The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has shown satisfaction with the current safety plan in place for next month’s Davis Cup tie between Pakistan and India in Islamabad. ITF had another round of security assessment after India requested the Tennis chiefs to reconsider if proper security measures were in place. India’s request came in the aftermath of Pakistan’s decision to expels Indian diplomats.
13 members of the Indian diplomatic staff in Pakistan, have reportedly left the country with their families via Wagah border. The staff members left after Pakistan decided to severe diplomatic ties with India in response to New Delhi’s illegal annexation of disputed Jammu and Kashmir region. Pakistan expelled Indian diplomats and also decided to suspend bilateral trade with India.
As tensions escalate between Pakistan and India, Pakistan has decided to suspend the last public transport service between the countries: the ‘Dosti’ Bus. The bus service has been suspended for an indefinite period of time. Two days ago, train service to India called the ‘Samjhota express’ had also been suspended. Railway minister Sheikh Rasheed announced the news via Twitter.
The United States informed Pakistan that it has removed a 25-mile travel ban and other restrictions imposed last year on Pakistani diplomats and diplomatic staff stationed in the country. In return, Islamabad also has restored facilities that US diplomats had enjoyed in Pakistan until last year. Trump administration imposed these restrictions on May 10, 2018 and on May 11, Islamabad imposed similar restrictions.
Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership have decided to suspend bilateral trade in with India in the aftermath of its illegal move of revoking occupied Kashmir’s special status. The meeting also concluded with a decision to expel Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria. Pakistan has also informed Indian government that Pakistan will not be sending its High Commissioner-designate to India.
China has shown serious concern and taken strict stance on the Kashmir issue, saying it opposes India’s decision to revoke Kashmir’s special status. “India’s action is unacceptable and would not have any legal effect,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement. China urged India to strictly abide by agreements reached by both countries in order to avoid any boundary issues.
Saudi ministry of health has rejected Pakistan’s MS/MD degree, claiming it lacks structured training programme, a mandatory requirement to hire medics against important positions. This comes as a shock to hundreds of highly qualified medics who are now rendered jobless. After KSA, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also removed the degrees from eligibility list of highest paid tier.
The National Assembly is decorated with a massive national flag, prepared by the country’s Hindu community with over 60,000 balloons. Installed on one side of the main entrance, the 40-feet flag covers the whole area from floor to ceiling of the assembly hall. Students belonging to different educational institutions across the country are also invited to visit the Parliament House on August 14.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative Teresa Daban has said that it is essential for Pakistan to exit the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in order to secure private sector credit to meet external financing needs. “Failure to exit from the FATF grey list is a risk to the recently approved $6 billion IMF deal,” said Daban.
After Indian government’s plot to strengthen its hold in occupied Kashmir, the Foreign Office (FO) strongly condemned the move and stated that “Pakistan will exercise all possible options to counter the illegal steps”. The statement reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmiri cause and rejected the move by the Indian government, stressing that IoK was internationally recognised as a disputed territory.