Monday, 22 December, 2025 | 1 Rajabul Murajjab, 1447
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 167 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
PAKISTAN–IRAQ VOW TO UNLOCK ECONOMIC POTENTIAL, DEEPEN STRATEGIC COOPERATION g
PRESIDENT ZARDARI, IRAQI COUNTERPART AGREE TO UNITED FRONT AGAINST EXTREMISM, PLEDGING JOINT FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM, NARCO TRADE
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BAGHDAD/ISLAMABAD Staff report
AKISTAN and Iraq on Sunday reaffirmed their resolve to fight extremism, terrorism and narco trade while enhancing bilateral cooperation, as President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s firm support for Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity, and renewed Islamabad’s commitment to Iraq’s stability, prosperity and democratic progress. The reaffirmation came during a meeting between President Zardari and his Iraqi counterpart, President Dr Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, in Baghdad, according to a statement issued by the President’s Office. Upon arrival at the Baghdad
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ZARDARI REAFFIRMS UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR IRAQ’S SOVEREIGNTY, UNITY, OFFERING SKILLED MANPOWER AND DIGITAL GOVERNANCE SUPPORT
Palace, President Zardari was accorded a guard of honour. An official welcoming ceremony was held, followed by a one-on-one meeting between the two presidents and delegation-level talks. President Zardari, who is expected to meet senior Iraqi leadership during the visit, arrived in Iraq on Saturday night and was received at Baghdad airport by Iraq’s Culture Minister Ahmed Fakkak Al-Badrani. According to the statement, President Zardari received a guard of honour upon arrival at the palace, where he was also scheduled to attend a luncheon and hold a one-onone meeting with his Iraqi counterpart. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the growing diplomatic momentum generated through recent high-level exchanges.
“The president noted that current levels of bilateral trade do not reflect the true potential of PakistanIraq economic, cultural and security relations,” the statement said. “He highlighted opportunities for expanding cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture and defence production sectors, in addition to information technology, construction, pharmaceuticals and related industries.” resident Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to support Iraq’s reconstruction and development efforts through the provision of skilled and semi-skilled manpower under the existing Memorandum of Understanding on manpower transmission, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID).
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CdF Munir flags afghan role in ttp infiltration, asserts state authority on jihad RAWALPINDI Staff report
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir has said that a significant majority of banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) formations infiltrating into Pakistan consist of Afghan nationals, revealing that around 70 per cent of what
he termed Fitna al-Khawarij elements entering the country are Afghans, underscoring serious concerns over cross-border militancy and regional security. The defence forces chief made these remarks while addressing the National Ulema Conference held in Islamabad on December 10. While official details of his address re-
mained limited, excerpts and video clips of the Field Marshal’s speech were aired by television channels on Sunday, drawing wide attention to his candid observations. Referring to the persistent security challenge, Field Marshal Asim Munir questioned the continued use of Afghan soil by militant groups targeting Pakistan.
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