Month: October 2024

The Iranian foreign ministry released pictures of the talks with Mohammed Abdelsalam in the Omani capital as Araghchi consults with allies and other Middle East powers following Israel’s vow to retaliate against an Iranian missile attack.

 

Araghchi held a “meeting and discussion with Mohammad Abdelsalam, the spokesman and chief negotiator of the Yemen National Salvation Government”, read the photo caption, referring to the Houthi administration. The Houthi-run Al Masirah television also reported the meeting without providing any details on the talks.

Araghchi also met with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi to discuss developments in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip where Israel is fighting Hezbollah and Hamas.

UK govt sanctions Iranian military chiefs after Israel attack

They “urged an immediate end to the Israeli regime’s genocide and aggression in Gaza and Lebanon,” said Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

Oman’s foreign ministry said the two officials agreed on “harnessing diplomacy as an essential tool for resolving disputes and conflicts” in the region. Araghchi’s visit to Muscat came after a trip to Baghdad. Last week, he visited Qatar and Saudi Arabia where talks mainly revolved around establishing a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza as well as ways to contain the conflict from spreading across the region. On Sunday, Araghchi reiterated that Iran was “fully prepared for a war situation… but we do not want war, we want peace.”

Britain on Monday ordered sanctions against top Iranian military figures after the Islamic republic’s Oct 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Iran had ignored repeated warnings that its “dangerous actions” — and those of its proxies — were fuelling conflict in the Middle East.

Among the individuals subject to a travel ban and assets freeze are the commander-in-chief of the Iranian army, Abdolrahim Mousavi, and the head of the air force Hamid Vahedi.

A Lebanese security official said the building “housed families displaced from Lebanon’s south, and was targeted shortly after a man had arrived in a car”.

“The Israeli enemy strike on the village of Aito… killed in a preliminary toll 21 people and injured eight. DNA tests are being conducted to determine the identity of body parts recovered at the strike site,” the ministry said, referring to a village in the Christian-majority Zgharta district. The official National News Agency said Israel targeted a “residential apartment” in the village.

A photographer at the site of the strike said it had levelled a residential building at the entrance to the village. Body parts were scattered in the rubble, with Red Cross volunteers searching for survivors in the wreckage while ambulances evacuated the wounded.

Hezbollah drone kills four Israeli soldiers at a northern base

The Lebanese army imposed a security cordon in the area, where the strike also sparked a fire, he said.

In another strike outside Hezbollah’s traditional strongholds, on Saturday the health ministry reported two dead and four wounded in an Israeli strike on Deir Billa, about 15 kilometres from the town of Batroun on Lebanon’s north coast.

Hezbollah’s retaliation

Israel’s military said a Hezbollah drone killed four soldiers at one of its northern bases on Sunday, as it expanded its bombardments of Lebanon and troops battled militants across the border.

The attack on a military training camp in Binyamina, near Haifa, was the deadliest such assault on an Israeli base since Sep 23, when Israel increased its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Emergency services reported more than 60 wounded. Hezbollah said that it launched “a squadron of attack drones” at the Binyamina camp, around 30 kilometres south of the major city of Haifa.

The strike was in response to Israeli attacks, including air strikes on Thursday that Lebanon’s health ministry said killed at least 22 people in central Beirut. In a later statement, Hezbollah warned Israel that “what it witnessed today in southern Haifa is nothing compared to what awaits it if it decides to continue its aggression against our noble and dear people”.

An Israeli volunteer rescue service, United Hatzalah, said its teams in Binyamina assisted “over 60 wounded people” with injuries ranging from mild to critical.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will play host to a major diplomatic event as a high-level meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is set to begin in the nation’s capital Islamabad starting from tomorrow (Wednesday).

The summit will bring together top leaders from approximately eight countries, including two of the world’s leading nuclear powers, China and Russia, highlighting the geopolitical significance of the gathering.

In coordination between multiple agencies, including the Army, Rangers, Frontier Corps and provincial police, extensive security measures have been taken for the SCO summit.

Moreover, all of the business centres, wedding halls, gyms, and busy markets along with the main roads of the foreign dignitaries’ movements will be closed from October 12 to 16 in light of the security measures.

Additionally, heavy traffic has been banned in the twin cities as authorities have directed a shut down of the Metro bus service from October 14 to 16.

Notably, the city of Islamabad is adorned with vibrant decorations as it prepares to welcome distinguished guests, including China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang.

He is anticipated to arrive as a key ally of Pakistan in the region. Alongside him, Russian Federation’s Prime Minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin is also scheduled to attend, leading a large delegation to the summit.

Sources within the Foreign Ministry confirm that both the prime ministers will hold separate, high-stakes meetings with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari.

These discussions are expected to cover a wide range of topics crucial to regional security and cooperation.

Moreover, elaborate luncheons and dinners are also planned in honour of the attending dignitaries, underscoring the importance of diplomatic relations between these nations.

Prime Minister Li Qiang’s visit to Islamabad will extend over four days, segmented into two distinct phases. While the initial phase centres on active participation in SCO summit activities, the latter part will focus on enhancing bilateral ties through the signing of various agreements with Pakistan.

This strategic partnership is anticipated to strengthen economic and infrastructural collaboration between the two countries.

Further adding to the high-profile nature of the event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the attendance of several other prominent leaders.

These include Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Iran’s First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref, Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov, Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Mongolia’s Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and Turkmenistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov.

Complementing their presence, key figures such as SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, SCO Executive Committee Director Arslan Murzikhov, SCO Business Council Board Chairman Atif Ikram Sheikh, and SCO Interbank Consortium Council Chairman Marat Elybayev are also expected to engage in discussions, that are aimed at fostering economic cooperation and addressing pressing regional issues.

As the summit begins, the spotlight will be on Islamabad, with global attention focused on the discussions and potential outcomes of this significant diplomatic convergence.

The Chinese dignitary is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and will stay here from October 14-17, read a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement after arrival, the premier said: “As soon as I stepped off the plane, I was greeted with the warm hospitality of the Pakistani side and impressed by the profound brotherly friendship between our peoples.”

 

 

“On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I wish to convey cordial greetings and best wishes to the friendly Pakistani government and people,” said the Chinese dignitary.

He mentioned that Pakistan is an important developing country, an emerging market, and a major Muslim country. It is also, he said, China’s all-weather strategic cooperative partner and an ironclad friend.

“China is now further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese modernisation on all fronts through high-quality development. Pakistan is also committed to its reform and development endeavour,” added PM Li.

Earlier, expanding on the Chinese PM’s visit, the FO had said that the dignitary and his counterpart PM Shehbaz will lead respective delegations to comprehensively discuss all aspects of Pakistan-China relations including economic and trade ties and cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Cooperation (CPEC).

The Chinese premier would also call on President Asif Ali Zardari and hold meetings with parliamentary leaders and the country’s senior military leadership.

PM Li’s visit comes as several top foreign leaders will be convening in Islamabad for the Heads of Government meeting —  the supreme decision-making body of the SCO which meets once a year and decides upon all the important issues of the organisation.

The dignitaries set to attend the SCO moot include Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar — the first visit by an Indian FM in nearly a decade.

The SCO comprises China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus along with 16 more countries, which are affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners”.

The high-level moot will be held with strict security measures in place as the government has announced a three-day public holiday in Islamabad, with schools and businesses shut, and large contingents of police and paramilitary forces deployed.

Pakistan Army troops will be responsible for the security of the capital’s Red Zone, which will house most of the meetings and is also home to parliament and a diplomatic enclave, according to the interior ministry.

Israel has vowed a response to Iran’s Oct 1 missile attack which Tehran said was in retaliation for the killing of leaders in the region and a general in its Revolutionary Guards.

“While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.

He arrived in Baghdad on Sunday for talks with Iraqi officials in Iran’s latest high-level diplomatic efforts ahead of Israel’s anticipated attack.

At a joint news conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Araghchi said Iran was “fully prepared for a war situation … but we do not want war, we want peace.” He said Iran would continue consultations “to prevent the escalation of tension in the region and to work for peace and ceasefire” in Gaza and Lebanon.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Baghdad was against a regional war spreading to Iran. “The continuation of the war and its expansion towards the Islamic Republic of Iran and (Israel’s) exploitation of Iraqi airspace as a corridor is completely unacceptable and rejected,” Hussein said.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed that his country’s response will be “deadly, precise, and surprising”.

 

 

After Baghdad, Araghchi will head to Oman, the Iranian ISNA news agency reported.

US officials believe Israel has narrowed down targets in its potential response to Iran’s attack this month to military and energy infrastructure, NBC reported on Saturday.

The Middle East remains on high alert for further escalation in a year of conflict as Israel battles Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

Israel has repeatedly said it will respond to Iran’s missile barrage on Oct 1, which was launched in retaliation for Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon and the killings of a string of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

There is no indication that Israel will target nuclear facilities or carry out assassinations, the NBC report said, citing unnamed US officials and adding that Israel has not made final decisions about how and when to act.

US and Israeli officials said a response could come during the current Yom Kippur holiday, according to the report. The holiday ended on Saturday evening without an Israeli strike.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said in a statement on Sunday it had targeted a military site in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights with drones as part of its support of the Palestinian people and Lebanon. It said it would continue escalating attacks against Israeli strongholds.

LONDON: The Pakistan Army Cambrian Team has won gold in Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2024 by securing the highest points 864 in Ex CP-24 and defeated 118 teams representing Europe.

The 67 Punjab Regiment won the gold medal by securing the highest-ever 864 points in the competition which also included teams from entire Europe. 67 Punjab Regiment participated in the event for the second consecutive year after standing first in the Pakistan Army’s internal competition.

The premier patrolling event has been running for over 60 years and is the British Army’s principal All Arms Patrol Exercise. It is open to all three Services (Regular and Reserve) and international participants.

Army and Air Adviser UK Col Taimur Rahat said that Cambrian Patrol is the world’s most challenging test of basic soldiering skills, especially under fatigue, sleep deprivation, and stress.

Participants are assessed on their performance throughout the event, based on factors such as battlecraft, individual training, robustness, and leadership, he said, commenting on Pakistan’s win.

He said: “Exercise Cambrian Patrol is an annual international military exercise that involves its participating units covering a 40-mile (65 km) course in less than 48 hours while performing numerous types of military maneuvers and patrols placed throughout the rugged Cambrian Mountains and swamp lands of mid-Wales (Brecon Beacons National Forest).”

The Cambrian Patrol is a mission focused and scenario-based exercise. The patrol performance is assessed throughout based on Battlecraft Syllabus (BCS) and Individual Training Requirement (ITR), in addition to robustness and leadership.

The exercise is currently made up of eight phases, each of 48 hours, over 10 days. Each patrol will cover approximately 60kms (average climb and descent is over 1000m) carrying no more than 32kgs per person.

Pakistan team was trained, mentored and guided by Maj Saqib Ali Malik, Training Officer, Maj Usman Iqbal, Team Manager, Capt Raja Hassan Raza, Patrol Commander and Captain Hamza Tahir Shah, Reserve Patrol Commander.