NEW DELHI: Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has died in India, Indian police said Wednesday. He was aged 80. &quot;The death is confirmed,&quot; Krishnan M, additional superintendent of police in India&#39;s southern state of Kerala, told AFP. &quot;The Kenyan national was on a walk with his sister, daughter, and a personal doctor when he suddenly collapsed. An Indian police security officer and a Kenyan security officer were also with them at the time. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, but was declared dead.&quot; Odinga&#39;s death was also confirmed to AFP by a member of his political team but they requested anonymity while awaiting an official announcement from the party. A spokesman for the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kerala also confirmed the death. &lsquo;Breathing difficulties&rsquo;&quot;This morning, around 07:45 am, Mr Raila was on his morning walks,&quot; the spokesman told AFP. &quot;Suddenly he experienced some breathing difficulties and collapsed. He was provided CPR, on the spot and having seen some sign of recovery, he was rushed to the nearest modern hospital. Despite repeated efforts by the medicos, his condition deteriorated and the doctors were unable to save him.&quot; Born on January 7, 1945, he spent his early years in politics either in jail or in exile, fighting for democracy during the autocratic rule of president Daniel arap Moi. A member of the Luo tribe, he entered parliament in 1992 and ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1997, 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022, claiming to have been cheated of victory in the last four elections.

Asia

Born on January 7, 1945, he spent his early years in politics either in jail or in exile, fighting for democracy during the autocratic rule of president Daniel arap Moi.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga dies in India: police

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned India for reviving what it described as fabricated and provocative propaganda ahead of upcoming state elections in Bihar and West Bengal, warning that such irresponsible remarks could endanger regional peace and stability.&nbsp;The Pakistani military&rsquo;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said it had taken &ldquo;serious notice&rdquo; of recent comments made by Indian military officials, calling them a repeat of &ldquo;delusional claims frequently made during election periods in India.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It is regrettable to see the military leadership of a nuclear-armed country issuing irresponsible statements under intense political pressure,&rdquo; the ISPR said.&nbsp;&ldquo;Such rhetoric has turned the Indian military establishment into a source of ridicule,&rdquo; it added.&nbsp;The ISPR cautioned that &ldquo;unnecessary chest-thumping and unwarranted statements could trigger a cycle of jingoism,&rdquo; which might have dangerous implications for peace and security in South Asia.&nbsp;It also noted that contradictions in the Indian Army&rsquo;s recent press statements were &ldquo;so evident that they do not warrant a detailed response.&rdquo; The statement slammed Indian leaders of attempting to rewrite history with &ldquo;Bollywood-style narratives&rdquo; aimed at shaping domestic opinion ahead of elections.&nbsp;Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s resolve, the ISPR stated that the Pakistan Armed Forces are fully prepared and capable of defending every inch of national territory.&nbsp;&ldquo;Every act of aggression will be met with a swift, resolute, and memorable response,&rdquo; it warned.&nbsp;Referring to the May 2025 confrontation, referred to as Maarka-e-Haq, the ISPR said Indian forces had been &ldquo;decisively defeated,&rdquo; yet Indian leaders continue to deny that outcome.&nbsp;&ldquo;The world now recognizes India as the true face of cross-border terrorism and the epicenter of regional instability,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Pattern ahead of Indian elections&nbsp;Analysts and international observers have noted a recurring pattern in India, where anti-Pakistan rhetoric intensifies before elections, often used to rally nationalist sentiment and distract from domestic challenges.&nbsp;In May 2024, Germany&rsquo;s public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) reported that anti-Pakistan sentiment remains &ldquo;an emotive issue in India&rdquo; and serves as &ldquo;a convenient political tool for candidates.&rdquo;&nbsp;Similarly, during the 2019 Pulwama attack and subsequent Balakot airstrikes, which occurred just weeks before India&rsquo;s general elections, The Guardian observed that the escalation &ldquo;played to Prime Minister Modi&rsquo;s advantage,&rdquo; helping his party shift public focus from economic issues.&nbsp;Former Indian intelligence chief A.S. Dulat, in an interview with The Times of India, had described the Pulwama attack as &ldquo;a gift to the BJP ahead of the elections.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It was inevitable that something would happen,&rdquo; Dulat had said, suggesting that the timing benefited the ruling party politically.&nbsp;Pakistan calls for restraint and regional stability&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly urged India to avoid using baseless allegations and militaristic rhetoric for domestic political gain. Officials maintain that such behavior undermines regional stability and diverts attention from the urgent need for peace and economic cooperation in South Asia.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan remains committed to peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; the ISPR concluded. &ldquo;However, any attempt to violate its sovereignty will be met with a firm and decisive response.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

The military’s media wing says the Indian Army’s delusional and provocative statements ahead of state elections reflect political desperation, warning that such reckless rhetoric could endanger regional peace and will be met with firm resolve.

Pakistan condemns India for reviving pre-election propaganda, warns against destabilizing rhetoric

GENEVA:&nbsp;Heat-trapping carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere jumped by the highest amount on record last year, soaring to a level not seen in human civilization and &ldquo;turbo-charging&rdquo; the Earth&rsquo;s climate and causing more extreme weather, the United Nations weather agency said Wednesday. The World Meteorological Organization said in its latest bulletin on greenhouse gases, an annual study released ahead of the U.N.&rsquo;s annual climate conference, that C02 growth rates have now tripled since the 1960s, and reached levels not seen in at least 800,000 years. Emissions from burning coal, oil and gas, alongside more wildfires, have helped fan a &ldquo;vicious climate cycle,&quot; and people and industries continue to spew heat-trapping gases while the planet&rsquo;s oceans and forests lose their ability to absorb them, the WMO report said. The Geneva-based agency said the increase in the global average concentration of carbon dioxide from 2023 to 2024 amounted to the highest annual level of any one-year span since measurements began in 1957. Growth rates of CO2 have accelerated from an annual average increase of 2.4 parts per million per year in the decade from 2011 to 2020, to 3.5 ppm from 2023 to 2024, WMO said. &ldquo;The heat trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases is turbo-charging our climate and leading to more extreme weather,&quot; said WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett in a statement. &ldquo;Reducing emissions is therefore essential not just for our climate but also for our economic security and community well-being.&rdquo; Climate Analytics CEO Bill Hare called the new data &ldquo;alarming and worrying.&rdquo; Even though fossil fuel emissions were &ldquo;relatively flat&rdquo; last year, he said, the report appeared to show an accelerating increase of CO2 in the atmosphere, &ldquo;signaling a positive feedback from burning forests and warming oceans driven by record global temperatures.&rdquo; &quot;Let there be no mistake, this is a very clear warning sign that the world is heading into an extremely dangerous state &mdash; and this is driven by the continued expansion of fossil fuel development, globally,&quot; Hare said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m beginning to feel that this points to a slow-moving climate catastrophe unfolding in front of us.&rdquo; WMO called on policymakers to take more steps to help reduce emissions. While several governments have been pushing for further use of hydrocarbons like coal, oil and gas for energy production, some businesses and local governments have been mobilizing to fight global warming. Still, Hare said very few countries have made new climate commitments to come &ldquo;anywhere near dealing with the gravity of the climate crisis.&rdquo; The increase in 2024 is setting the planet on track for more long-term temperature increase, WMO said. It noted that concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide &mdash; other greenhouse gases caused by human activity &mdash; have also hit record levels. The report was bound to raise new doubts on the world&#39;s ability to hit the goal laid out in the 2015 Paris climate accord of keeping the global average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. United Nations climate chief, Simon Stiell, has said the Earth is now on track for 3 degrees Celsius.

A person checks his mobile phone as farmers burn crop residue after harvest near Bundelkhand expressway in India, on November 17, 2024. (AP)

Climate

UN warns of record CO2 levels driving extreme temperatures

PRAGUE: The Czech Football Association fired coach Ivan Ha&scaron;ek on Wednesday following a humiliating 2-1 defeat to Faroe Islands in World Cup qualifying.&nbsp;It was not immediately clear who would replace Ha&scaron;ek.&nbsp;Czech FA president David Trunda said a coach would be named to lead the team until the end of the qualifying campaign. A foreign coach is then likely to take over on a permanent basis.&nbsp;Former Czech great Pavel Nedvěd has been asked to compile a list of potential candidates.&nbsp;Sunday&rsquo;s upset loss against the Faroes, a territory with a population of 55,000, was the biggest for the Czechs in qualifying for a major tournament since a 1-0 away defeat to Luxembourg in the European Championship 30 years ago. Back then, they still qualified for the finals in England.&nbsp;The Czechs can still qualify for the 2026 World Cup. They have to beat another minnow, Gibraltar, in their final match on Nov. 17 to secure second spot in Group L and advance to the European playoffs in March.&nbsp;Under Ha&scaron;ek, the Czechs were eliminated at the group stage of the 2024 European Championship but then won their group in the Nations League and advanced to the top-tier League A that starts next September.

Football

Czech Republic fired coach Ivan Hašek after a stunning 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to Faroe Islands. Pavel Nedvěd will help find a new coach before the next match.

Czech coach Hašek fired after shocking defeat in World Cup qualifying

Maham Khan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu no longer enjoys the excuse of waging a war on Gaza to manipulate corruption charges, opposition, and public scrutiny. Legal challenges Netanyahu is currently confronting three separate corruption trials. According to AFP, he faces allegations of receiving luxury items valued at over 260,000 USD, including cigars, jewelry, and champagne from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors. On June 29, 2025, an Israeli court postponed Netanyahu&#39;s testimony in the corruption trial. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for the case to be &lsquo;cancelled&rsquo;. In his recent address to the Knesset in Tel Aviv, Trump asked Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu. Political opposition Yesh Atid, led by Yair Lapid, represents the primary opposition bloc. However, the group faces significant challenges in presenting a unified alternative to Netanyahu&#39;s government. Reuters reported in September 2025 that the opposition&#39;s attempt to dissolve parliament and force early elections failed, primarily due to ultra-Orthodox factions striking a deal with Netanyahu on mandatory military service. The opposition&#39;s internal fragmentation remains a critical weakness, with deep ideological differences preventing a united front. Coalition dependencies Netanyahu&#39;s government heavily relies on far-right parties like Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism. Party leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have threatened to destabilize the coalition over policy disagreements, particularly concerning the Gaza ceasefire deal. British politician Callum Miller noted that Netanyahu&#39;s dependency on far-right partners forces more radical actions, prioritizing coalition unity over national interests. Military establishment critique The Israeli security establishment has sharply criticized Netanyahu&#39;s leadership. As documented in &lsquo;Netanyahu vs The Generals: The Battle for Israel&#39;s Future,&rsquo; high-ranking security officials have publicly challenged the government&#39;s strategic decisions. Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the US, stated in October 2025 that Israel has exhausted major military options against Hamas. Judicial reform controversies A bill passed in March 2025 allows what the Israeli opposition termed as increased government influence over judicial appointments. Many have raised substantial concerns about judicial independence. Reuters reported in April 2023 that thousands of Israelis have protested in Tel Aviv against the government&#39;s judicial reform plans. In July 2023, AFP described mass protests and strikes across Israel sparked by the government&#39;s reform initiatives. War on Gaza management Netanyahu has faced mounting criticism over the conflict&#39;s management. The Guardian reported on October 14, 2025, that Netanyahu&#39;s rhetoric emphasized continued military presence, contradicting claims of a &lsquo;concluded conflict.&rsquo; Reuters noted that opposition leader Benny Gantz withdrew from the emergency war cabinet, criticizing what he believed had been Netanyahu&#39;s lack of strategic planning. Hostage families&#39; pressure The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has become a powerful opposition voice. AFP reported that many family members demonstrated against Netanyahu during his United Nations General Assembly speech. In October 2025, Reuters reported the forum&#39;s continued dissatisfaction with the ceasefire-hostage deal. Political prospects The Israel Democracy Institute&#39;s October 2025 report revealed mixed public sentiment with only over 40% of Israelis having trust in Netanyahu. A Maariv poll in The Times of Israel on October 10 showed Netanyahu&#39;s Likud party projected to win 27 Knesset seats, a slight increase from previous standings. While still significantly short of a majority, this shows uptick in positive public perception. The temporary boost is likely from the hostage-ceasefire deal. However, the same Democracy Institute study showed that 64% of Israelis believe Netanyahu should resign over the October 7, 2023 security failures. His ability to maintain political relevance amidst significant opposition indicates a capacity for strategic political maneuvering. Existing public opinion data suggests that he may be able to form a coalition government in the upcoming October 2026 elections.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump (not pictured) in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC, US, September 29, 2025. (Reuters)

Articles

Netanyahu faces mounting legal, political, and public challenges after Gaza war, with corruption trials, opposition criticism, and 64% of Israelis believing he should resign over security failures.

Can Netanyahu survive the odds after Gaza peace deal?

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani entertainment lovers can now bid farewell to borrowing overseas logins or waiting for shows through complicated channels. HBO Max has officially launched in the country, bringing blockbuster content directly to local viewers&#39; fingertips. The streaming giant has expanded into 14 new markets across Asia, with Pakistan among the highlighted destinations. This move means fans can now access hit series like The Last of Us, House of Dragons, and Game of Thrones&nbsp;using their own local payment methods. Pricing comes in two attractive options: a standard plan at Rs467 [$1.66] per month, or a yearly package at Rs5,600 [$19.9]. The standard plan offers streaming on two devices simultaneously, full HD quality, and the ability to download up to 30 titles for on-the-go viewing. The premium tier steps it up with over 100 downloads, 4K Ultra HD video, and Dolby Atmos immersive audio &ndash; essentially bringing a cinema-like experience to your personal devices. However, viewers should note the fine print. The advertised pricing reflects upfront annual payments, and some content may include advertisements. Download limits also vary across different content categories. Previously available in markets including the US, Latin America, Europe, and parts of Asia, HBO Max&#39;s expansion into Pakistan means instant access to global entertainment without the previous hurdles of international subscriptions or complicated workarounds. The service promises to bring Hollywood and international content directly into living rooms across Pakistan.

Entertainment

Film & TV

HBO Max just dropped in Pakistan, bringing hit shows like 'The Last of Us,' 'The Penguin,' and 'Game of Thrones' to local audiences with affordable plans, HD streaming, and easy local payment options.

Goodbye VPNs, Hello HBO Max: Pakistan finally gets the real deal

Aleena Zara Malik

Culture

Pakistan’s music scene has gone global, from Arooj Aftab’s Grammy wins to Taurees Habib’s historic achievement. Artists like Meesha Shafi, Ali Sethi, and Xulfi continue pushing boundaries, solidifying Pakistan’s influence in global music culture

Grammy beyond borders: Pakistani artists redefine global music

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime have agreed to a temporary 48-hour ceasefire, effective from 6 p.m. Wednesday, following days of intense cross-border fighting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.&nbsp;&ldquo;At the request of the Taliban regime, and with mutual consent between the Governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan, it has been decided to implement a temporary ceasefire for the next 48 hours starting from 6 p.m. today,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said.&nbsp;It added that during the ceasefire period, both sides would engage in constructive discussions to find a &ldquo;positive and lasting resolution to this complex yet solvable issue.&rdquo;&nbsp;The ceasefire announcement followed Pakistan Army&rsquo;s precision strikes in Afghanistan&rsquo;s Kandahar province, which targeted key militant hideouts linked to the Afghan Taliban. According to security sources, Battalion No. 4 and Border Brigade No. 6 of the Taliban were &ldquo;completely destroyed,&rdquo; resulting in heavy militant losses.&nbsp;Analysts urge caution, stress need for restraint&nbsp;Retired Brigadier Babar Alauddin, a defence analyst, welcomed the ceasefire as a &ldquo;necessary pause,&rdquo; but warned that Pakistan&rsquo;s restraint should not be misinterpreted.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan has shown great patience and respect for Afghanistan&rsquo;s sovereignty, but repeated cross-border attacks are unacceptable,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This truce is in the best interest of both countries and their people, it should have come earlier.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that the ceasefire reflects the Taliban&rsquo;s realization of the consequences of continued aggression.&nbsp;&ldquo;Once Pakistan retaliated decisively, it sent a clear message. The request for a ceasefire shows they&rsquo;ve understood that message,&rdquo; Alauddin noted.&nbsp;Security analyst Ehtasham-ul-Haq described the ceasefire as &ldquo;fragile,&rdquo; warning that past experiences suggest it may not hold unless the Afghan side reins in its militant affiliates.&nbsp;&ldquo;Each time they face defeat, they return to the negotiating table,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If the Taliban truly want peace, they must stop allowing their soil to be used against Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;He further emphasized that lasting stability requires addressing the issue of cross-border militancy and refugee management, which Pakistan views as central to its national security.&nbsp;While the 48-hour ceasefire offers a brief respite, analysts say both sides face a narrow window to translate this truce into dialogue. With tensions still high and forces on alert, the coming days will test whether diplomacy can hold where firepower could not.

Security

Foreign Office says Islamabad and Kabul have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire starting 6 p.m. today to ease border tensions, following Pakistan Army’s precision strikes in Kandahar that destroyed key Afghan Taliban hideouts.

Pakistan, Afghanistan agree on 48-hour ceasefire after border clashes

GENEVA: Palestinian Authority representatives are touring Europe to try to convince countries that have not yet recognized a Palestinian state to get on board, a presidential envoy said during a visit to Switzerland on Wednesday.&nbsp;Former Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, currently serving as special envoy for President Mahmud Abbas, told reporters that he had met with Switzerland&#39;s top diplomat to push Bern to join &quot;the countries who recognize Palestine&quot;.&nbsp;He said he would be travelling on to the Netherlands and Austria with the same message.&nbsp;&quot;Another delegation will be going to the Baltic states, and our president hopefully will visit Italy and Germany,&quot; he told the briefing, organized by the UN correspondents&rsquo; association ACANU.&nbsp;A majority of European nations now recognize a Palestinian state, following official declarations last month by Britain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal and others against the backdrop of the war in Gaza.&nbsp;A number of non-European states, like Australia and Canada have also recently joined their ranks, in moves slammed by Israel.&nbsp;&quot;There are 34 countries that did not yet recognize Palestine,&quot; Shtayyeh said.&nbsp;&quot;We are simply in contact with these countries, trying to urge them to be part of the countries who recognize Palestine, not part of the countries who did not recognize Palestine.&quot;&nbsp;In Switzerland, he said he had met with Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.&nbsp;&quot;My message to the Swiss leadership is very simple: This is the country that &lsquo;hosts&rsquo; UN agencies, and this is the depository for Geneva Conventions,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;I did urge the Swiss leadership to walk the walk and recognize Palestine as a state similar to the countries that have done so.&quot;&nbsp;While there are forces in Switzerland pushing for recognition, such a move could take time.&nbsp;A coalition of civil society, NGOs and politicians began this week gathering signatures to push through a popular vote on the issue, under Switzerland&#39;s famous direct democratic system.&nbsp;If they manage to gather 100,000 signatures over the next 18 months, the Swiss will be called to vote on whether they want recognition of &quot;Palestine as a sovereign and independent state&quot; to be enshrined in the Swiss constitution.

Middle East

Palestinian envoy Mohammad Shtayyeh is urging European nations, including Switzerland, to recognize Palestine’s statehood amid growing global support for Palestinian independence.

Palestinians touring Europe to boost state recognition

TEL AVIV: Israel&#39;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was back in a Tel Aviv court on Wednesday for the latest hearing in his long-running corruption trial, which opened in May 2020. The prime minister kept a smiling face as he and his entourage of several ministers from his conservative Likud party were heckled by protesters en route to the tribunal. It comes after US President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that the Israeli premier should be pardoned in his three separate corruption cases. His latest appearance at the Tel Aviv court also follows the return of the hostages taken by Hamas as part of Trump&#39;s US-brokered plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. In one case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods, including champagne, cigars and jewellery, from billionaires in exchange for political favours. In two other instances, Netanyahu is also charged with attempting to negotiate better press coverage from two Israeli media outlets. He has denied any wrongdoing, claiming to be the victim of a political plot. During his current term, which started in late 2022, Netanyahu has proposed far-reaching judicial reforms that critics say sought to weaken the courts. Those prompted massive protests that only abated after the onset of the Gaza war, sparked by Hamas&#39;s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. In an address on Monday to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, Trump told the chamber that Netanyahu should receive a pardon in the graft cases. &quot;Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?&quot; Trump joked, before asking his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog: &quot;Why don&#39;t you give him a pardon?&quot; The Israeli premier is also subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on suspicion of ordering war crimes in his government&#39;s assault on Hamas militants in Gaza. Netanyahu holds the record for the most years spent at the head of Israel&#39;s government, having served 18 years in several stints as premier since 1996.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on while President Donald Trump addresses the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. (AP)

Netanyahu in court for graft trial appearance

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is keeping China informed about its rare earth exports to the United States. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said this in a regular press conference in Beijing on Monday.&nbsp; Responding to an issue raised during the presser that &ldquo;Pakistan took advantage of Chinese equipment and technology to export rare earth to the US, which resulted in China&rsquo;s strict export control measures on rare earth-related technologies&rdquo;, Lin said, &ldquo;From what I&rsquo;ve learned, the two countries have been in communication on Pakistan-US mining cooperation.&rdquo; &ldquo;Pakistan stressed that its interactions with the US will never harm China&rsquo;s interests or its cooperation with China,&rdquo; he added. &lsquo;Just baseless&rsquo;&nbsp;On the question, &ldquo;Some we-media accounts said in videos and articles that Pakistan sent rare earth samples to the US and agreed on rare earth cooperation, and China took countermeasures against Pakistan&rsquo;s rare earth exports to the US&rdquo;, Lin categorically stated: &ldquo;The reported stories that you mentioned are either misinformed or invented, or even designed to drive a wedge between China and Pakistan. They are just baseless.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;The samples that the Pakistani leaders showed and gave to the US leader are gem ores purchased by staff in Pakistan.&rdquo; Lin stated that China&rsquo;s recently released export control measures on related rare earth items have no connection to Pakistan. &ldquo;It is a legitimate action by the Chinese government to refine its export control system in accordance with laws and regulations. It aims to better defend world peace and regional stability and to fulfill non-proliferation and other international obligations,&rdquo; he added. Pak-Afghan Taliban clashes&nbsp;On the issue of clashes between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban, Jian said, &ldquo;Pakistan and Afghanistan are both friendly neighbors of China. The two countries are and will always be neighbors of each other.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Upholding good-neighborliness and the friendly ties, pursuing economic and social development, and jointly combating terrorism serve the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides,&rdquo; he added.

Responding to a question raised during a presser, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, 'From what I’ve learned, the two countries have been in communication on Pakistan-US mining cooperation.'