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DAR, WANG YI HAIL PAKISTAN-CHINA FRIENDSHIP AS ‘VITAL’ FOR REGIONAL PEACE AMID 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC TIES Monday, 5 January, 2026 | 15 Rjabul Murajjab, 1447
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BOTH LEADERS CO-CHAIR 7TH ROUND OF PAKISTAN–CHINA FOREIGN MINISTERS’ STRATEGIC DIALOGUE HELD IN BEIJING HOLD IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON CPEC, TRADE, PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES, AND MULTILATERAL COOPERATION
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LEADERS REAFFIRM ALL-WEATHER STRATEGIC COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, STABILITY, PROSPERITY
LOGO UNVEILED FOR 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF PAKISTAN-CHINA DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, YEAR-LONG CELEBRATIONS PLANNED
saleem Jadoon
OREIGN Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Sunday described PakistanChina “Iron-clad” friendship as “vital” for regional peace, stability, and prosperity, as both leaders co-chaired the 7th round of the Pakistan–China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Beijing. Dar arrived in Beijing on Saturday at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart to co-chair the high-level strategic dialogue, a premier consultative platform designed to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest. Following the dialogue, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement on social media platform X that the two leaders reaffirmed the significance of the AllWeather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and agreed to enhance coordination at bilateral and multilateral fora to ensure closer collaboration on shared goals. During their discussions, Dar and Wang conducted an in-depth review of Pakistan-China relations and exchanged views on key issues at both regional and global levels. The two sides emphasized the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), trade, multilateral cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges as pillars of sustained partnership. They also
agreed to jointly celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations, unveiling the official logo for the milestone to mark the beginning of year-long commemorations, the statement added. The FO noted that the dialogue serves as the highest consultative mechanism between the two countries, providing a structured platform to discuss both bilateral cooperation and regional and international developments of mu-
tual concern. This year’s dialogue also included plans for a series of initiatives and commemorative activities to honor the 75th anniversary in a meaningful and befitting manner. The 6th round of the strategic dialogue had been held in Islamabad in August, with Wang meeting Dar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and President Asif Ali Zardari. At that time, China reaffirmed its commitment to working with Pakistan to promote regional peace, de-
PCIW rejects India’s ‘abeyance’ claim on IWT g
COMMISSIONER SYED MEHAR ALI SHAH SAYS IWT REMAINS FULLY IN FORCE UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, WARNING INDIA OF LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC RESPONSE ISLAMABAD
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Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW) Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah on Sunday firmly rejected India’s claim of placing the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in “abeyance,” stating that the treaty remains fully binding under international law. He cautioned that New Delhi’s repeated non-cooperation and sidestepping of its obligations on self-created grounds is “alarming,” prompting Pakistan to pursue formal legal and diplomatic measures. Speaking on a television channel, Shah said the word “abeyance” is not recognized under international treaty law and is essentially a coined term, adding that India cannot suspend, breach, or terminate the treaty. He recalled that in April 2025, India attempted to hold the IWT in abeyance following the Pahalgam incident, which killed 26 tourists and for which New Delhi blamed Islamabad without evidence. Pakistan had called any attempt to suspend its water share an “act of war.” In June, the Permanent Court of Arbitration clarified that India cannot unilaterally suspend the treaty. Shah stressed that the IWT was carefully negotiated to withstand political tensions, and its dispute-resolution mechanism is designed to prevent unilateral actions. He added that any attempt by India to reduce water flows
to Pakistan would also be considered an “act of war.” “There is no fixed amount of water allocated to Pakistan; the waters should follow the natural pattern of the western rivers,” he said. He noted that Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus have been flowing normally, though India created three episodes since April 24, 2025, altering flows for a few days. Shah explained that the treaty requires both parties to peacefully resolve disputes or refer them to a neutral forum or the Court of Arbitration. He cited the Baglihar Dam as an example, where Pakistan’s objections were binding but limited to that project, prompting Pakistan to seek general interpretation to prevent India from using the ruling for future projects. The commissioner also highlighted other Indian projects on the western rivers, including the Ratle Hydroelectric Plant (850 MW), and the Kiru and Kwar hydroelectric projects, noting that Pakistan raised objections bilaterally and through third-party forums. Regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s threats to stop Pakistan’s water share, Shah emphasized: “There is no room for stopping or partially stopping Pakistan’s water. Such action also violates moral standards.” He recalled that the three eastern rivers — Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej — were always geographically advantageous to India, while the western rivers’ natural flows to Pakistan must not be altered.
Three on-duty traffic policemen martyred in Lakki Marwat attack g
GUNMEN ON MOTORCYCLE TARGET POLICEMEN ON DUTY IN SERAI NAURANG, ANOTHER SLAIN IN BANNU LAKKI MARWAT/BANNU staff report
In a fresh spate of militant violence targeting law enforcement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three traffic police personnel were martyred on Sunday after suspected terrorists opened fire on them in the Serai Naurang area of Lakki Marwat district. “Unidentified terrorists, riding a motorcycle, attacked three traffic policemen who were on duty near
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Dil Begu Khel area. As a result, they died on the spot,” confirmed Qudratullah, spokesperson for the district police officer (DPO). Ticketing officer in-charge Jalal Khan was among the martyred, he said, adding that two other personnel were identified as Azizullah and Abdullah. The bodies were moved to Naurang Hospital, and police have launched a search operation at the site of the incident, Qudratullah said. Later in the day, the funeral prayers of the martyred traffic cops were offered at the Lakki Marwat Police Lines with official honours. Police and district administration officers, the bereaved family members and other residents attended the prayers. A statement issued by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s office said he condemned the attack and termed the incident “unfortunate”. “Sacrifices of the martyred policemen will not go in vain. Enemies of the countries cannot succeed in their nefarious designs by such cowardly acts,” the statement quoted him as saying.
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velopment, and stability, a stance that was reiterated in Sunday’s discussions. Apart from the dialogue, Dar also held high-level meetings with Chinese dignitaries, including Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. Ding expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s consistent support on China’s core interests, highlighting the close alignment of both countries on regional and international matters. Dar also met Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), congratulating him on the successful convening of the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady and forward-looking trajectory of bilateral relations, reviewing party-to-party exchanges, regional developments, and ongoing projects under the CPEC framework. They agreed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in a “befitting and meaningful manner.” In addition to official meetings, Dar was received at Beijing airport by China’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, Pakistan’s ambassador to China, and senior officials from the Pakistani Embassy, underlining the high-level significance of the visit.
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CM Afridi vows to follow Imran Khan’s directives on street movement in ‘letter and spirit’ PESHAWAR
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday reiterated that his sole focus remains implementing PTI founder Imran Khan’s directives—running the province and preparing for the party’s street movement—saying he will follow these instructions “in letter and spirit” and dismissing any other reports as “someone’s personal assumption.” Afridi had earlier announced Karachi as his next destination to galvanize party supporters, after concluding a three-day visit to Lahore, where he also met the families of jailed senior PTI leaders. In a post on social media platform X on Sunday, the KP chief minister said, “I have only one stance. My leader (Imran) has directed me to prepare for a street movement, along with running the administrative affairs of my province. Godwilling, I will implement them in letter and spirit.” About his upcoming visit to Karachi, Afridi said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, “respecting democratic values and his office’s dignity,” has invited him for a meeting. Afridi said he had thanked Murad for the invitation and told him that he would meet “the people of my province, and if they had any sort of concerns or issues,” he would definitely meet the Sindh chief minister to resolve them. While Afridi had earlier stated January 9 as the date for his Karachi trip, in his statement on Sunday he confirmed he would visit Mazar-i-Quaid around 4pm on January 11. Afridi’s latest statement highlighting his focus on the street movement comes after reports that he had expressed readiness to hold talks with the establishment on provincial matters. However, he clarified that Imran Khan had not instructed him on any dialogue with the establishment, assigning that responsibility instead to Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senator Allama Raja Nasir.
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