- Peace process should be all inclusive, and based on genuine power-sharing - Turkey is ready to host one round of talks between Afghan and Taliban sides - Turkey always calling for a ceasefire â talking and fighting should not be an option - The biggest challenge is political disunity among the Afghan elites - Afghans should not lose hope, if so, they will lose dignity, and sovereignty By Mansoor Faizy
Afghanistan has been in a whirl of unending war and continuous turmoil that peace, or at least a state of normalcy, is a distant dream. The Afghans are in war for over four decades, and this is more than enough. The reconciliation process is once again in deadlock, highlighting the complexity of the peace process, manacling the political elite and complicating the future of Afghanistan.
Pakistan Meets Conditions to Receive Next $500 Million From IMF
The IMF and Pakistan reached a staff-level agreement that Pakistan had completed reforms required for the release of around $500 million that had been suspended for about a year.
The International Monetary Fund logo is seen during the IMF/World Bank spring meetings in Washington, US. photo: Reuters/Yuri Gripas
Islamabad: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan on Tuesday reached a staff-level agreement that Pakistan had completed reforms required for the release of around $500 million in IMF funds that had been suspended for about a year.
“The package strikes an appropriate balance between supporting the economy, ensuring debt sustainability and advancing structural reform,” the Fund said in a statement issued by both sides. “Pending approval of the Executive Board, the reviews’ completion would release around US $500 million.”
(MENAFN - NewsIn.Asia)
By P.K.Balachandran/newsin.asia
Colombo, February 17: Sri Lanka and Pakistan will not be signing any defense agreement during the visit of the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to Sri Lanka from February 22 to 24, Lankan Foreign Secretary Adm.Prof.Jayanath Colombage said. A number of agreements on economic cooperation, culture and other subjects are on the cards but none on defense, Adm.Colombage said.
He was asked to comment on a report in a Sunday newspaper that there would be an agreement on maritime security.
While Sri Lanka has been having naval exercises with India regularly under the SLINEX series, it has not had any such exercise with Pakistan either in the bilateral or the multilateral format, though Pakistani naval vessels have been visiting Colombo off and on.
Sri Lanka cancels Parliament address of Imran Khan ahead of his visit Senior officials cited Covid-19-related restrictions for the move
Sri Lanka cancelled Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Parliament address scheduled next week, sparking speculation in political and diplomatic circles.
According to a report by The Hindu, senior government officials have cited “Covid-19 constraints” for the decision, even as the itinerary issued by the Department of Government Information dated February 16, 2021 – listed “arrival at Parliament” on February 24, along with Khan’s scheduled participation in a ‘Trade and Investment Conference’, and the inauguration of a Sports Institute the same day. Amid a surge of infections in the country, Sri Lanka began a vaccination drive for parliamentarians on Tuesday.
Pak PM urges world to promote sustainable agriculture to combat hunger business-standard.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from business-standard.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.