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PAKISTAN AMONG EIGHT MUSLIM-ARAB NATIONS BACK UK BAN ON ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS' IMPORTS Thursday, 10 September, 2026 | 27 Rabiul Awwal, 1448
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JOINT STATEMENT URGES WORLD TO ACT AGAINST ILLEGAL SETTLEMENT ACTIVITIES
SEVEN COUNTRIES CITE INTERNATIONAL LAW, UN RESOLUTIONS AND ICJ RULING
FMS OF 12 EUROPEAN NATIONS, INCLUDING DENMARK, FINLAND, ICELAND, IRELAND, NORWAY, POLAND, PORTUGAL, SPAIN AND SWEDEN, ALSO EXPRESS INTENTION TO FOLLOW SUIT
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 166 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
ital, in accordance with international law.
ISLAMABAD
Saleem Jadoon
AKISTAN, along with seven other Arab and Muslim countries, on Wednesday welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, urging the international community to follow suit in accordance with international law and take steps to “hold accountable settlement organisations and individuals engaged in illegal settlement activities.” A joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and released by the Foreign Office (FO), expressed hope that the international community would adopt similar measures against illegal Israeli settlement activities. The ministers also welcomed an earlier joint statement on the two-state solution issued by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. “They encourage the international community to build on these steps and adopt concrete measures to bring an end to activities that support or sustain illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the FO stated. The UK imposed the trade measures on Tuesday, alongside Canada and France. The decision was announced by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who accused the Israeli government of turning a “blind eye” to what he described as “ethnic cleansing” by settlers
in the West Bank. Meanwhile, a joint statement by the foreign ministers of 12 nations, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, also expressed an intention to follow suit, stressing that the Israeli government’s actions in the West Bank undermined prospects for a two-state solution. The FO said the seven countries considered the ban consistent with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016). They also viewed the decision as consistent with the International Court of Justice’s July 19, 2024, advisory opinion, which requires states “not to recognise as legal the situation arising from Israel’s unlawful occupation and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situ-
Bilawal asks Naqvi to debate new provinces in Parliament LONDON
Staff RepoRt
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was entitled to express his views on the creation of new provinces, but insisted that the issue should be debated in Parliament rather than at business forums. Speaking to reporters during his visit to London with his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal acknowledged that he and Mr Naqvi could hold different views on the politically sensitive issue. “Mohsin Naqvi will be speaking in his own voice, and I speak in my own voice,” he said, adding that the interior minister had the right to express his opinion. However, Bilawal urged Mr Naqvi to bring the matter to the National Assembly for a formal debate. “As I have answered this question before, my thinking is that this issue should be debated in the National Assembly,” he said. Taking a swipe at the interior minister, Bilawal added: “Mohsin Naqvi rarely comes to the National Assembly, so instead of coming to business forums, Mohsin Naqvi should come to Parliament. There should be a debate on this in Parliament.”
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ation created by Israel’s occupation”. “In this regard, they reiterate their call for Israel to rescind all measures taken in connection with settlement activities and other measures aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the joint statement read. The joint statement also stressed that Gaza was an integral part of Palestine and called for the “full and immediate” implementation of US President Donald Trump’s ‘Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict’. The ministers reiterated that the only viable path to lasting and comprehensive peace was implementation of a two-state solution and establishment of an independent, sovereign, contiguous and viable Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, borders, with Jerusalem as its cap-
ISLAMABAD STANDS BY PALESTINE: Earlier in the day, Pakistan welcomed the United Kingdom-led decision to impose trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying that the illegal settlements undermined efforts towards a two-state solution, according to a separate FO statement. In a statement on its X account, the FO welcomed the decision, saying: “The continued expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory constitutes a blatant violation of international law as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions.” Maintaining that Israel’s actions were a hindrance to a two-state solution, the FO also welcomed the joint statement by the 12 countries, saying they were considering “similar measures and support[ing] such efforts against the illegal Israeli settlements”. “Pakistan hopes that these measures will send a clear and unequivocal message of rejection of illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territory,” the statement said. Islamabad reiterated its support for Palestine, vowing to stand by its people and “their just struggle for selfdetermination”. In response to the UK’s actions, Israel ordered the closure of the UK’s consulate in Jerusalem earlier in the day. It also said it would expel British representatives at a centre monitoring the US-brokered ceasefire plan in Gaza, bar British training for Palestinian Authority forces and ban 12 Britons, mostly members of parliament, from visiting the country.
IAEA passes resolution reporting Iran to UN Security Council VIENNA, AUSTRIA ReuteRS
The UN nuclear watchdog's 35-nation board of governors has passed a resolution reporting Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years for breaching its non-proliferation obligations, diplomats said on Wednesday. The resolution follows a previous one passed on June 12 last year — the day before Israel started bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, soon followed by the United States — that found Iran in "non-compliance" with those obligations. Reporting it to the council for that breach required another resolution. While the Security Council is unlikely to take concrete action against Iran since its allies Russia and China are permanent, veto-wielding members, the move is an escalation in a diplomatic standoff between Iran and Western powers. Iran warned on Monday it would retaliate if the resolution passed.
IRAN, RUSSIA, CHINA OPPOSE WESTERN NUCLEAR PUSH: Iran, Russia and China have rejected the draft resolution, saying the move has no legal basis. The three countries said the draft resolution “ignores attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities” and was “aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran and weakening Iran-IAEA cooperation”. They also said any attempt to activate the “snapback” mechanism after the expiry of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 “has no legal effect”. The statement condemned attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and said the “current security conditions have made the normal implementation of IAEA safeguards in Iran impossible”. Iran, Russia and China urged IAEA member states not to support the Western-drafted resolution. The three countries’ opposition comes as Western powers seek to increase pressure on Tehran through international institutions over its nuclear programme.
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Makkah defence pact may become operational if Yemen conflict spills into Saudi Arabia: Asif ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the tripartite Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye could become operational if the conflict in Yemen spills over into Saudi territory. Speaking in a TV talk show on Tuesday night, Asif said there was no ambiguity over the obligations of the defence pact, under which aggression against one member would be treated as aggression against all three. “This is a joint defence pact. And unprovoked aggression or spillover of whatever is happening in Yemen into Saudi Arabia, definitely, the pact will become operational; there should be no doubt in this,” he said. “We are bound by the terms and conditions of this pact and we will honour them in case there is a need,” the defence minister added. His remarks came a day after Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed attacks on several targets in southern Saudi Arabia, which left more than 70 people injured and set oil installations ablaze. The defence pact, signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye on August 7, seeks to strengthen collective deterrence and provides that an attack against one signatory would be treated as an attack against all three. Asked whether Islamabad and Riyadh had been in contact following the latest attacks, Asif said he was not aware of any such engagement.
Petrol price up Rs3.40, diesel jumps Rs6.72 for September 10
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Petrol rises to Rs367.75 per litre, while HSD crosses Rs390 mark to reach Rs392.67 per litre under latest daily revision ISLAMABAD
ahmad ahmadani
The government has increased the price of petrol by Rs3.40 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs6.72 per litre, with the revised prices applicable for September 10, 2026. According to the Petroleum Division, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) revised the ex-depot prices of petroleum products under the revised petroleum pricing mechanism issued by the Federal Government. Following the latest increase, the ex-depot price of HSD has risen from Rs385.95 to Rs392.67 per litre, registering a hike of Rs6.72 per litre. The price of petrol, officially termed Motor Spirit (MS), has been increased from Rs364.35 to Rs367.75 per litre, showing a rise of Rs3.40 per litre. The revised prices are applicable for September 10, 2026, according to the Petroleum Division. The latest increase comes after a series of fuel price adjustments in recent days, adding further pressure on consumers already facing higher transportation and household costs. With the latest revision, the price of HSD has crossed the Rs390-per-litre mark for the first time in this latest round of increases, while petrol has moved closer to Rs370 per litre.