ISLAMABAD, 03 June 2021, (TON): A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded near a military checkpost in South Waziristan’s Kaniguram area, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

In a statement, ISPR identified the martyred soldier as Lance Naik Waqas Ahmed. The statement said, search operation was being carried out in the area to apprehend any terrorists present there when IED exploded. 

A day earlier, three children were killed near their house in the Tangi Badeenzai area in Ladha Tehsil of South Waziristan  when a “toy bomb” went off while they were were playing with it.

DHAKA, 03 June 2021, (TON): AHM Mustafa Kamal, Finance Minister of Bangladesh is set to place a Tk 603,681-crore national budget for 2021-22 fiscal year before parliament.

A prolonged pandemic has certainly taken a huge toll on businesses and the economy, a reality that is all too evident and as the Covid-19 pandemic situation is far from easing, the government faces a formidable challenge today in getting the economy back on a recovery trail.

As Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal places a Tk 603,681-crore proposed national budget for the 2021-22 financial year in parliament on Thursday afternoon, he must be knowing very well that a budget is much more than just a figure.

Figure-wise the proposed amount is Tk 35,681 crore more than what has been the passing fiscal’s budget volume. But the businessman-turned finance minister must be crossing fingers on how to finance this budget, with the government’s revenue collection apparatus going through a tough time in meeting higher revenue targets during the relentless pandemic.

The government’s proposed budget outlay will have a sizeable chunk earmarked for the health and education sectors and understandably so, given the current pandemic realities. If there is one lesson the pandemic has taught us the hard way, it is that investment in the health sector is worth more than anything else.

ISLAMABAD, 03 June 2021, (TON): A Pakistan Army soldier was martyred after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded near a military checkpost in South Waziristan’s Kaniguram area, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

In a statement, ISPR identified the martyred soldier as Lance Naik Waqas Ahmed. The statement said, search operation was being carried out in the area to apprehend any terrorists present there when IED exploded. 

A day earlier, three children were killed near their house in the Tangi Badeenzai area in Ladha Tehsil of South Waziristan  when a “toy bomb” went off while they were were playing with it.

NIGER, 03 June 2021, (TON): Unidentified gunmen belonging to anti-orthodox Sunni faction and having foreign links abducted 200 students from an Islamic school on Sunday. The Nigerian government on Wednesday confirmed abduction of 136 students from an Islamic school in the north-central Nigerian state of Niger.

Nigeria's President, in a statement issued late on Monday said, security agents were searching for around 200 students. Niger state's Deputy Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, claimed that the number of missing children had been established.

"We can now confirm that a total of 136 students were abducted," Ketso said at a news conference in the state capital, Minna.

Criminal gangs carrying out kidnapping for ransom are blamed for a series of raids on schools and universities in northern Nigeria in recent months in which more than 800 students have been abducted since December. Some locals also claim that these kidnappings are fake to compel security forces take action against particular groups. 

These kidnapping coupled of incident of violence are aimed to to put blame of orthodox Muslims also referred as Sunnis, who are dubbed by western intelligence agencies as Boko Haram. The aim of such actions are to create hatred against Sunnis and compel security forces to carryout operation against the Muslims. 

NEW YORK, 2 June, 2021, (TON): General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir is “saddened” by India’s reaction to his statements on Kashmir, according to his Deputy Spokesperson Amy Quantrill, who has asserted that they were taken out of context.

During a news briefing on Tuesday Amy Quantrill said, "The President was saddened to see a press statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which portrays his remarks on Jammu and Kashmir from a selective perspective, while they are consistent with the longstanding UN position regarding this issue."

She said that "It is regrettable that the President's remarks were taken out of context."

In a news conference in Islamabad last week, Bozkir said in reference to Kashmir that "I think it is the duty, especially Pakistan's, to bring this to the United Nation platform more strongly."

While speaking with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at his side, Bozkir also endorsed Islamabad's attempts -- so far unsuccessful -- to link the Kashmir issue to the Palestine problem.

"As the minister mentioned, and also compared to two important things, I think the two problems are of the same age, Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, and I fully agree that this is the case," he said.

He also added that the Kashmir issue does not have the "same enlarged political wind behind it" like the Palestine cause.

Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reacting to Bozkir's statement had said, "When an incumbent President of the UN General Assembly makes misleading and prejudiced remarks, he does great disservice to the office he occupies. The President of the UN General Assembly's behaviour is truly regrettable and surely diminishes his standing on the global platform."

"We express our strong opposition to the unwarranted references made with respect to the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir by the President of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkir during his recent visit to Pakistan," he said.

United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir visited Pakistan from May 26-28.

NEW YORK, 2 June, 2021, (TON): General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir is “saddened” by India’s reaction to his statements on Kashmir, according to his Deputy Spokesperson Amy Quantrill, who has asserted that they were taken out of context.

During a news briefing on Tuesday Amy Quantrill said, "The President was saddened to see a press statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which portrays his remarks on Jammu and Kashmir from a selective perspective, while they are consistent with the longstanding UN position regarding this issue."

She said that "It is regrettable that the President's remarks were taken out of context."

In a news conference in Islamabad last week, Bozkir said in reference to Kashmir that "I think it is the duty, especially Pakistan's, to bring this to the United Nation platform more strongly."

While speaking with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at his side, Bozkir also endorsed Islamabad's attempts -- so far unsuccessful -- to link the Kashmir issue to the Palestine problem.

"As the minister mentioned, and also compared to two important things, I think the two problems are of the same age, Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, and I fully agree that this is the case," he said.

He also added that the Kashmir issue does not have the "same enlarged political wind behind it" like the Palestine cause.

Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reacting to Bozkir's statement had said, "When an incumbent President of the UN General Assembly makes misleading and prejudiced remarks, he does great disservice to the office he occupies. The President of the UN General Assembly's behaviour is truly regrettable and surely diminishes his standing on the global platform."

"We express our strong opposition to the unwarranted references made with respect to the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir by the President of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkir during his recent visit to Pakistan," he said.

United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir visited Pakistan from May 26-28.

KABUL, 31 May 2021, (TON): According to a statement, Deputy and Acting Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab met with the Assistant Foreign Minister and General Director of Iran Foreign Ministry’s West Asia Department, Seyyed Rasoul Mousavi and discussed Afghan peace process, security and economic ties.

Mr. Nab highlighted the recent developments in the Afghan peace talks, security, and economic affairs with Mr. Mousavi. Deputy and Acting Foreign Minister added that Iran’s continued support to the legitimate demands of the Afghan people and government in the peace process as well as Iran’s efforts in establishing regional consensus thereof was important.

“Relations between Afghanistan and Iran historic and enduring. Emphasizing on the continuation of Iran’s support to the Afghan Peace Talks, a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, and the preservation of gains in last two decades are vital” Mr. Mousavi said in Kabul during his visit.

The two sides also discussed and exchanged views on the significance of signing the Afghanistan-Iran comprehensive cooperation agreement, expanding bilateral relations, enhanced cooperation between the two countries in health, education, border, and consular spheres, and Iran’s role in ensuring peace in Afghanistan.

KABUL, 01 June 2021, (TON): A statement from the Presidential Palace said that United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officials during a meeting briefed President Ashraf Ghani on the agency’s future development projects and cooperation in Afghanistan.

USAID Officials briefed the president on future projects in Afghanistan that included anti-corruption schemes, strengthening democracy, good governance, health, education and support to women and girls.

The visiting officials said that our strategy regarding peace is developed according to the existing and future circumstances. We support enduring, just and Afghan owned peace process.

President Ghani hailed USAID for its cooperation and activities and added the government’s top priority was water management, development of agriculture sector, improving the processing of products and focusing on exports.

President further added that we should focus more on our domestic products and in terms of basic services your cooperation and activities should be result-oriented.

KABUL, 01 June 2021, (TON): According to media reports Gulbduddin Hekmatyar, Hizb-i-Islami leader revealed details of his meeting with President Ashraf Ghani at former President Hamid Karzai’s residence.

In new details, Hekmatyar said “an agreement was reached in the meeting for formation of a non-coalition transitional government, holding presidential, parliamentary and local councils elections, release of prisoners, removal from blacklist and formation of Supreme Council of State.”

He further said that they also agreed that a two or three member delegation should hold a secret meeting with the Taliban leadership before the supreme council of state meets them in Istanbul conference.

“President promised to implement the agreement within eight days from the meeting, but faced opposition from his aides” Hekmatyar said.

Hekmatyar further added that he would not join the supreme council of state if it doesn’t have the decision making authority.

GENEVA, 01 June 2021, (TON): Palestinians and the Muslims nations criticized Press Statement by US Mission Geneva at UN Human Rights Council Session on the Israeli-Palestinian Situation.

US Mission Geneva said, "The United States deeply regrets today’s decision by the Human Rights Council to establish an open-ended Commission of Inquiry into the recent violence between Israel and the Palestinians.  We have approached the recent crisis with a clear focus: bringing an end to the conflict as quickly as possible, and providing necessary humanitarian relief for civilians. We are committed to working with other members of the international community to create the conditions for a lasting and sustainable peace and will support actions in the UN that bring the parties together or promote peace and stability,"

"It is deeply unfortunate that while we and others have been working to uphold and strengthen the cease-fire, ensure humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and continue the hard work of discussions on how to achieve a lasting peace, some members of the Human Rights Council have chosen to engage in a distraction that adds nothing to ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.  The action today instead threatens to imperil the progress that has been made in recent weeks,"

"We all should be working to find real solutions to help the Palestinian people and ensuring that terrorist organizations, including Hamas, do not exploit the situation on the ground, including by indiscriminate firing of rockets, to further their own destructive aims,"

"The actions of the Human Rights Council today do not contribute to peace. They will not help bring about lasting solutions to the challenges in the region, nor provide greater dignity, freedom, or prosperity for either Palestinians or Israelis. We will continue to advocate for Israel to be treated fairly in the Human Rights Council."