Iran and Qatar on Thursday expressed serious concern over the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, urging regional countries to play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability.

The statement came during a phone call between Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani.

“The foreign ministers of Iran and Qatar, while expressing concern over tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stressed the importance of continued regional efforts to preserve peace and stability in the area,” said a statement issued by Iran’s foreign ministry.

Bilateral relations between Islamabad and the Taliban-led administration in Kabul have deteriorated following two major terrorist attacks in Pakistan in recent days—one at Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan and another in Islamabad.

Tuesday’s suicide bombing targeted the Islamabad District Judicial Complex, killing 12 people and injuring at least 36 others, including lawyers and petitioners present at the court building.

The attack coincided with Pakistani forces clearing Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan, eliminating all Fitna al-Khawarij militants—a term used for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan—who had infiltrated the educational institution.

The statement added that Araghchi and Thani also discussed bilateral ties and regional developments, emphasizing the importance of strengthening cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

Additionally, the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in Gaza and the recent US draft resolution submitted to the UN Security Council, highlighting the need for continued consultations to safeguard the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination.

Russia, Iran push for continued Pak-Afghan talks

On November 12, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi exchanged views on the latest bilateral and regional developments.

They welcomed the agreement reached between the Taliban administration in Kabul and Islamabad — mediated by Qatar and Turkiye — on a mutual ceasefire and an end to cross-border firing along the Pak-Afghan borders.

Lavrov and Araghchi called for continued dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve differences through political and diplomatic means, in the interests of ensuring regional stability and security.

They also discussed developments in the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian–Israeli issue and its consideration at the UN Security Council.

The two ministers reaffirmed their mutual commitment to the unconditional implementation of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and Iran, which entered into force on 2 October.

• Kyiv suffers citywide strikes with air defences engaged.
• Energy and rail systems targeted alongside homes.
• Fires and damage across eight city districts.

KYIV: Almost every district in Kyiv came under “massive” attack Friday morning, the Ukrainian capital’s mayor said, with a death reported hours after AFP journalists heard explosions in the city centre.

Moscow, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has intensified its attacks on infrastructure, particularly targeting Ukrainian energy facilities and rail systems, as well as residential areas, in recent months.

Missiles and drones were targeting critical infrastructure in the capital on Friday, said Mykola Kalashnyk, the head of the Kyiv regional military administration.

Mayor Vitaly Klitschko called it a “massive enemy attack”, saying air defence forces were in operation.

One person was killed and at least 15 wounded in the attack, according to the Ukrainian emergency services, which added that “more than 40 people have been rescued” from fires and destruction across the city.

Earlier, Klitschko reported fires or damage to buildings in eight of Kyiv’s 10 districts, saying medical emergency teams were deployed to all of them.

He said a pregnant woman was among those hospitalised as well as a man in “extremely serious condition”.

“Sections of heating networks were damaged,” he wrote on Telegram, with some buildings in northeastern Desnyansky district temporarily left without heat.

Electricity and water supplies could also be disrupted, he added.

AFP journalists saw tracer bullets used against drones and several anti-missile systems deployed.

“Russians are hitting residential buildings. There are a lot of damaged high-rise buildings throughout Kyiv, almost in every district,” Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city’s military administration, wrote on social media.

Entrenched war

The attack comes as Kyiv’s Western allies ratchet up pressure on Russia.

On Wednesday, Canada unveiled new sanctions targeting Russia’s drone and energy production, as well as infrastructure used to launch cyberattacks.

G7 foreign ministers that day called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, voicing “unwavering” support for the country’s territorial integrity.

And the European Commission is considering using part of Russia’s assets frozen after its invasion to provide Kyiv with a loan for budgetary and military support over the next two years.

But after almost four years of war, both sides are heavily entrenched with Moscow rejecting ceasefire calls and efforts by US President Donald Trump to revive a long-stalled peace deal.

Russian forces have been grinding across eastern Ukraine for months, trying to take control of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

Russia said Monday it had captured three more villages along the sprawling front line, where it is pressing its advantage in manpower and equipment.

Experts say Russia’s latest strikes on energy infrastructure are putting Ukraine at risk of heating outages ahead of the winter months.

LONDON: The City of London Corporation has bestowed its highest civic honour — the Freedom of the City of London — upon Tariq Sheikh for his contributions to the British halal meat industry, his pioneering entrepreneurial journey and his commitment to philanthropy.

The Freedom of the City of London is one of the nation’s oldest and most revered traditions, dating back to 1237.

The previous notable recipients include Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, Diana, Princess of Wales. Prime ministers of the United Kingdom; Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher. Global leaders; Jawaharlal Nehru, Nelson Mandela. Presidents of the United States of America; Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Entrepreneurs and academics; Professor Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, Jimmy Choo, Morgan Freeman, JK Rowling, Sir Michael Cane, George Helon, JP, and other senior officials within royal family, politics, business, and celebrities in their chosen fields.

“To be granted the Freedom of the City of London is one of the proudest moments of my life,” said Sheikh after receiving the award at the Guildhall.

He added: “I arrived in this great city as a boy of four from Jhelum in Pakistan, and it gave me, my father, and my family a home and an opportunity. This honour is not just for me; it is a testament to the hard work of our entire 400-strong team and the legacy of quality my father began in 1965. We have always believed that ‘halal’ should be synonymous with the highest standards of quality, hygiene, and service, and this recognition inspires us to continue uplifting our industry and serving the communities that have supported us.”

Sheikh said: “Halal meat industry is worth £1.7 billion, which is about 15% of the total UK meat and poultry market, estimated to be £11 billion in the UK and Europe today. I am proud that we have played our role in making it a huge industry, catering to Halal, Kosher and other markets. We started with a small shop but today we have over 30 outlets across the UK, making us the leading halal meat provider.”

The foundation for Tariq Halal Meat was laid in 1965, when Sheikh’s father, a butcher, established the family’s first shop. This family legacy in the meat trade provided the industry-specific knowledge and heritage.

Integral to Sheikh’s story is his profound belief in giving back to the community that provided him with opportunity. Sheikh said he is glad that he was able to bring to the UK over 70 butchers from Pakistan who are now settled in the country.

He said: “We support major charitable organisations, including the Prince of Wales’s British Asian Trust, the British Heart Foundation, and the Cancer Foundation. Some of these charities do a lot of charitable work in South Asian countries like Pakistan. We are also involved in community and educational initiatives that promote entrepreneurship among young individuals from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.”