Entertainment
Terrorism from Afghanistan poses ‘grave threat’ to region, Pakistan warns UN
- Taliban elements “chose path of complicity” with TTP, BLA, Daesh Khorasan.
- Pakistan has lost thousands of lives; 175 killed last month in attacks.
- Counter-terror strikes conducted after Taliban attacks on border posts.
Terrorism emanating from Afghan soil poses a “grave threat not only to its immediate neighbours, but also to the broader region and beyond,” Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said on Monday at a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.
Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Ahmad highlighted that elements within the Taliban regime have “chosen the path of complicity and active support” for terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (TTP), Majeed Brigade, Daesh Khorasan, Al-Qaeda, and East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which enjoy safe havens in Afghanistan from where they launch cross-border infiltration, violent attacks and suicide bombings.
“As an immediate neighbour, in order to secure a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, Pakistan regularly facilitated dialogue and engagement with the Taliban authorities,” the Ambassador said, noting that Pakistan had presented initiatives, assisted in humanitarian relief, offered bilateral trade incentives, liberalised visa regimes, and participated in regional platforms to help Afghanistan integrate with the region.
Despite these efforts, Ambassador Ahmad said, “regrettably, they have failed on all three counts” of the international community’s expectations under the Doha-III Process: counter-terrorism, human rights and inclusive governance.
The statement also cited recent attacks originating from Afghanistan. “Pakistan has since witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, planned, financed and orchestrated from Afghan soil under the Taliban regime’s direct watch. We have lost thousands of lives to terrorism related incidents since the Taliban takeover, and just last month, more than 175 innocent Pakistani lives were lost, including in three suicide attacks,” he said.
Highlighting Pakistan’s defensive actions, the Ambassador said, “After showing maximum restraint, on 21-22 February, Pakistan carried out intelligence-based selective targeting of seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the TTP and its affiliates and the ISIL-K in the bordering regions with precision and accuracy. But on 26 February, the Taliban publicly declared their decision to initiate hostilities against Pakistan across multiple border locations with unprovoked firing and shelling of border posts and military installations. In exercise of its right to self-defence, Pakistan took retaliatory measures against hostile targets and logistical bases used by terrorist groups. Our actions have been proportional, based on careful planning with necessary due diligence, and directed solely against identified terrorist camps and support bases.”
Ambassador Ahmad warned that Pakistan will continue defensive measures for the protection of its citizens, territory and sovereignty. “Our counter-terrorism operations will continue for as long as it takes to degrade the combat capabilities of terrorist groups and support infrastructure,” he said.
He also drew attention to Afghanistan’s domestic situation, noting the suffering of ordinary Afghans under Taliban restrictions. “Ordinary and vulnerable Afghans are suffering from the Taliban’s inhumane restrictions and misplaced priorities. Sanctions, a dysfunctional banking system, drying up foreign aid, poverty, terrorism, narcotics, and human rights violations weigh heavily on Afghanistan’s socio-economic landscape, a direct result of the Taliban’s reckless behaviour,” the Ambassador said.
Addressing the broader international community, he called for continued engagement to stabilise Afghanistan. “Pakistan has consistently advocated for sustained engagement with Afghanistan. We look forward to the next steps of the UN-led Doha Process and action plan for its Mosaic approach, to address Afghanistan’s multifaceted challenges comprehensively, with well-defined objectives and a realistic roadmap as the only viable pathway to lasting peace in Afghanistan. Without reciprocity from the Afghan Taliban regime, we fear that we go nowhere,” he said.
Ambassador Ahmad concluded by emphasising Pakistan’s role and its expectations from the Taliban. “No country desires peace and stability in Afghanistan more than Pakistan. And no country has suffered more from the consequences of decades of conflict and instability in Afghanistan than Pakistan. The Taliban must, first and foremost, ensure that their territory is not used for terrorism against neighbouring countries and take demonstrable steps to deny space to terrorist groups and proxies,” he said.
Entertainment
Queen Camilla makes stunning confession in interview with Jenna Bush Hager
Queen Camilla sat down for a surprise interview with former US President George W Bush’s daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, who’s a renowned journalist.
The Queen, 78, made a stunning confession in chat with Jenna during her visit to the New York Public Library on Wednesday.
The conversation, recorded on day three of the King Chares and Camilla’s State Visit to America, focused on the Queen’s dedication to promoting literacy and her experiences during the trip.
The Queen reportedly spoke of her reading habbits, nature and personal choices during the chat.
NBC’s TODAY programme announced the interview on Instagram, stating: “In a TODAY exclusive, Jenna Bush Hager spoke to Her Majesty Queen Camilla about her visit to the U.S. and the Queen’s passion for reading.”
Vicki Perrin, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, also accompanied the journalis at the library event.
The reception attracted impressive gathering of literary and cultural figures, with approximately 100 guests from the publishing world in attendance.
Among those present were Vogue editor Anna Wintour, author Harlan Coben, and actress Sarah Jessica Parker, herself a prominent advocate for reading initiatives.
Parker remarked: “Every time you shine a spotlight on reading and the relationship between a reader and a book and how it changes lives and enriches lives and cultivates empathy and curiosity, I’m so grateful.”
The Queen was all excited as she presented a special gift to the institution’s famous collection of Winnie the Pooh teddy bears, which originally belonged to author A.A. Milne’s son.
She donated a replacement Roo doll, crafted by British toymaker Merrythought, as the original character has been missing from the collection for some time.
Entertainment
US top commander to brief Trump on new military options against Iran, says report
- Possible strikes may focus on key Iranian infrastructure sites.
- Another plan involves securing Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
- Operation could include ground forces to reopen key oil passage.
President Donald Trump will receive a briefing on Thursday from the leader of the US Central Command, Brad Cooper, on new plans for potential military action against Iran, Axios reported on Wednesday.
The report cited unidentified sources. The White House and the US Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Centcom has prepared a plan for a “short and powerful” wave of strikes on Iran, likely including infrastructure targets, Axios reported, citing sources.
A fragile ceasefire in the Iran war began three weeks ago.
The war began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and the Gulf states with US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions.
Trump has previously threatened to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure. International law experts say such strikes may amount to war crimes. The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilians.
Another plan expected to be shared with Trump is focused on taking over part of the Strait of Hormuz to reopen it to commercial shipping, the report added, saying such an operation may involve ground forces.
The Iran war, which remains unpopular in the US, has shaken markets and raised oil prices. The war has brought traffic through the strait, a chokepoint for about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, close to a standstill.
Washington hopes to make Iran more flexible at the negotiating table on nuclear issues, Axios reported.
Another option that might come up in the briefing is a special forces operation to secure Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, Axios said.
Trump has cited Iran’s nuclear programme as an imminent threat. Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons but says it has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine is also expected to attend Thursday’s briefing, Axios reported.
Entertainment
Why did Goldie Hawn go on an acting hiatus?
Goldie Hawn has no plans to rush back in front of the camera, and she has been remarkably clear-eyed about why.
The 80-year-old spoke to PEOPLE in an interview published on 29 April, explaining that after a career full of beloved performances, she simply hasn’t found anything worthy of bringing her back.
“It’s about the content,” she said.
“Acting for acting’s sake, taking things… I’ve read a lot of shows, a lot of scripts that I didn’t like or I didn’t think I’d fit. The one thing about acting is that I’ve done it, and I had a great career, and I honor that.”
Hawn last appeared on screen in The Christmas Chronicles 2 in 2020, alongside her longtime partner Kurt Russell.
The decision to step back began long before that, however, she traced it to her mid-fifties.
“I think ultimately every life has to have its sections. Doing the same thing over and over again for your whole life is not as interesting to me. And I decided at probably 55 or something, ‘What are you going to do for this next part of your life?’ And I knew that there was more out there to learn and to do.”
The right script could change everything.
“I would love to get a material that could actually be like, ‘Oh my God, I want this so bad. This is so funny. She’s so crazy. She’s so interesting.’ But I haven’t come across it.”
She also floated the idea of a project with her famously talented family, children Kate Hudson, Oliver Hudson and Wyatt Russell, with characteristic openness.
“It’s such a great idea because we have so much talent. Never say never, because that could happen at any time.”
Hawn and Russell have also stepped back from Hollywood geographically, spending much of their time at their home in Colorado.
Russell has described waking up each morning looking at the mountain, riding horses and sitting by the living-room fireplace as the rhythm of their life there, a far cry from the pace of the film industry they both helped define.
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