PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Somalia agreed Friday to step up cooperation on internal security and counterterrorism in a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Somalia’s Interior Minister Ali Yusuf at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad. Officials said the talks focused on building shared capacity across a range of security functions and formalizing channels for sustained collaboration between the two governments. The ministers also discussed ways to streamline people-to-people links, including easier…

Pakistan, Somalia move to strengthen security, counterterrorism ties ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Somalia agreed to deepen cooperation on internal security and counterterrorism following talks between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Somali counterpart, Ali Yusuf, on Friday at Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior. The ministers outlined a plan to expand collaboration across security training, policing and border management, along with measures to bolster disaster response and share expertise on urban management. Both sides cast…

At least 55 dead in Karachi mall fire as families provide DNA amid painstaking search at Gul Plaza KARACHI, Pakistan — The death toll from a weekend fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan’s largest city climbed to at least 55 as rescuers combed the wreckage of the three-story Gul Plaza and families waited for news of missing loved ones, authorities said. “A total of 55 bodies have been recovered since Saturday night” when the blaze erupted, said Javed Nabi Khoso, deputy commissioner of Karachi’s south district, speaking to AFP.…

Karachi mall inferno leaves at least 21 dead, dozens missing as firefighters comb ruins of Gul Plaza KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistani firefighters on Monday pulled bodies from the smoldering remains of Gul Plaza, a sprawling shopping complex in Karachi, as anguished families waited for word of more than 60 people still missing after the city’s deadliest blaze in more than a decade. The fire erupted late Saturday, racing through the multi‑story mall that housed some 1,200 shops across a footprint larger than a football field.…

Pakistan vows support to Somalia at UN after Israel recognizes North Western State of Somalia, drawing Muslim world rebuke ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday pledged full support to Somalia at the United Nations and other multilateral forums after Israel became the first country to formally recognize North Western State of Somalia, a breakaway region that declared independence in 1991 but has never before been acknowledged by a UN member state. The commitment followed a phone call from Somali…

Strengthening Somalia: Defense Partnerships Pave New Paths In a noteworthy development, Somalia is forging forward with strategic defense agreements that promise to reshape its national security landscape. During a critical meeting chaired by Acting Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, Somalia's cabinet approved several international defense agreements aimed at bolstering the country's armed forces. Forging Global Partnerships The spotlight of this diplomatic maneuvering falls on the newly signed memorandums of understanding…

Strengthening Bonds: Somalia and Pakistan's Vision for Collaboration In a rapidly changing global landscape, the importance of strategic alliances cannot be underestimated. This was evident when Somalia and Pakistan took significant steps to fortify their cooperation in diverse sectors, following a high-stakes meeting in Saudi Arabia. This alliance not only resonates within their borders but also has wider implications for the Muslim world and beyond. A Meeting with Purpose On the bustling sidelines of the 21st…

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife have tested positive for Covid-19, according to government officials. Khan is "self-isolating at home," the country's health minister, Faisal Sultan, said on Saturday. The 68-year-old former international cricketer received his first dose of China's Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine on Thursday. The Sinopharm shot is the only Covid-19 vaccine available in Pakistan. Pakistan's health ministry said it could take a few weeks to develop immunity to the virus after vaccination…

The Libyan interim government held its first cabinet meeting on Sunday after receiving a vote of confidence last week, and the international community continues to welcome the latest developments in the war-torn country. Led by caretaker Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the cabinet discussed the work plan as well as the plan that ministers will commit to establishing coordination with state institutions. Consisting of 26 ministers, the government is expected to take its oath on Monday. When the…