November 23, 2023

ISLAMABAD/RISALPUR – Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday said peace in the region could not be guaranteed till the resolution of the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir between Pakistan and India. “Let me make it clear that there can be no peace without the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue,” he said in his address at the graduation ceremony of the officers here at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Academy Asghar Khan. PM Kakar said Pakistan was a peace-loving nation and wished to maintain friendly relations with all countries, especially its neighbours. He, however, categorically stated that the country’s desire for peace “must not be understood as weakness”. The prime minister strongly condemned the ongoing grave human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Pakistan, he said, would not indulge in any arm race but would continue to enhance its capability in line with evolving technology to deter any aggression. The prime minis­ter highlighted that the rapidly changing geo-strategic environ­ment had a profound impact on Pakistan and rest of the region. No plans for electoral alliance with PTI, says PPP “Therefore, the situation de­mands advancements in space networks, cyber technology, nano technology and artificial in­telligence,” he said. He expressed satisfaction that PAF modernised itself though smart induction of cutting-edge niche technol­ogy and achieved great prog­ress in cyber space and non-con­tact warfare through indigenous means. PM Kakar termed the Armed Forces of Pakistan as pro­fessionally competent and well-trained to cope with all internal and external challenges. “The nation holds our Armed Forc­es in high esteem for the sacri­fices they rendered for national defence and for their contribu­tion towards nation-building,” he said. He mentioned that the country’s brave Armed Forces always showed great courage during testing times to keep the national flag high. “I assure you that as a na­tion we have surmounted chal­lenges in the past and Insha’Al­lah, we will do so in future and make the country prosperous,” he said. The prime minister con­gratulated the cadets graduated from the colleges of flying train­ing and aeronautical engineer­ing and expressed confidence that they would give their best professional performance with commitment and diligence. “Be­ing the custodians of the PAF, you carry the hopes of this na­tion and must work hard to keep abreast with modern technolo­gy and trends related to modern warfare,” he told the graduates. Imam-e-Kaaba urges world community to stop Gaza crimes The PAF graduates includ­ed 148 General Duty Pilots, 94 Aeronautical Engineers, 104 air defence and 130 of combat support course officers. Earlier, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu received the prime min­ister on the venue. Bugles were blown when PM Kakar as chief guest of the ceremony entered the arena. The prime minis­ter onboard a PAF jeep inspect­ed the formation of the smart­ly turned out contingents of the PAF falcons. He awarded the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Banner to the Champions No. 3 Squadron on its consistently best perfor­mance in all semesters. The prime minister also pinned badges on the professional­ly distinguished graduating ca­dets. The Chief of the Air Staff tro­phies for best performance were given to Muhammad Moo­sa Jawad (best pilot), Muham­mad Ali Gohar (general avia­tion), Sajid Sikandar Abbas (air defence), Syed Saad Ali (com­bat support) and Sohaib Saeed (aeronautical engineering). ECP to release final list of constituencies on Nov 30 The Swords of Honour were awarded to Aviation Cadets Ahmed Malik (flying) and Sohaib Saeed (engineering). The prime minister witnessed a thrilling fly-past of the formations of PAF jets including Mirage, F-7P, JF-17 Thunder and J-10C. Source: https://www.nation.com.pk/22-Nov-2023/v

NEW YORK: US-Canada border crossings near Niagara Falls were closed Wednesday as terrorism investigators responded to a vehicle explosion at Rainbow Bridge, local and state authorities said. Two people were killed in the blast, according to US media citing authorities. Their identities were not yet clear. The cause of the incident was not immediately clear but New York Governor Kathy Hochul said state police and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force were monitoring all points of entry into the state. US media cited law enforcement sources as saying there were two people in the car, which had passed through one border checkpoint where it was selected for a secondary check. The car then sped up, crashed into a barrier and exploded, the sources said, stressing it was unclear if the blast was the result of a device. “I am traveling to Buffalo to meet with law enforcement and emergency responders and will update New Yorkers when more information becomes available,” Hochul posted on social media. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau´s office said he had been briefed and was in contact with US law enforcement. Multiple Canadian agencies were supporting the investigation, it added. Witnesses reported hearing a deafening explosion and seeing a large cloud of smoke near the inspections station. Ivan Vitalii, a visitor from Ukraine, told the Niagara Gazette he and a friend were at a nearby convenience store on the US side when they saw a car exit a parking lot and travel toward the bridge. “We heard something smash,” he said. “We saw fire and big, black smoke.” Ron Rienas, of the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority, told ABC News all four bridges connecting the two countries over the Niagara River have been closed. Dramatic images posted to social media, which AFP has not verified, purported to show thick plumes of black smoke rising from a large conflagration at the crossing. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1131507-two-killed-in-car-explosion-at-niagara-border-prompting-terrorism-task-force-response

Israel intensified its attacks across the Gaza Strip late Wednesday shortly before a humanitarian pause in fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters was set to take effect. The Israeli army struck several areas across the Gaza Strip, particularly in the northern parts, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. It said a number of people were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes on residential homes in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The agency cited local sources as saying that Israeli artillery bombed the vicinity of Khalifa School in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, which is home to more than 8,000 displaced people, leaving many injured. In Gaza City, Israeli warplanes struck the Sheikh Ridwan and Shejaiya neighborhoods. Artillery shelling was also reported in Al-Fukhari east of Khan Younis in the southern the Gaza Strip and another airstrike on a home in Rafah which left at least three people injured, WAFA said. The latest attacks come as a humanitarian pause is expected to come into effect as a result of Qatari, Egyptian and US mediation between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. Source: https://www.nation.com.pk/23-Nov-2023/israel-intensifies-attacks-across-gaza-ahead-of-humanitarian-pause