Pakistan, Afghanistan enhance defence cooperation

The members of the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production of Pakistan and the Defence, Internal Security, and Local Administration Committee of Meshrano Jirga of the Afghan Parliament concluded rounds of dialogue in the Afghan capital Kabul with signing of a joint declaration.

"The two-day dialogue focused on issues including security and the defence cooperation between the two countries; existing and emerging challenges in Pak-Afghan relations; cross-border terrorism, narcotics smuggling; border management, challenges of 2014 NATO withdrawal and Afghanistan peace process and institutionalizing Pak-Afghan Defence Parliamentary Dialogue," the declaration said.

Zardari, Nawaz felicitate president-elect

ISLAMABAD: Notwithstanding PPP’s boycott of the presidential election, President Asif Ali Zardari, who is co-chairman of the party, felicitated Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday on his election as the 12th president of the country.

“In his message of felicitation President Zardari wished the president-elect well in the discharge of his responsibilities as head of the federation,” president’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said.

Yet another prisoner escapes from Karachi court

KARACHI: Yet another prisoner escaped from Karachi’s city court on Tuesday, Express News reported.

This is the third incident of suspects escaping from the court premises in July.

According to initial details, the prisoner was brought to the court for a hearing.

Earlier on July 13, two terror suspects who were alleged members of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) escaped from the same court. They were believed to be involved in bomb attacks on Muttahida Quami Movement’s (MQM) offices during the general elections. After a court hearing was adjourned, the prisoners managed to flee easily while the CID police officials were taking them back to the jail.

Veteran American diplomat named as new US special representative for Afghanistan, Pakistan

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has tapped a veteran American diplomat to be the new U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Follow up:

Secretary of State John Kerry says he chose Ambassador James F. Dobbins because of his “deep and long-standing relationships in the region.”

Kerry called the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday to inform them of his decision. He praised Dobbins as one of America’s “most accomplished diplomats.”

Pakistan, Afghan forces clash along border injuring soldiers

ISLAMABAD: An Afghan border policeman was killed and two Pakistani soldiers were wounded in an exchange of fire along the Pak-Afghan border late on Wednesday, officials from both countries said.

A senior Afghan official said hundreds of additional Afghan troops were sent to a disputed border gate after the exchange of fire, which lasted for more than two hours.

An Afghan official who declined to be named said that one Afghan was killed in several hours of artillery exchanges.

Pakistan, Afghan forces clash along border injuring soldiers

ISLAMABAD: An Afghan border policeman was killed and two Pakistani soldiers were wounded in an exchange of fire along the Pak-Afghan border late on Wednesday, officials from both countries said.

A senior Afghan official said hundreds of additional Afghan troops were sent to a disputed border gate after the exchange of fire, which lasted for more than two hours.

An Afghan official who declined to be named said that one Afghan was killed in several hours of artillery exchanges.

Pakistani authorities accused the Afghan National Army (ANA) of firing on one of its border checkposts, injuring at least two security personnel.