Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Pakistan diplomat defends Taliban

Top Pakistan diplomat defends Taliban

PAKISTAN has sought to defend the Taliban, saying the hardline group - which has taken over Afghanistan - has “delivered on its promises".

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Asad Majeed Khan, said on Thursday (16) that the security situation in Afghanistan is “in control” under the new regime which, he said, is “making (the) right noises and right gestures”.


“The Taliban agreed not to attack US troops and not to take over Kabul as long as American boots remained in Afghanistan. They honoured their commitments”, Khan said, blaming deposed president Ashraf Ghani’s “sudden disappearance” for the chaos during the final stages of foreign troops’ withdrawal.

It is in the interest of the international community to engage with Afghanistan to avert an exodus of refugees, a situation which would affect not just its immediate neighbourhood, but also countries far away, the ambassador told a webinar organised by the Stimson Center.

The world should also engage with Afghanistan in the interest of its people, he said, adding, “the Taliban are Afghans too”.

According to the diplomat, “threats and cautions” did not historically work on the Taliban and this meant working together is the way forward.

“Engagement with Afghanistan does not necessarily mean a recognition of the Taliban regime,” Khan said, without elaborating.

On US secretary of state Antony Blinken’s assertion that some of Pakistan’s interests in Afghanistan conflicted with those of America, Khan said Islamabad and Washington “are on the same page” in terms of regional security, peace and counter-terrorism efforts.

“Afghanistan has been a burden on the US-Pakistan relations and the two countries can now move on as their interests are aligned," Khan said.

He dismissed as “India’s creation” reports that Pakistan forces were involved in operations against groups resisting the Taliban in the Panjshir region of Afghanistan.

Admitting there has been a spike in terror attacks within Pakistan, Khan sought to blame “foreign countries of the region” for all the trouble, without naming them.

He, however, did not answer a question on Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s reported assertion that the Taliban “have broken chain of slavery”, which was seen as an endorsement of the actions of the hardline group.

More For You

Piyush Goyal

Piyush Goyal recalled that in February, Narendra Modi and Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Trade talks with US moving forward positively, says Indian minister Goyal

INDIA’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that negotiations on the proposed trade agreement between India and the United States, which began in March, are progressing in a positive atmosphere and both sides are satisfied with the discussions.

He recalled that in February, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump had instructed their trade ministers to conclude the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
West Midlands Police

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. (Representational image: iStock)

Woman raped in racially aggravated attack in Oldbury

A WOMAN in her 20s was raped in Oldbury in what police are treating as a racially aggravated attack.

West Midlands Police said they were called just before 08:30 BST on Tuesday, September 9, after the woman reported being attacked by two men near Tame Road. Officers said the men made a racist remark during the incident.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tommy Robinson

The event, which Robinson has promoted for months, is being billed by him as the 'UK's biggest free speech festival.' (Photo: Getty Images)

London prepares for rival demonstrations, police deploy 1,600 officers

Highlights

  • More than 1,600 officers deployed across London on Saturday
  • Far-right activist Tommy Robinson to lead "Unite the Kingdom" march
  • Anti-racism groups to stage counter-protests in Whitehall
  • Police impose conditions on routes and timings of demonstrations

LONDON police will deploy more than 1,600 officers across the city on Saturday as rival demonstrations take place, including a rally organised by far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, and a counter-protest by anti-racism campaigners.

Keep ReadingShow less
Baiju Bhatt

At 40, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this group, which includes figures such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. (Photo: Getty Images)

Baiju Bhatt named among youngest billionaires in US by Forbes

INDIAN-AMERICAN entrepreneur Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of the commission-free trading platform Robinhood, has been named among the 10 youngest billionaires in the United States in the 2025 Forbes 400 list.

At 40, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this group, which includes figures such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. Forbes estimates his net worth at around USD 6–7 billion (£4.4–5.1 billion), primarily from his roughly 6 per cent ownership in Robinhood.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mandelson-Getty

Starmer dismissed Mandelson on Thursday after reading emails published by Bloomberg in which Mandelson defended Jeffrey Epstein following his 2008 conviction. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Minister says Mandelson should never have been appointed

A CABINET minister has said Peter Mandelson should not have been made UK ambassador to the US, as criticism mounted over prime minister Keir Starmer’s judgment in appointing him.

Douglas Alexander, the Scotland secretary, told the BBC that Mandelson’s appointment was seen as “high-risk, high-reward” but that newly revealed emails changed the situation.

Keep ReadingShow less