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Imran Khan meeting with former CIA analyst raises eyebrows

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Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan has claimed repeatedly that the reason behind his ouster from power through a no-confidence motion by opposition alliance in the parliament was part of a US-led conspiracy of regime change.

Since his ouster, Imran Khan has carried this claim and built up an anti-US narrative, which he has repeatedly slammed for ousting him off power because of his extension of better relations and trade with Moscow during the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Today, Imran Khan stands as by far the most popular leader in the country’s political arena as hundreds of thousands of his supporters take to the streets every time he calls upon them to stand with him against what he terms as the current ‘imported government’, brought into power at the behest of the United States regime change conspiracy with an agenda to be “slaves of the US and the West.”

It is also a known fact that PTI’s social media team has slammed the military establishment and the current Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for becoming party to the regime change conspiracy. Social media, most of which is run by PTI’s social media team has made various trends against the Pakistan military establishment, which have ridiculed the army chief, the military establishment and even the judiciary for trying to push Imran Khan against the wall in his struggle for what he terms as ‘haqeeqi azadi’, which means true freedom.

With all of the narrative reaching to all corners of the country and abroad, Imran Khan has met with the former American diplomat, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst and lobbyist Robin Raphel at his residence in Bani Gala in Islamabad. The meeting comes after PTI’s US team decided to hire the services of Robin Raphel’s company to lobby in favour of PTI and create in-rows into the Biden administration to fix its image and relations with Washington, a step taken parallel to the ongoing slamming of the US administration for conspiring against Imran Khan in public rallies and gatherings across Pakistan.

As per sources, Robin Raphel met with Imran Khan at his residence in Bani Gala on Sunday afternoon. It was also revealed that head of PTI USA chapter accompanied Robin Raphel.

The meeting comes at a time when Imran Khan has been publicly accusing American diplomat Donald Lu for conspiring against the then government under Khan. Imran Khan waved a letter in a public gathering in Islamabad, claiming that he has letter with details of the conversation between Donald Lu and then Pakistani High Commissioner in the US in which, clear threats are being given of dire consequences if Imran Khan continues to stay in power.

Imran Khan’s claims have come in parallel judgment and criticism on his meetings with US former and current officials as he has met with Ilhan Omar, a representative of the Biden administration, US Ambassador to Pakistan and now with former CIA analyst and lobbyist Robin Raphel.

Question are being raised over the political narrative building of Imran Khan, who on one side, slams United States for conspiring against his government and ousting him off power, and on the other hand, reaches out to former CIA analyst to lobby for PTI in the US to better relations with the US administration.

disaster

South Korea’s fire agency issues emergency response order over mountain fire

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Seoul, April 28: South Korea’s National Fire Agency (NFA) issued an emergency response order Monday to mobilise available national personnel and equipment to put out a fire spreading in the southeastern city of Daegu, officials said.

The NFA issued the order about two hours after the blaze began around 2 p.m. on Mount Hamji in the city, some 230 kilometres southeast of Seoul, and was spreading toward nearby villages.

Under the emergency order, the fire authorities have mobilised 28 additional fire engines to aid efforts to extinguish the blaze on top of 67 fire engines and 29 fire helicopters that had already been in operation, according to the officials.

No casualties have been reported so far, but nearby residents have been instructed to evacuate to local elementary schools, reports Yonhap news agency.

Acting President Han Duck-soo also ordered related authorities to “use all available equipment and personnel” to extinguish the fire and help people evacuate to safety.

“As the wildfire is spreading rapidly due to strong winds and there are residential areas nearby, make sure to take all necessary measures for emergency rescue and evacuation to prevent any loss of life,” he said.

The Korea Forest Service also issued a Level 3 wildfire response, the highest in its three-tier scale, as strong winds continued to spread the flames.

A Level 3 response is issued when wind speeds exceed 7 metres per second, the expected damage area is over 100 hectares and firefighting efforts are expected to last over 24 hours.

As of 6 p.m., some 57 hectares of land had been affected by the fire, with the containment rate remaining at 14.5 per cent, according to fire authorities.

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UNSC asks all countries to cooperate in bringing Pahalgam terrorists, backers to justice

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United Nations, April 26: The Security Council has “condemned in the strongest terms” the Pahalgam terrorist attack and urged all countries to cooperate in bringing all those involved in the massacre, to justice.

The members of the Security Council “stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard”, Council President Jerome Bonnafont said in a Press statement on Friday.

A front organisation of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Laskhar-e-Tayiba has owned responsibility for the attack.

The statement issued by France’s Permanent Representative Bonnafont who is the Council president for this month, took a broad view of those involved in the massacre by including the financiers and sponsors.

“The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice”, the statement said.

Pakistan, which is on the Council as an elected member, went along with the other members in endorsing the statement, committing itself – at least on paper – to bringing those involved to justice.

A Press statement expresses the consensus of the Council and carries moral authority, while not being legally binding like a resolution.

The statement also shot down the attempts by some in Pakistan to give terrorist attacks a veneer of justification.

“The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed”, it said.

The Council members “reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts”, the statement added.

Earlier, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hinted that a diplomatic effort by him may be afoot.

Asked by a reporter, if Guterres would speak to leaders of India and Pakistan, Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that he hoped to have something to share on that later.

Reiterating the condemnation of the terrorist attacks, Dujarric said, “We again urge both the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further.”

When a reporter asserted that the possibility that “two nuclear countries” might “go to war” was getting insufficient attention, Dujarric said, “I don’t agree with your comment. We are paying very close attention to the situation between India and Pakistan.”

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Wagah-Attari border closure leaves several families in limbo

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Islamabad, April 25: Pakistan and India’s decision to shut down the Wagah-Attari border crossing after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack has forced several citizens from both countries to cut short their visit and rush back home.

On Thursday, after both countries announced closure of border crossing and gave a deadline for citizens to leave for their respective countries, at least 28 Pakistanis nationals returned from India while 105 Indian citizens in Pakistan crossed over into India.

A Hindu family from Balochistan’s Sibi was reportedly denied entry into India after the closure of border crossing.

“We were on our way to Indore in Madhya Pradesh to attend a wedding. Seven members of our family were excited to join our relatives in India and take part in the celebrations. But upon reaching Wagah, we learned that the border had been sealed. We will spend the night at Dera Sahib in Lahore and head back home tomorrow,” said Akshay Kumar.

Meanwhile, a Sikh family from India, in Pakistan to attend a wedding, decided to leave for India immediately.

“We had come to Pakistan for a wedding. While the ceremony took place, several important rituals remained. Once we heard the border was closed, we decided to return immediately,” said Raminder Singh, an Indian national.

A Hindu family from Ghotki in Pakistan’s Sindh province, now residing in New Delhi, was visiting Pakistan for the last two months to meet their relatives. However, they are now unsure about getting permission to return to India.

“There are five of us, including my young son and daughter, uncle and aunt. We all hold Pakistani passports and were granted No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) certificate by India. But uncertainty looms now, said a family member named Indira.

“Families with cross-border ties often bear the brunt of rising tensions between the two neighbours. With tensions between Pakistan and India once again on the rise, human connections across borders are becoming the first casualty,” said Asif Memood, a Lahore-based journalist.

“The closure of the Wagah-Attari border has left many families in limbo, uncertain when they will next reunite with their loved ones,” he added.

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