Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Monday dismissed allegations by the Afghan Taliban that its forces targeted civilians in Afghanistan&rsquo;s Kunar province, linking the claim to cross-border fire that killed civilians in Pakistan&#39;s Bajaur District. The ministry&rsquo;s Fact Checker account said the claim by the Taliban&#39;s Hamdullah Fitrat followed an incident in Bajaur in which nine women and children were killed, prompting local condemnation. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 998px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2051311343819772226&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=aacf9820f3d834bc3c8b3361a678ef714ca4d4a7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> It cited evidence released by the Bajaur District Administration, describing it as showing reckless actions by the Afghan side after repeated failed infiltration attempts by militants. It said Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces repelled those attempts on the ground. The post disputed images circulated with the Afghan claim, saying the damage shown is inconsistent with artillery strikes. It pointed to intact roofs and limited structural breakage as evidence of manual or staged damage. It said the timing of the allegation came after Pakistan released &ldquo;irrefutable evidence&rdquo; and after public criticism intensified against the Afghan side.

This photograph taken on April 13, 2026 shows closed shops in the Barikot village of Naray district, Kunar province. (AFP)

Security

Links claim to cross-border firing from Afghan territory into the Bajaur district that killed civilians.

 Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban claims of targeting civilians and infrastructure in Kunar

LEIPZIG: A car ploughed into people on a street Germany&#39;s eastern city of Leipzig on Monday, leaving at least two dead and several injured, authorities said. The driver was arrested after the vehicle careered from a main square down a major city center street, close to historic sites. Leipzig mayor Burkhard Jung confirmed two people had died, adding: &quot;We still don&#39;t really know the motivation. We don&#39;t know anything about the perpetrator.&quot; Leipzig fire service chief Axel Schuh also gave a death toll of two. Two people were also seriously injured and two others were &quot;affected,&quot; he said. Police said in a post on X that the car ploughed into people on Grimmaische street and then &quot;fled the scene&quot;. But they later arrested the driver, adding that &quot;there is currently no further danger from him&quot;. Police deployed in large numbers along with firefighters, emergency medical personnel and two helicopters. Germany has faced a string of car-ramming attacks in recent years. In December 2024, at least six people were killed and hundreds wounded in a car-ramming attack on the Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg. There have also been similar attacks in Munich and Berlin.

Members of the emergency services work at the scene where a car ploughed into people on a street leaving at least two dead and several injured, in the city centre in Leipzig, eastern Germany on May 4, 2026. (AFP)

Europe

A car ploughs into pedestrians in Leipzig, Germany, killing two and injuring several others, in a busy city centre near historic sites, officials report.

Two dead after car ploughs into people in Germany's Leipzig: mayor

PARIS: A tiny, little-known world beyond Pluto appears to have an atmosphere, Japanese astronomers said Monday, defying what had been thought possible for icy objects in our cosmic backyard.&nbsp;If confirmed, the roughly 500-kilometre-wide (310-mile) rock would become just the second world past Neptune in our Solar System to host an atmosphere -- after only Pluto itself.&nbsp;Formerly classified as a planet, Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status in 2006, in part because astronomers were discovering other similar objects in a distant region called the Kuiper Belt.&nbsp;While NASA under US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of restoring Pluto&#39;s planet status, the discovery of another atmosphere nearby could undermine the argument for its reinstatement.&nbsp;For the new discovery, Japanese researchers and an amateur astronomer pointed their telescopes at an object with the unwieldy name of (612533) 2002 XV93.&nbsp;The icy world is nearly 40 times further from the Sun than Earth -- or roughly six billion kilometers away.&nbsp;These dark objects can only be seen when they pass in front of a distant star.&nbsp;When this happened in January 2024, the astronomers observed that the starlight did not immediately reappear, suggesting a thin atmosphere was filtering some of the light.&nbsp;They estimate that the world has an atmosphere five to 10 million times thinner than Earth&#39;s, according to a new study in Nature Astronomy.&nbsp;&quot;This is important because, until now, Pluto was the only trans-Neptunian object with a confirmed atmosphere,&quot; lead study author Ko Arimatsu of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan told AFP.&nbsp;Such small worlds had not been thought capable of hosting an atmosphere.&nbsp;&quot;This discovery therefore challenges the conventional view that small icy worlds in the outer Solar System are mostly inactive and unchanging,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Ice volcanoes or comet smash?&nbsp;The researchers could not say for sure what created the atmosphere, which is nowhere near thick enough to support life.&nbsp;But they suggested it could have been made by gas being shot out from the world&#39;s interior by erupting ice volcanoes.&nbsp;Or it could have been kicked up by a comet smashing into the world, which would mean it will gradually disappear.&nbsp;Jose-Luis Ortiz, a Spanish astronomer not involved in the research who studies dwarf planets beyond Neptune, said the results were interesting, but urged caution.&nbsp;&quot;I still doubt that it is an atmosphere. We need more data,&quot; he told AFP.&nbsp;An alternative explanation for the observations could be that the object has a ring close to its body, Ortiz said.&nbsp;Ko Arimatsu acknowledged that he could not rule out &quot;exotic alternatives&quot; to an atmosphere.&nbsp;However, &quot;a nearly edge-on ring does not seem consistent with the main features of our observations,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Both astronomers called for further observations to reveal more about this strange world -- particularly with the James Webb space telescope.&nbsp;There have also been suggestions that a dwarf planet called Makemake, which is slightly smaller than Pluto, could have a very thin atmosphere, though some scientists are sceptical.&nbsp;Last week, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman suggested the US space agency was considering reinstating Pluto as a fully-fledged planet.&nbsp;Isaacman made the comments while endorsing a proposal to halve NASA&#39;s science budget, riling some astronomers, Nature reported.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s wild to &#39;make Pluto a planet again&#39; while decimating the careers of those of us that study it!&quot; planetary scientist Adeene Denton wrote on Bluesky.

Artificial Intelligence

Japanese astronomers observed distant object 2002 XV93 and found signs of a very thin atmosphere, possibly from ice volcanoes or impacts. Scientists remain cautious, suggesting alternative explanations and calling for further observations to confirm findings.

Mysterious world beyond Pluto may have an atmosphere: astronomers

DHAKA: Bangladesh has recorded 311 child deaths since March in one of its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-pm-orders-probe-into-measles-outbreak" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">worst measles outbreaks</a>&nbsp;in decades, government data showed Monday. The number of suspected cases has reached 41,793, while authorities logged the highest daily death toll since the outbreak began on March 15, with 17 children dead within 24 hours. &quot;Some children were already in a critical condition to a point of no return,&quot; government health services spokesman Zahid Raihan told AFP. &quot;That&#39;s why the recorded deaths are still increasing.&quot; Measles is highly contagious, spreading through coughs and sneezes, and has no specific treatment once caught. Complications can include brain swelling and severe breathing problems. While the disease can affect anyone, it is most common among children. Most cases recorded in Bangladesh during the current&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/halal-concerns-drive-vaccine-hesitancy-as-indonesia-fights-measles-outbreak" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">outbreak</a>&nbsp;have been among children aged between six months and five years. Health officials are working to vaccinate children in the country of 170 million people, with support from the UN children&#39;s agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) and security forces. The WHO estimates as many as 95,000 measles deaths globally every year, mostly among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under the age of five, according to its latest statistics.

Bangladesh has recorded 311 child deaths since March in one of its worst measles outbreaks in decades, according to the country's health officials. (Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha)

Bangladesh

Bangladesh reports 311 child deaths and 41,793 suspected measles cases since March outbreak, officials say, as health authorities and WHO-led partners intensify vaccination efforts nationwide among young children Monday report.

Bangladesh measles outbreak kills 311 children since March

JAKARTA: The defense ministers of Indonesia and Japan signed a cooperation agreement on Monday, Jakarta said, underlining the need to safeguard regional peace and stability in the face of global tumult.&nbsp;The signing during Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi&#39;s visit to Indonesia came after Tokyo had eased decades-old arms export rules last month, allowing firms to sell lethal weapons to countries with which Japan has defense agreements.&nbsp;Indonesian defense ministry spokesman Rico Ricardo Sirait told AFP that the agreement was part of efforts to improve defense cooperation between the two countries.&nbsp;The pact covers issues including collaboration in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, joint exercises and maritime cooperation, Rico said.&nbsp;He added that it also &quot;opens up opportunities for cooperation in defense equipment and technology&quot; while &quot;prioritizing... regional stability&quot;.&nbsp;Indonesia&#39;s President Prabowo Subianto, a former general, has been pushing to modernize the country&#39;s ageing military assets since taking office in 2024.&nbsp;Koizumi earlier said that defense cooperation with Indonesia would make a &quot;contribution to peace and stability... for the region as a whole&quot; amid &quot;an increasingly complex and tense international situation&quot;.&nbsp;After his talks with Indonesia&#39;s Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Jakarta, Koizumi is bound for the Philippines, where Japanese forces are taking part in a joint military exercise also including the United States.&nbsp;Indonesia last month concluded a defense cooperation pact with the United States, agreed to increase security ties with France, and signed an oil deal with Russia.&nbsp;Jakarta, while defending a non-aligned diplomatic posture it calls &quot;free and active&quot;, last year joined the BRICS bloc of emerging economies that includes Russia and US rival China.&nbsp;Prabowo has also signed a trade deal with US President Donald Trump and joined his so-called &quot;Board of Peace&quot;.&nbsp;Last week, Jakarta said it was still considering a US request for blanket overflight clearance which, if approved, analysts say could be seen as an alignment with Washington over Beijing.&nbsp;Indonesia is strategically located on the Malacca Strait &nbsp;the world&#39;s busiest chokepoint for oil and petroleum liquids, according to the US Energy Information Administration.&nbsp;The vast majority of China-bound oil travels through the strait.

Asia

Indonesia and Japan signed a defense pact to cooperation in humanitarian aid, joint exercises, and defense technology after Japan eased arms export rules, as Jakarta expands military ties while maintaining non-aligned stance amid regional tensions.

Indonesia, Japan sign defense pact after Tokyo unlocks arms exports

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Tens of thousands of cancer patients in England can now receive <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/the-nobel-prize-in-medicine-awarded-to-3-scientists-working-on-immune-systems" target="_blank">immunotherapy</a>&nbsp;in under a minute as Britain&#39;s publicly funded health service begins rolling out subcutaneous injections of pembrolizumab, a treatment previously administered via an intravenous infusion that can take up to two hours. According to England&rsquo;s National Health Service (NHS), the injectable form of the drug can be used for 14 cancer types. This includes lung, breast, head and neck, and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-vaccinates-9-million-girls-against-cervical-cancer-despite-online-backlash" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">cervical cancers</a>. It works by blocking the PD-1 protein, which suppresses immune responses, allowing the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells. The NHS is the body that oversees publicly funded healthcare for England&#39;s 57 million residents. The public health provider reported that roughly 14,000 patients begin pembrolizumab therapy each year in England alone, and most are now expected to receive the injection rather than the drip. The new formulation is administered every three weeks as a one-minute injection, or every six weeks as a two-minute injection, depending on the cancer type. Among the first patients to receive the injection was 89-year-old Shirley Xerxes, treated at a specialist cancer center in Hertfordshire, north of London. According to NHS England, Xerxes called the experience &quot;unbelievable.&quot; The octogenarian stated that she was &quot;only in the chair for a matter of minutes instead of an hour or more.&quot; &quot;It&#39;s made such a difference and gives me more time to live my life, including spending more time gardening,&quot; Xerxes said, as quoted by NHS England. According to the health service&rsquo;s national clinical director for <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/breast-cancer-emerges-as-indias-leading-womens-health-crisis-study" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">cancer</a>, the shift would allow patients to &ldquo;get back to living their lives rather than spending hours in a hospital chair.&rdquo; It would also free up clinical capacity to treat more patients. NHS England also noted that hospital pharmacy teams currently prepare IV bags under specialist sterile conditions, which is a time-consuming process. The ready-to-administer injection removes that step entirely and frees up clinic space. The rollout is expected to deliver faster, more convenient care while freeing up clinical capacity, with roughly 40,000 more people across England already starting cancer treatment on time. The health service described the shift as a practical solution to a strained system, saying the time saved would allow clinical teams to treat more patients and that proven treatments must continue to reach people &quot;quickly and fairly.&quot;

Close-up view of a pharmacist s hand holding a pre-filled syringe of flu vaccine before injection in a pharmacy in Pau, France, on December 8, 2025. (AFP)

A new injectable form of pembrolizumab cuts treatment time by up to 90%, freeing patients and clinical capacity across England.

Britain rolls out 60-second cancer immunotherapy jab for 15 tumor types

PRAIA: Passengers aboard a cruise ship on which a suspected <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/three-die-on-atlantic-cruise-ship-from-suspected-hantavirus-who" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">outbreak of hantavirus</a> has killed three people will not be allowed to disembark in Cape Verde where it is anchored, authorities said, expressing concern for the local population. The refusal came even as WHO Europe said the risk to the wider public remained low. In its first statement on the crisis, the vessel&#39;s operator Oceanwide Expeditions confirmed three deaths on board the MV Hondius, travelling across from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde off the coast of west Africa. Two died on board and one after disembarking the ship. One passenger is in intensive care in Johannesburg and two others &quot;require urgent medical care&quot;, the statement said. The president of Cape Verde&#39;s National Institute of Public Health (INSP) said that the ship &quot;was not granted authorization to dock at the port of Praia&quot; off which it is anchored, in an interview with RTC public broadcaster late Sunday. &quot;Here in the country, passengers will not be able to disembark &ndash; precisely to protect the Cape Verdean population,&quot; Maria da Luz Lima declared, adding that &quot;there would be no contact between the passengers and the country&quot;. Dutch authorities have agreed to lead a joint effort to organize the repatriation of two symptomatic individuals on board MV Hondius to the Netherlands, the Oceanwide Expeditions operator said. Such a repatriation would depend on several factors, including authorization from local officials in Cape Verde, it added. In a statement sent to AFP, the Dutch foreign ministry said it was &quot;busy looking at the possibilities to medically evacuate a few people from the ship&quot;. &quot;If this can take place, the ministry of foreign affairs will coordinate it,&quot; said a spokesperson. &#39;Acting with urgency&#39; While local doctors have visited to assess the medical condition of the two sick crew, no permission was given to evacuate them to shore. Despite the concern, &quot;risk to the wider public remains low&quot;, the World Health Organization&#39;s director for Europe Hans Kluge said in a statement, adding that &quot;there is no need for panic or travel restrictions&quot;. He added that hantavirus infections were &quot;uncommon and usually linked to exposure to <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/rats-fleas-plague-gazas-displaced-as-temperatures-rise" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">infected rodents</a>&quot;. The WHO said it was &quot;acting with urgency to support the response to the hantavirus event on board a cruise vessel in the Atlantic, following the tragic loss of life&quot;. &quot;WHO Europe is working with the countries involved to support medical care, evacuation, investigations and public health risk assessment.&quot; Hantavirus, an illness usually transmitted to humans from rodents, has been confirmed in the passenger currently in intensive care in Johannesburg, the operator said. However, it has not yet been established whether the virus caused the three deaths, said Oceanwide Expeditions. There has also been no confirmation of hantavirus in the two symptomatic people still requiring attention on the ship. &quot;The exact cause and any possible connection are under investigation,&quot; said the ship&#39;s operator. On Sunday, the WHO said one case of hantavirus had been confirmed and that there were &quot;five additional suspected cases.&quot; &quot;While rare, hantavirus may spread between people, and can lead to severe respiratory illness and requires careful patient monitoring, support and response,&quot; the United Nations health agency said.

This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 3, 2026. An outbreak of "severe acute respiratory illness" on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic has left two peopl

Cape Verde refuses to allow cruise passengers to disembark from MV Hondius over suspected hantavirus outbreak after three deaths, while health authorities continue investigating the cause.

Cape Verde bans passengers from cruise with suspected virus deaths

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday held talks with Norway&rsquo;s Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on the evolving regional situation and prospects for enhanced cooperation. During the meeting, Dar underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s continued efforts to promote engagement and dialogue aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the region and beyond. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2051224215488004364&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2ce8bbd824ad3b4d0ec5e5bd188a62392d83fc8e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Kravik appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role and reiterated Norway&rsquo;s support for ongoing efforts toward a peaceful and durable resolution of conflicts. Both sides also reviewed bilateral relations and explored avenues to deepen cooperation across various sectors of mutual interest. The Norwegian deputy foreign minister conveyed an invitation from his country&rsquo;s foreign minister to Dar to participate in the Oslo Forum scheduled for next month. Dar expressed appreciation for the invitation, with both sides agreeing to remain in close contact on bilateral matters as well as issues relating to peace, stability, and development. Pakistan, UK discuss regional tensions, peace efforts Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign minister also spoke with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday, discussing regional developments, peace efforts and global economic concerns, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.&nbsp; The Foreign Office said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the two leaders exchanged views on evolving regional developments. Cooper said Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to support engagement and mediation aimed at lasting peace in the region were noted. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 770px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2051355003558961595&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=aacf9820f3d834bc3c8b3361a678ef714ca4d4a7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2051355003558961595">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Dar said Pakistan remains committed to dialogue and diplomacy for regional and global peace and stability. The two also discussed global economic implications and wider impacts of ongoing conflicts.&nbsp;Both sides agreed to remain in close contact on bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual interest.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar receives Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on May 4, 2026. (Photo: X/ @ForeignOfficePk)

Foreign Affairs

Kravik appreciates Pakistan’s constructive role and reiterated Norway’s support for ongoing efforts toward a peaceful and durable resolution of conflicts.

Pakistan FM, Norwegian deputy FM discuss regional situation, bilateral ties

YEREVAN: Europeans have &quot;heard&quot; US President Donald Trump&#39;s message of frustration over the Iran war and are &quot;stepping up&quot;, NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Monday after Washington announced it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. &quot;European leaders have gotten the message. They heard the message loud and clear,&quot; Rutte said before talks with European leaders in Armenia, acknowledging &quot;disappointment on the US side&quot; faced with European allies&#39; resistance to joining the war. &quot;Europeans are stepping up, a bigger role for Europe and a stronger NATO,&quot; Rutte insisted ahead of a European Political Community meeting dominated by the twin security threats posed by the Ukraine and Middle East wars. &quot;We have seen all these countries now participating with their bilateral agreements making sure that when it comes to basing requests and all the logistical support,&quot; Rutte said. The Pentagon troop move comes with transatlantic ties badly strained over the Middle East war although German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted Sunday there was &quot;no connection&quot; with his recent spat with Trump over the conflict. EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas called the announcement&#39;s &quot;timing&quot; a &quot;surprise&quot;. &quot;There has been a talk about withdrawal US troops for a long time from Europe,&quot; she told reporters in Yerevan. &quot;But of course, the timing of this announcement comes as a surprise.&quot; &quot;I think it shows that we have to really strengthen the European pillar in NATO, and we have to really do more,&quot; Kallas said, while stressing that &quot;American troops are not in Europe only for protecting European interests, but also American interests.&quot; Europe has been ramping up its defense spending in the face of fears over Trump&#39;s commitment to NATO and Russia&#39;s assault on Ukraine a push underscored by several leaders in the Armenian capital. &quot;Europeans are taking their destiny into their own hands, increasing their defense and security spending, and building their own common solutions,&quot; French President Emmanuel Macron said. &quot;We have to step up our military capabilities to be able to defend and protect ourselves,&quot; EU chief Ursula von der Leyen told reporters.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrives to attend the 8th European Political Community (EPC) summit in Yerevan on May 4, 2026. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Americas

European and NATO leaders said they are “stepping up” defence efforts and strengthening NATO’s European pillar after the US announced troop withdrawals from Germany amid tensions over the Iran conflict.

NATO chief says Europeans have 'gotten message' from Trump on defense

ISLAMABAD: The Grand Mufti of Palestine, Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, on Monday said the people of Palestine would never forget Pakistan&rsquo;s steadfast support, describing the bond between the two nations as strong and enduring.&nbsp;He made the remarks upon arrival in Islamabad, where he is visiting to attend a major international religious conference. He was accompanied by Dr Mahmoud Al-Habash, the Qazi-ul-Quza (Chief Justice of Sharia Courts), Radio Pakistan reported.&nbsp;The visiting delegation was received at Islamabad International Airport by Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Palestinian ambassador to Pakistan.&nbsp;According to officials, the delegation will participate in the 6th International Paigham-e-Islam Conference, scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Wednesday.&nbsp;Speaking to the media, Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussein termed the relationship between Pakistan and Palestine &ldquo;everlasting,&rdquo; reaffirming the deep-rooted ties shared by the two peoples.&nbsp;Officials said the visit reflects ongoing religious and diplomatic engagement between the two countries and underscores their shared positions on key issues concerning the Muslim world.

Grand Mufti of Palestine Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussein and Qazi ul Quza Dr. Mahmoud Al-Habash have arrived in Pakistan to participate in the 6th International Paigham-e-Islam Conference. (File Photo: Radio Pakistan)

Palestinian religious leaders visiting Pakistan praised the strong, lasting bond between the two countries and are attending an international Islamic conference in Islamabad.

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