In partnership with
PM COMMENDS PAEC’ HEALTH SERVICES; TERMS SERVING HUMANITY NOBLER CAUSE Monday, 29 December, 2025 | 8 Rajabul Murajjab, 1447
g
g
Profit
Rs 50.00 | Vol XVI No 174 | 40 Pages | Karachi Edition
PREMIER SHEHBAZ INAUGURATES PAEC’S g HIGHLIGHTS HARDSHIPS OF PATIENTS CANCER CARE HOSPITAL KINOR IN TRAVELING FROM REMOTE AREAS FOR MUZAFFARABAD, BRINGING MODERN LIFE-SAVING CARE, CITING PERSONAL CANCER TREATMENT CLOSER TO PATIENTS EXPERIENCE AS A CANCER SURVIVOR
URGES PAEC TO CONTINUE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE HOPE AND EARLY DETECTION TO PATIENTS
P
g
ISLAMABAD
PAEC CHAIRMAN SAYS 20 CENTERS HANDLE 80% OF CANCER CASES NATIONWIDE, MARKING KINOR AS 21ST FACILITY, EQUIPPED WITH LATEST TECHNOLOGY UNDER EXPERT SUPERVISION
ISLAMABAD
staff report
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday lauded the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) for its pivotal role in the health sector, describing the provision of advanced cancer treatment to patients as the “biggest service to humanity.” Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Kashmir Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy (KINOR) in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister said there could be no nobler cause than serving patients at their doorstep—especially those who previously had to travel long distances to Islamabad for treatment of life-threatening diseases. In his remarks, broadcast live on national television, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the efforts of PAEC and related authorities, urging them to recognize the hardships of patients unable to afford expensive treatments for fatal illnesses like cancer. Citing his personal experience as a cancer survivor, he emphasized the importance of easing the financial and logistical burdens on patients coming from remote areas. He stressed that PAEC should continue its efforts to contain the disease and bring hope to cancer patients, underlining the moral responsibility of providing quality care close to patients’ homes. The ceremony was attended by AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians, and leading health experts. Speaking on the occasion, PAEC Chairman Dr.
staff report
Raja Ali Raza Anwar highlighted the commission’s contributions to healthcare, noting that the 20 cancer treatment centers established with PAEC’s support currently handle 80 percent of cancer patients across Pakistan. He said that through awareness, screening, and early diagnosis, these centers provide modern and life-saving care. Dr. Anwar added that KINOR would be the 21st facility in the country, offering state-of-the-art equipment and expert oncology supervision to residents of AJK. He noted that nearly 60 percent of patients present at advanced stages, emphasizing the urgent need for early detection, awareness, and timely intervention. Each year, approximately 1,000 new cancer pa-
tients from AJK travel to PAEC hospitals in other provinces, facing long distances and financial strain. A message from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi was also screened, congratulating Pakistan for establishing cancer treatment facilities and commending PAEC for serving humanity with cuttingedge treatment equipment. Earlier during his visit, the prime minister toured various departments of the hospital and received briefings on the institute’s facilities, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving healthcare access for all Pakistanis, particularly in remote regions.
Pakistan among 21 countries, OIC unequivocally reject Israel’s Somaliland recognition ISLAMABAD
staff report
Pakistan on Sunday joined the 20 Muslim and Arab countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to unequivocally reject Israel’s recognition of the “self-declared Republic of Somaliland,” condemning that Tel Aviv’s measure reflected its “full and blatant disregard for international law,” according to a Foreign Office (FO) statement. In the joint statement, issued by the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Gambia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Maldives, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkiye, Yemen, and the OIC, emphasized that Israel’s unilateral action threatens regional and international peace and security. The statement also expressly rejected any potential linkage between Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and attempts to forcibly expel the Palestinian people from their land,
describing such measures as unacceptable in principle. The joint declaration underscores the commitment of Muslim and Arab nations to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states while opposing any actions that could set a dangerous precedent in international relations. “The FMs of Muslim and Arab countries warn that the unprecedented move poses serious repercussions for peace and security in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea and carries grave implications for international peace and security, while reflecting Israel’s blatant disregard for international law,” the FO statement said. Condemning the move in the strongest terms, the ministers said the recognition constituted a grave violation of the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, which explicitly mandates the protection of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reflects Israel’s expansionist policies. The ministers reiterated their full support for the sovereignty of
the Federal Republic of Somalia and expressed unequivocal rejection of any measures that undermine Somalia’s unity, territorial integrity, or its sovereignty over its entire territory. Meanwhile, in a call with Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for Somalia’s sovereignty and condemned actions undermining it, the FO said in a post on X. “The Somali Foreign Minister thanked the DPM/FM (Dar) for standing by Somalia and for Pakistan’s continued and sustained support,” the post read. “He also sought Pakistan’s assistance in raising Somalia’s concerns at the UNSC.” The FO said that Dar affirmed Pakistan’s full support for Somalia at the UN and other multilateral fora. Similarly, in another call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty, Dar discussed regional and global developments, with Somalia and Yemen in particular, the FO said in another social media post.
2025 becomes deadliest year for militants since 2015, with 2,115 fatalities: PICSS ISLAMABAD
staff report
Pakistan experienced a marked escalation in violence in 2025, with attacks intensifying in both tempo and lethality, pushing multiple security indicators to their highest levels in years. According to a report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the year proved to be the deadliest for terrorists, with 2,115 militants killed, while 664 security personnel and 580 civilians lost their lives in combat-related incidents. The PICSS report highlighted that 2025 not only saw a steep rise in overall combat-related deaths but also became the deadliest year for terrorists since 2015, the most lethal for security forces since 2011, and the worst for civilian casualties in a decade. “Militant attacks climbed to their highest annual total since 2014, and the use of suicide bombings and small drones showed a clear upward trend,” the report said. According to PICSS statistics, combat-related deaths in 2025 rose by 73 percent to
British daily credits CDF Asim Munir’s front-foot strategy for Pakistan’s diplomatic comeback
3,387, compared with 1,950 in 2024. This figure included 2,115 terrorists, 664 security forces personnel, 580
civilians, and 28 members of progovernment peace committees.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
12 Indian proxy terrorists neutralized in Kalat, Karak operations RAWALPINDI
staff report
Security forces killed 12 terrorists in intelligence-based operations conducted separately in Balochistan and KhyberPakhtunkhwa on Sunday, according to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and the military’s media wing on Sunday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces killed four terrorists belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Kalat district. The ISPR said the operation was carried out on Saturday
following reported presence of terrorists linked to Fitna alHindustan in the area. “During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location. After an intense exchange of fire, four Indian-sponsored terrorists were neutralised,” the ISPR said in a statement. The military said weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the killed terrorists, who were actively involved in multiple terrorist activities in the area. Sanitisation operations were continuing to ensure no other Indian-sponsored terrorists remained in the vicinity.
Pakistan’s recent diplomatic gains have received prominent international recognition, with British newspaper The Telegraph describing the country’s engagement with Washington as a clear success, crediting Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir with playing decisively on both the military and diplomatic fronts to restore Pakistan’s standing in the United States. In an article titled “How Pakistan won over the White House,” The Telegraph wrote that the extradition of a suspect involved in an attack on the US Army proved to be a major turning point in Pakistan’s relations with the Trump administration, helping rebuild trust despite lingering bitterness from President Donald Trump’s first term. The report noted that during his address to the US Congress, President Trump publicly thanked Pakistan for its practical cooperation against terrorism, signalling a renewed level of confidence in Islamabad. According to the article, Pakistan has since regained a strong position in Washington, even in the face of intense Indian lobbying. The Telegraph observed that Pakistan gained a clear diplomatic advantage, receiving better trade tariff concessions than many other countries, and securing direct access to the Oval Office for Pakistan’s prime minister and Field Marshal Asim Munir. The paper said Pakistan’s effective diplomacy helped change the overall atmosphere at the White House. The article further described Pakistan’s nomination of President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize as an extraordinary diplomatic move, noting that Islamabad earned trust not merely through statements but by delivering concrete results.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03