US CENTCOM commander, Pakistan Army chief discuss joint training, regional security/node/2507541/pakistan
US CENTCOM commander, Pakistan Army chief discuss joint training, regional security
General Michael Erik Kurilla (left), the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), calls on Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on May 9, 2024. (Pakistan Army)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir and General Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) discussed regional security and joint training in a meeting on Thursday, the army’s media wing said.
US CENTCOM directs and enables military operations with its allies to increase regional security and promote US interests. Among its stated command priorities is to counter violent extremist organizations.
Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks in its Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces bordering Afghanistan since a fragile truce between the state and the Pakistani Taliban broke down in Nov. 2022.
Both Pakistan and US have collaborated over the years to take out militant organizations, especially in Pakistan’s restive tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Pakistan Army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said General Kurilla called on Munir at the army’s headquarters in Rawalpindi.
“During the meeting, matters of shared interests, particularly cooperation in regional security matters came under discussion,” the ISPR said.
“Both sides discussed avenues of joint training and reiterated the need for enhancing training interactions between CENTCOM and Pakistan Army.”
The ISPR said Kurilla acknowledged Pakistan Army’s success in its fight against “terrorism” and appreciated its continued efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.
Ties between Islamabad and Washington, once close allies, have just started to warm after some years of frosty relations, mostly due to concerns about Pakistan’s alleged support of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistan denies this support.
Relations strained further under the government of former prime minister Imran Khan, who ruled from 2018-22 and antagonized Washington throughout his tenure, welcoming the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 and later accusing Washington of being behind attempts to oust him. Washington has dismissed the accusation.
The government of PM Shehbaz Sharif that took over after Khan and whose term ended last year tried to mend ties but analysts widely believe the United States will not seek a significant broadening of ties with Islamabad in the near future but remain mostly focused on security cooperation, especially on counterterrorism and Afghanistan.
Pakistani father defies social norms, educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest
Fazal Haq, who could not attend college, secured three postgraduate degrees himself before educating children
The 82-year-old academic braved resistance, threats of disownment by family to educate all 17 of his children
Updated 22 min 22 sec ago
NAZAR ISLAM
PESHAWAR: For Fazal Haq, a Pakistani octogenarian academic who grew up in the country’s conservative northwest, acquiring education was not merely a personal pursuit, but a gateway to empowerment and self-reliance for his children, especially daughters.
In an era when the idea of education was a rare privilege in Pakistan’s northwestern Karak district, Haq stood as a beacon of progressive thinking by sending his first-born daughter, Nighat Parveen, to school in the 1970s.
Although he never formally attended college, the 82-year-old pursued private studies, ultimately earning postgraduate degrees in Arabic, Urdu literature, and Islamic studies, before educating all of his 13 daughters and four sons.
“Fewer men attended school during his time, and the notion of women pursuing education was virtually unheard of,” he told Arab News this week. “Yet, despite societal constraints, I made a pioneering decision to send my daughter [Parveen] to school against the societal norms.”
In this photo, taken on September 5, 2024, Pakistani academic Fazal Haq, 82, gestures for a group photograph with his grandchildren in his village in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during an interview with Arab News. Haq defies social norms and educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest. (AN Photo)
Haq said his groundbreaking choice initially seemed promising and his daughters’ early education proceeded smoothly but as they grew older, the murmurs of dissent within his family became louder.
Relatives questioned his wisdom for educating his girls and the resistance escalated to threats of disownment, but Haq said he remained resolute and his daughter achieved prominent positions in both her 8th and 10th grade exams, outshining many in their area. Her academic success reinforced Haq’s belief in his decision.
“That was a big relief, I would say one of my happiest moments,” Haq said, recalling how his extended family members had distanced themselves from him for sending his daughter to high school.
Parveen, who passed her matriculation exam in 1986, told Arab News that initially, she did not grasp the vitality of education and only saw herself fulfilling her father’s mission on a path fraught with obstacles.
“I would often find myself as the only girl in a classroom full of boys. Sitting in a corner, isolated from my peers, I faced the weight of societal scrutiny and the discomfort of being an ‘outsider’,” she said.
“The psychological toll of being the only girl in a boys’ class was immense, but I remained steadfast in the pursuit of education.”
In this photo, taken on September 5, 2024, Nighat Parveen, daughter of Pakistani academic Fazal Haq, gestures outside a government school in her village in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during an interview with Arab News. Haq, 82, defies social norms and educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest. (AN Photo)
Parveen today stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of education as she serves as the principal of Government Girls’ High School in Karak, shaping the minds of future generations.
She set the bar high for all 16 of her siblings — 12 sisters and four brothers — who now have master’s degrees in disciplines as varied as English Literature, Political Science, History, Botany, Zoology, and Physics. All of Haq’s daughters are currently serving as government teachers.
Haq sees education as a gateway to empowerment and self-reliance for women, contrary to the perception in rural communities that believe investing in daughters’ education would benefit the “other household” to which they are wedded off.
“Education equips women with knowledge and confidence to contribute actively to their family’s economic affairs, eliminating the need to depend on others for financial support,” he said.
In this photo, taken on September 5, 2024, Pakistani academic Fazal Haq, 82, gestures for a photograph with his son in his village in Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during an interview with Arab News. Haq defies social norms and educates 13 daughters to master’s level in conservative northwest. (AN Photo)
Haq’s wife, Jahan Bano, did not have a formal education, but her journey alongside her husband reflects a profound transformation. Her ability to converse in English and engage in discussions about politics demonstrates her intellectual growth and confidence in expressing herself.
Both Haq and Bano feel proud that their perspective about women education, which was once widely disapproved by the society, has been embraced by those very critics.
“At this later stage of life, when I watch young girls in school uniforms going to school, college, and university from my balcony, I feel a strange sense of happiness,” Haq added.
Pakistani minister says government renegotiating power deals to cut electricity tariffs
Energy sector viability has been the focus of a critical staff level pact with the IMF for a $7 billion bailout
Awais Leghari says government wants to bring down tariffs from 28 cents to 9 cents for commercial users
Updated 07 September 2024
Reuters
KARACHI: Pakistan is renegotiating contracts with independent power producers to rein in “unsustainable” electricity tariffs, the head of the power ministry said, as households and businesses buckle under soaring energy costs.
Rising power tariffs have stirred social unrest and shuttered industries in the $350 billion economy, which has contracted twice in recent years as inflation hit record highs.
“The existing price structure of power in this country is not sustainable,” Awais Leghari, a federal minister heading Pakistan’s Power Division, told Reuters in an interview on Friday.
He said discussions were under way between power producers and the government because “there is a clear understanding on both sides that the status quo can’t be maintained.”
Leghari stressed that all stakeholders would have to “give in to a certain point” — though without compromising completely on business sustainability — and this would have to be done “as soon as possible.”
Faced with chronic shortages a decade ago, Pakistan approved dozens of private projects by independent power producers (IPPs), financed mostly by foreign lenders. The incentivized deals included high guaranteed returns and commitments to even pay for unused power.
However, a sustained economic crisis has slashed power consumption, leaving the country with excess capacity that it needs to pay for.
Short of funds, the government has built those fixed costs and capacity payments into consumer bills, sparking protests by domestic users and industrial associations.
Four sources in the power sector told Reuters changes to contracts demanded included slashing guaranteed returns, capping dollar rates and moving away from paying for unused power. The sources requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
On Saturday, local media outlet Business Recorder said in a report citing sources that 24 conditions have been proposed for the transition of capacity-based model to take-and-pay model.
However, Leghari told Reuters that no new draft agreements or specific demands had been officially sent to power companies and said the government would not force them to sign new watered down contracts.
“We would sit and talk to them in a civil and professional manner,” he said, adding that the government has always maintained contractual obligations to investors, both foreign and local. He said contract revisions would be by “mutual consent.”
Energy sector viability was the focus of a critical staff level pact in May with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $7 billion bailout. The IMF’s staff report stressed the need to revisit power deals.
Pakistan has already initiated talks on reprofiling power sector debt owed to China as well as negotiations on structural reforms, but progress has been slow. Pakistan has also committed to stop power sector subsidies.
Leghari said current rates were not affordable for domestic or commercial consumers and this was hurting growth because power prices were no longer regionally competitive, putting critical exports at a disadvantage.
He said the aim was to bring tariffs down to 9 US cents per unit for commercial users from about 28 cents currently.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu said on Saturday the country is committed to advancing in space, cyber and electronic warfare to safeguard the territorial integrity of the South Asian nation, according to the military’s media wing.
He made these remarks while addressing the Martyrs’ Day ceremony at the Air Headquarters in Islamabad as the chief guest on September 7.
Historically, this date was marked as PAF Day, celebrating the air force’s contributions, particularly during the 1965 war.
In recent years, however, the day has evolved into Martyrs’ Day to honor the bravery and sacrifice of armed forces personnel who laid down their lives in various conflicts, including the wars of 1965 and 1971.
“The air chief pledged that PAF would continue to strive hard for the advancement in space, electronic warfare, cyber, niche technologies and indigenous defense capability to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations ISPR, said in a statement.
He said the PAF had a proud history of sacrifice, valor and professionalism, calling the Martyrs’ Day an “embodiment of exceptional bravery, flawless professionalism, and an unparalleled spirit of sacrifice” rendered by the armed forces.
“We owe our heroes an eternal debt of gratitude for what they have done for us, setting a supreme example of sacrifice for generations to come,” the air chief said. “On this solemn occasion, we extend our heartfelt tributes to those heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our motherland.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also paid tribute to the courageous air warriors and their families earlier in the day.
“Pakistan takes pride in the courage, dedication, and commitment demonstrated by its Air Force,” he said in a social media post. “Their exceptional service and prowess ensure that our skies are safe and their determination and valour contribute to a stronger Pakistan.”
I salute our courageous air warriors and their families on Air Force Day. Pakistan takes pride in the courage, dedication, and commitment demonstrated by its Air Force. Their exceptional service and prowess ensures that our skies are safe and their determination and valor…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday praised Pakistani security forces for thwarting a militant attack on the Frontier Corps headquarters in Mohmand district, following a statement released by the country’s military that four attackers had been killed in the clash.
Mohmand, a mountainous district in Pakistan’s northwest, shares a border with Afghanistan, where leaders of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are reportedly based.
Local media, citing police authorities, reported the militants tried to enter a paramilitary facility before being intercepted. Two of them detonated suicide vests, while others were killed in the firefight after the security forces responded to the attack.
“The soldiers of Pakistan security forces bravely and professionally sent four suicide bombers, who attempted to attack the [FC] camp, to hell,” the prime minister said. “The entire nation, including myself, pays tribute to the brave officers and soldiers of the security forces.”
“We will continue the war against terrorism until the complete eradication of this scourge from the country,” he added.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, these militants tried to attack the FC headquarters in the early hours of Friday.
“The attempt to enter the camp was effectively thwarted by the security forces personnel, and resultantly the Khwarij [militants], all four suicide bombers, were sent to hell before they could cause the intended damage,” the ISPR said in its statement.
“Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Kharji found in the area,” it continued.
Mohmand and other tribal districts in Pakistan’s northwest became hotbeds of militancy while US-led international forces were fighting in Afghanistan.
Pakistani security forces conducted several military operations to reestablish the state’s writ in the region.
However, militant activity resurged in the area since the fragile ceasefire between the government and the TTP ended in November 2022, leading to a renewed wave of attacks.
KARACHI: Twelve more police constables including three women in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi have been suspended for posting “inappropriate” viral videos on social media, police said on Friday, days after the suspension of their seven colleagues for the same reason.
On Tuesday, a female cop, Maria Gill, was suspended after posting a TikTok video in which she could be seen inviting viewers to meet her at a location where she and her colleagues had been deployed on duty. She was suspended for “unnecessarily endangering the privacy and lives” of her teammates.
On Thursday, Karachi police said six police constables, including two women, had been suspended over videos posted on different social media platforms, calling on them to “report to their respective Zonal Headquarters, where they will be attending daily roll call and parade.”
“On the orders of Sindh Inspector General Ghulam Nabi Memon, Additional IG Karachi suspended 12 more TikTokers,” the Karachi police said in a post on social media site X.
The suspended police personnel included Majid Ali, Kamran Ghulab, Noman Khan, Noman, Waqas, Muhammad Sohail, Irfan Shahbaz, Ahmed Ali, Huzaifa, Sonia, Mehak Khan and Woronika. They were also directed to report to the Zonal Headquarters to face departmental action.
This is not the first time police employees in Pakistan have faced disciplinary action for social media activity deemed inappropriate by high-ups.
In August 2024, Lady Constable Maryam Bhatti was dismissed from Rawalpindi police for similar reasons.
On July 31, 2024, Constable Muqaddas from Islamabad was dismissed from the Federal Police’s Counter-Terrorism Department for making a TikTok video while using an official vehicle.
On July 29, 2024, Assistant Sub-Inspector Inayatullah Niazi was suspended in Chiniot for allowing a transgender person to film a video in the SHO’s office, which was deemed “disrespectful” to the police uniform.
On February 27, 2024, Constable Bahawal Sher was suspended in Faisalabad for sharing a video on social media where he was seen smoking while in uniform and displaying pistols.
Lady Constable Sumbul from Sindh faced an investigation on October 14, 2023, for posting a controversial video supporting Israel while Lady Constable Mehwish Khan was suspended on May 16, 2022, in Muzaffargarh for uploading videos in police uniform.
On July 24, 2020, Constable Wafa Tauqeer was also suspended in Lahore after a TikTok video of her in uniform went viral.
