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PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN AGREE NOT TO ALLOW USE OF EACH OTHER’S SOIL FOR TERROR Sunday, 20 April, 2025 I 21 Shawwal, 1446
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g FOUR PRINCIPLED DPM DAR SAYS TWO SIDES AGREE TO CONTINUE DIALOGUE DECISIONS WERE TAKEN FOR RESOLVING BILATERAL ISSUES REGARDING THE ISSUE IN A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT OF REFUGEES: DAR
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 283 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
DAR HOLD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH ACTING AFGHAN FM, PM AND DEPUTY PM
BOTH COUNTRIES REAFFIRMED COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONS, HIGH-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT: FO
‘Better late than never’: Saif welcomes Pakistan, Afghanistan dialogue PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
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KABUL STAFF REPORT
EPUTY Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said both Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed not to allow nefarious elements to use their soil for attacks or illicit activities, saying both sides would be responsible to take appropriate action in such a case. Addressing a press conference after talks with many Afghan officials during his daylong visit to Kabul, DPM Dar said that the two sides agreed to continue dialogue for resolving bilateral issues in a positive environment. “We have requested Afghan Interim government that we have to work together for the progress, betterment and
peace and security of the region. For that, neither will we allow anyone to use our soil to conduct illicit activities in Afghanistan and graciously nor will you allow anyone to use Afghan soil”, the Pakistani Foreign Minster stated. Dar arrived in Kabul earlier Saturday on a day-long visit to discuss security issues that could potentially lead to a thaw in relations between the two neighbours after protracted stalemate over Islamabad’s terrorism concerns. The DPM said: “We both countries will strictly deal with and no one will be permitted to — there is no permission either way — use our land to use against the other for any security risk or terrorism. If someone does, then we both will be responsible to take action against such elements in our countries and stop them.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Barrister Saif on Saturday welcomed the federal government’s decision to initiate dialogue with Afghanistan, adding that although the decision has come late, it is a positive step in the spirit of “better late than never.” In his statement, Saif said that the KP government had repeatedly urged the federal government to start negotiations with Afghanistan in order to take effective steps toward ending terrorism and bringing peace to the region. He emphasised that KP was on the front line in the fight against terrorism and that it was the most affected province. Therefore, ignoring the province in this sensitive process reflects a lack of seriousness. “The KP government had sent
FM Dar thanked the Afghan side for hosting the Pakistan side in a splendid manner and said he had invited Afghan officials to visit Pakistan. “As I consider
“Terms of Reference” (TORs) to the federal government three months ago for initiating dialogue with Afghanistan. These TORs stressed including tribal elders and all stakeholders in the process,” he added. According to him, the TORs could help make the negotiation process meaningful and successful. He clarified that without taking all stakeholders into confidence, the dialogue process could not be fruitful. “If the government genuinely wants lasting peace in the region, it must seriously include the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and other affected parties in the consultation process. I hope that the federal government will now adopt a more serious approach and work with all relevant parties to develop a comprehensive strategy so that lasting and sustainable peace could be achieved through negotiations with Afghanistan,” he concluded.
here Afghanistan my second home, Pakistan is also their second home.”
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PM’s cross-examination halted by power outage in Rs10b defamation against Khan ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The hearing for a high-profile Rs10 billion defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan, was temporarily suspended due to a power failure at Lahore’s sessions court. The Prime Minister appeared via video link for hearing conducted by an additional sessions judge. However, the cross-examination was abruptly halted due to a power outage. Earlier during the hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Mian Muhammad Hussain Chotya, cross-examined the prime minister, who took an oath before testifying. “I will speak the truth and not make any false statements,” PM Shehbaz stated. During questioning, Khan’s lawyer asked if Sharif accept that his lawsuit was not filed in a district court but with a district judge, to which Sharif’s lawyer interjected arguing that the matter had already been settled. Imran’s counsel pressed further, noting that no media house was made a party in the case. Sharif confirmed this, adding that the defamatory statements were repeatedly aired on television. When asked if the allegations were made face-toface, Sharif replied, “This vile accusation was repeated on TV multiple times.” At one point, Imran’s lawyer asked if he could question in Punjabi, to which Sharif replied, “You’re welcome to.” Khan’s lawyer also questioned whether the TV programmes in which the accusations were made aired from Islamabad. To which the Premier responded that he was unaware of the broadcast origin. The cross-examination came to an abrupt stop when the electricity went out during the PM’s video appearance, halting proceedings. The prime minister clarified that his legal team did not name any media outlet, employee, or official as respondents in the case. He acknowledged that he had described Khan as a political rival in paragraph 3 of the claim but denied that political rivalry justified exchanging defamatory statements. The prime minister’s counsel, Mustafa Ramday, objected to some legal questions posed by Imran Khan’s lawyer, particularly regarding the court’s jurisdiction and the role of the Additional District Judge in hearing the case.