of a possible spread of the virus in the country, if people did not "act responsibly”.

"The virus will spread in the country as the countries with better facilities than us could not contain it. But there is no need to panic. Together we will face and live up to this challenge", Khan said in televised address.

The virus emerged in Wuhan, China, last December, and has spread to at least 164 countries and territories around the globe, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO has declared the outbreak a pandemic and its data showed there were over 194,000 confirmed cases and nearly 7,900 deaths around the world by Wednesday evening.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, is not fatal in all cases and a vast majority of patients do fully recover.


Eight Death toll, 43 cases, Pakistan, Turkey, others close border with Iran

Eight Death toll, 43 cases, Pakistan, Turkey, others close border with Iran

Afghanistan bans travel to and from Iran

Armenia to 'suspend communication' with Iran for two weeks

Jordan bars entry to citizens from China, Iran, South Korea


Countries in Asian and middle east have reacted to the China's coronavirus outbreake in Iran by taken precautionary measures to contain further spread of the deadly mysterious virus in the region

Jordan has said it would bar citizens from China, Iran and South Korea from entering the kingdom in a bid to prevent the outbreak spreading. The minister of state for media affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of "preemptive measures ... following the rise in cases of coronavirus in South Korea, Iran" and China.

Turkey on Sunday announced it will "temporarily" close its land border with neighbouring Iran as alarm grows over a spike in new coronavirus infections.

"We have decided to shut the land border temporarily after an increase in the number of cases in our neighbour Iran," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

He added that air traffic would be unilaterally halted from 20:00 (1700GMT).

Also Pakistan has announced it is closing its border with neighbouring Iran after Tehran announced eight deaths from the coronavirus.

"We have closed our border with Iran because of the reports of coronavirus there," said Ayesha Zehri, a senior government official in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan's province, which borders Iran.

Afghanistan has also suspended air and ground travel to neighbouring Iran, where millions of Afghan refugees live, as fears grow across the region over a jump in new coronavirus infections.

"To prevent the spread of the novel #coronavirus and protect the public, Afghanistan suspends all passenger movement (air and ground) to and from Iran," the office of the National Security Council of Afghanistan said in a statement on Twitter.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the country will "suspend communication" with Iran for two weeks in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In a post on Facebook, Pashinyan said Armenia would close its border with Iran and halt air transport.

He added that Armenia's Coronavirus Prevention Commission would meet on Monday.

Iran has confirmed at least 15 new cases of the new coronavirus, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV, adding that the death toll has reached eight in the country.

"So far, we have 43 infected cases and the death toll is eight," said Kianush Jahanpur.

Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday accused foreign media of trying to use a deadly outbreak of coronavirus in Iran to "discourage" people from voting in a general election.

"This negative propaganda began a few months ago and grew larger approaching the election and in the past two days, under the pretext of an illness and a virus, their media did not miss the slightest opportunity to discourage people from voting," said Khamenei on his official website. "(Our enemies) are even opposed to any election by the Iranian people".


More: Iraq Extends Ban On Iran Arrivals Amid Coronavirus Fears

Source

Afghanistan bans travel to and from Iran

Armenia to 'suspend communication' with Iran for two weeks

Jordan bars entry to citizens from China, Iran, South Korea


Countries in Asian and middle east have reacted to the China's coronavirus outbreake in Iran by taken precautionary measures to contain further spread of the deadly mysterious virus in the region

Jordan has said it would bar citizens from China, Iran and South Korea from entering the kingdom in a bid to prevent the outbreak spreading. The minister of state for media affairs, Amjad Adayleh, said the decision was part of "preemptive measures ... following the rise in cases of coronavirus in South Korea, Iran" and China.

Turkey on Sunday announced it will "temporarily" close its land border with neighbouring Iran as alarm grows over a spike in new coronavirus infections.

"We have decided to shut the land border temporarily after an increase in the number of cases in our neighbour Iran," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

He added that air traffic would be unilaterally halted from 20:00 (1700GMT).

Also Pakistan has announced it is closing its border with neighbouring Iran after Tehran announced eight deaths from the coronavirus.

"We have closed our border with Iran because of the reports of coronavirus there," said Ayesha Zehri, a senior government official in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan's province, which borders Iran.

Afghanistan has also suspended air and ground travel to neighbouring Iran, where millions of Afghan refugees live, as fears grow across the region over a jump in new coronavirus infections.

"To prevent the spread of the novel #coronavirus and protect the public, Afghanistan suspends all passenger movement (air and ground) to and from Iran," the office of the National Security Council of Afghanistan said in a statement on Twitter.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that the country will "suspend communication" with Iran for two weeks in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In a post on Facebook, Pashinyan said Armenia would close its border with Iran and halt air transport.

He added that Armenia's Coronavirus Prevention Commission would meet on Monday.

Iran has confirmed at least 15 new cases of the new coronavirus, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said on state TV, adding that the death toll has reached eight in the country.

"So far, we have 43 infected cases and the death toll is eight," said Kianush Jahanpur.

Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday accused foreign media of trying to use a deadly outbreak of coronavirus in Iran to "discourage" people from voting in a general election.

"This negative propaganda began a few months ago and grew larger approaching the election and in the past two days, under the pretext of an illness and a virus, their media did not miss the slightest opportunity to discourage people from voting," said Khamenei on his official website. "(Our enemies) are even opposed to any election by the Iranian people".


More: Iraq Extends Ban On Iran Arrivals Amid Coronavirus Fears

Source

Erdogan in Pakistan, Says Turkey wants to raise trade and economic ties with Pakistan to the same level of political relations

Erdogan in Pakistan, Says Turkey wants to raise trade and economic ties with Pakistan to the same level of political relations

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech on Friday at the Turkey-Pakistan Business Forum in Pakistan.

Erdogan who opined that Turkey don't differentiate between international companies and indigenous ones in his country said he want to raise trade and economic ties with Pakistan to the level of  political relations” between the two friendly countries.

Speaking at the Turkey-Pakistan Business Forum, President Erdoğan said: “We want to raise our trade and economic ties with Pakistan to the level of our political relations. Despite the recent increase in trade and investments, we are still way behind our potential.”

"Despite the recent increase in trade and investments, we are still way behind our potential. To be honest, I find it unbefitting that Turkey and Pakistan, with a total population of nearly 804 million, have a trade volume that stands at just $804 million."

"We should first increase our bilateral trade to over 1 $billion and then carry it to $5 billion. We of course cannot achieve this goal just by wishing. We need to take clear and strong steps with determination towards our shared goal.”

Underlining that Turkey doesn’t differentiate between its own businesses and international companies that invest in the country, President Erdoğan stated: “We support international investments not only through legal regulations but also on a corporate basis. Our doors are open to anyone who trusts in our country’s investment potential, and we will keep them open."

"We pursue a model whereby we offer citizenship to international entrepreneurs in return for real estate investment under certain conditions. No one, who has trusted in our country’s potential and invested in Turkey, has ever regretted it."

" We also want our Pakistani brothers and sisters to have confidence in our country, the Turkish economy, and Turkey’s future.” Erdogan said.

Erdogan who was welcomed to the country by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, addressed the joint session of the Pakistan Parliament for a record fourth time.


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Erdogan In Pakistan, Addresses Joint Session Of Parliament
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech on Friday at the Turkey-Pakistan Business Forum in Pakistan.

Erdogan who opined that Turkey don't differentiate between international companies and indigenous ones in his country said he want to raise trade and economic ties with Pakistan to the level of  political relations” between the two friendly countries.

Speaking at the Turkey-Pakistan Business Forum, President Erdoğan said: “We want to raise our trade and economic ties with Pakistan to the level of our political relations. Despite the recent increase in trade and investments, we are still way behind our potential.”

"Despite the recent increase in trade and investments, we are still way behind our potential. To be honest, I find it unbefitting that Turkey and Pakistan, with a total population of nearly 804 million, have a trade volume that stands at just $804 million."

"We should first increase our bilateral trade to over 1 $billion and then carry it to $5 billion. We of course cannot achieve this goal just by wishing. We need to take clear and strong steps with determination towards our shared goal.”

Underlining that Turkey doesn’t differentiate between its own businesses and international companies that invest in the country, President Erdoğan stated: “We support international investments not only through legal regulations but also on a corporate basis. Our doors are open to anyone who trusts in our country’s investment potential, and we will keep them open."

"We pursue a model whereby we offer citizenship to international entrepreneurs in return for real estate investment under certain conditions. No one, who has trusted in our country’s potential and invested in Turkey, has ever regretted it."

" We also want our Pakistani brothers and sisters to have confidence in our country, the Turkish economy, and Turkey’s future.” Erdogan said.

Erdogan who was welcomed to the country by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, addressed the joint session of the Pakistan Parliament for a record fourth time.


More:

Erdogan In Pakistan, Addresses Joint Session Of Parliament

Erdogan in Pakistan, addresses joint session of Parliament

Erdogan in Pakistan, addresses joint session of Parliament

Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser welcomed the Turkish President.

Islamabad,(IANS) Visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday addressed a joint session of the Pakistan Parliament for a record fourth time.

"Today, Pakistan and Turkey''s relations are admirable for others... During difficult times, Pakistan has supported Turkey," Dawn news quoted the President, who arrived here on a two-day visit on Thursday, as saying in the session.

Quoting a poem by Pakistani poet Allama Iqbal, Erdogan said: "Yes, like the poet of Lahore, people were drowning in these emotions, people of Pakistan had supported Turkey. We can never forget this."

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser began the session by welcoming Erdogan, who he said is a "true friend" and brother of Pakistan.

He thanked the Turkish President for his "clear and just" stance on the Kashmir issue.

Members of the armed forces, government leaders, federal ministers and opposition members were in attendance.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani received the Turkish president upon arrival at the Parliament.

When Erdogan reached Islamabad on Thursday, Khan personally drove the President and Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan from the airport to the Prime Minister House, Dawn news reported.

In his first official engagement for his trip, the Turkish leader held a meeting with President Alvi, which was followed by a banquet.

Following the Parliament session, Erdogan will again meet Khan for discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues.

They will also co-chair the sixth meeting of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

The Turkish leader last visited Pakistan in 2016, during which he also addressed Parliament.

--IANS
Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser welcomed the Turkish President.

Islamabad,(IANS) Visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday addressed a joint session of the Pakistan Parliament for a record fourth time.

"Today, Pakistan and Turkey''s relations are admirable for others... During difficult times, Pakistan has supported Turkey," Dawn news quoted the President, who arrived here on a two-day visit on Thursday, as saying in the session.

Quoting a poem by Pakistani poet Allama Iqbal, Erdogan said: "Yes, like the poet of Lahore, people were drowning in these emotions, people of Pakistan had supported Turkey. We can never forget this."

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser began the session by welcoming Erdogan, who he said is a "true friend" and brother of Pakistan.

He thanked the Turkish President for his "clear and just" stance on the Kashmir issue.

Members of the armed forces, government leaders, federal ministers and opposition members were in attendance.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani received the Turkish president upon arrival at the Parliament.

When Erdogan reached Islamabad on Thursday, Khan personally drove the President and Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan from the airport to the Prime Minister House, Dawn news reported.

In his first official engagement for his trip, the Turkish leader held a meeting with President Alvi, which was followed by a banquet.

Following the Parliament session, Erdogan will again meet Khan for discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues.

They will also co-chair the sixth meeting of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council.

The Turkish leader last visited Pakistan in 2016, during which he also addressed Parliament.

--IANS

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