Pakistan PM leaves for Azerbaijan on two-day visit for talks on defense, trade and energy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has sent another aid consignment for Palestinians that carried 100 tons of essential supplies, the Pakistani government said on Sunday.

This is the 14th humanitarian relief consignment for Palestine, which reinforces Pakistan’s unwavering support for the people of Gaza, according to Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID).

This shipment is part of Pakistan’s ongoing humanitarian efforts and marks the 25th overall relief consignment sent to people affected by Israeli military actions in the Middle East.

The latest consignment comprised essential relief supplies, including bell tents, winterized tents, tarpaulin sheets and medical tools.

“The aid was transported via a chartered flight from Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, to El Arish International Airport, Egypt, for onward delivery to Gaza,” the PID said.

Israel’s war on Gaza, which began after Oct. 2023 attacks by Hamas, has killed over 48,000 people, injured thousands more and displaced almost all of the 2 million population of the territory.

Pakistan has so far dispatched a total of 1,478 tons of relief aid exclusively for Palestine, demonstrating the country’s continued commitment to supporting the people of Gaza in these difficult times, according to the PID.

Overall, the South Asian country has dispatched 1,961 tons of humanitarian aid, including 372 tons for Lebanon and 111 tons for Syria.

“The Government of Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to standing with the people of Palestine and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance based on the evolving needs of those affected by the ongoing crisis,” the PID said.

Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”

The South Asian country has also called on Israel to withdraw from Lebanese and Syrian territories, including Golan Heights, and allow United Nations (UN) peacekeepers to freely operate in the region to ensure compliance with international agreements.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has closed a key crossing on its northwestern border with Afghanistan over the “construction of trenches” near the frontier, a Pakistani police official said on Sunday, which has led to the suspension of cross-border movement.

The Torkham border crossing was closed late on Friday night, when Afghan Taliban authorities initiated “construction of trenches and other development work” along the border, according to Naheed Khan, a senior police official in Pakistan’s Khyber district that borders Afghanistan.

The closure of border crossing by Pakistani authorities has resulted in suspension of movement of pedestrians and trade between the two neighboring countries, but there were no reports of skirmishes between the two sides.

“It [Torkham crossing] is closed both for pedestrians and heavy vehicles since 12 at night on Feb. 21. No firing is reported from either side,” Khan told Arab News.

“Some families of Bacha Mina, a dusty village near the border on Pakistani side, have left the area for safer places to dodge any eventuality. Also some loaded trucks have returned to Jamrud Bazaar.”

There was no immediate comment from the Afghan side on the closure of the key border crossing.

The development comes at a time of strained ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan over a surge in militants attacks in Pakistan’s western provinces that border Afghanistan.

Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.

In the past, border clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces have led to the closure of key crossings like Torkham and Chaman, severely disrupting trade and halting the movement of people between the two countries.

In August, the Torkham border was shut down for three days after the Afghan Taliban announced they were investigating reports of Pakistani fighter jets allegedly violating Afghan airspace in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.

Tensions escalated again between the two countries in December, following reports of Pakistani airstrikes targeting alleged militant camps in Afghanistan. Afghan officials reported the strikes resulted in civilian casualties.