Monitoring Desk

ISLAMABAD: The long-debated Durand Line, a 2,640-kilometer border demarcation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has once again come into focus as legal experts and political leaders reaffirm its legitimacy as an international border under international law. Historical Context of the Durand LineThe Durand Line was established in 1893 following an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand, representing British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan. The line was meant to define the spheres of influence between British India and Afghanistan. Following the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, Pakistan inherited all international treaties and boundaries agreed upon by British India &mdash; including the Durand Line. However, successive Afghan governments have contested its legal status, arguing that the agreement lapsed after the British withdrawal. Legal Standing and International FrameworkLegal expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi notes that the international legal framework supports Pakistan&rsquo;s position. Referring to Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, he explains that while states may withdraw from certain treaties due to a &ldquo;fundamental change of circumstances,&rdquo; boundary treaties remain permanent and binding. &ldquo;This means that once a border treaty is agreed upon, it cannot be unilaterally disregarded due to political changes,&rdquo; Soofi emphasized, pointing out that boundary agreements enjoy a unique status in international law. A 1969 Supreme Court of Pakistan decision also reaffirmed the Durand Line as a valid and recognized boundary, rejecting any interpretation that challenges its legal sanctity. Khurram Dastgir Khan Reaffirms Pakistan&rsquo;s PositionSenior PML-N leader and former federal minister Khurram Dastgir Khan underscored that Pakistan&rsquo;s stance on the issue remains firm and consistent. &ldquo;Pakistan has insisted on and will continue to insist, and as a successor state to Great Britain, that the term &lsquo;Durand Line&rsquo; itself is not acceptable; it is the international border,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There are multiple agreements, documents, and international laws that declare it as the international border.&rdquo; He added that Afghanistan&rsquo;s continued reluctance to recognize the border stems largely from domestic economic and political factors. &ldquo;Their insistence that it is not the border is mainly due to their economic and political reasons to keep their population somehow questioned regarding the Pakistan situation,&rdquo; Dastgir noted. Emphasizing the importance of securing the frontier, he said Pakistan must invest further in strengthening the border. &ldquo;We have to find ways to secure the border, and we have to make sure that the Pakistan border is now an actual line that demarcates two countries. I cannot emphasize enough how important this issue is; this is really crucial for the future of peaceful Pak-Afghan relations.&rdquo; The Way ForwardThe reaffirmation of the Durand Line&rsquo;s legal status&mdash;both by legal authorities and political leadership&mdash;highlights Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent policy that the border is final and internationally recognized. Pakistani officials stress that effective border management and mutual recognition remain essential for fostering peaceful and stable Pak-Afghan relations in the years ahead.

Security

Foreign Affairs

The long-debated Durand Line, a 2,640-kilometer border demarcation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has once again come into focus as legal experts and political leaders reaffirm its legitimacy as international border under international law

Pakistan reaffirms Durand Line as international border: legal and strategic perspectives

After nearly two years of relentless violence, people in Gaza are welcoming the ceasefire with relief but also with fear that it may not last.&nbsp;Yousrah Abu Sharekh, Program Coordinator at INARA Gaza, said on Pakistan TV &#39;morning show&#39; that while the truce is &ldquo;a very positive and welcome development,&rdquo; it marks &ldquo;only the beginning of a very complex chapter ahead.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;There are more than 40,000 children who have sustained life-altering injuries &mdash; and many have lost family members, homes, and a sense of safety,&rdquo; she said, adding that the emotional toll is &ldquo;enormous.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fwAStlkrViI" title="Pakistan-IMF Deal I Gaza Crisis I Harsh Winter Ahead I World This Morning" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>Humanitarian groups say trauma among Gaza&rsquo;s children is deep and widespread, with many showing signs of severe distress and fear of renewed fighting.&nbsp;&ldquo;People are happy, yes, but they are also anxious. There&rsquo;s a constant fear that the ceasefire might collapse,&rdquo; Abu Sharekh warned.&nbsp;Crowds celebrated the truce across Gaza, yet uncertainty remains. &ldquo;Children have lost so much, they don&rsquo;t want to lose more,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;The INARA coordinator also cautioned about the lingering dangers of unexploded ordnance and debris, calling them &ldquo;a serious threat to civilians, especially children.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about rebuilding homes; it&rsquo;s about restoring safety and hope,&rdquo; she stressed. &ldquo;The road ahead is long, but the ceasefire gives us a small window of hope.&rdquo;

World This Morning

‘It’s the start of a complex chapter,’ says INARA Gaza coordinator as over 40,000 children live with life-altering injuries.

Ceasefire brings relief — and anxiety — in Gaza: INARA’s Yousrah Abu Sharekh

NUUK: The US special envoy to Greenland, the Arctic Island coveted by President Donald Trump, told AFP on Wednesday that Washington needs to rebuild its presence in the Danish autonomous territory. At the height of the Cold War, Washington had 17 military facilities in Greenland, but closed them over the years and currently has just one &mdash; the Pituffik base in the north of the island. Trump has repeatedly argued the United States needs to control Greenland because of national security concerns, claiming that if it does not, the island risks falling into the hands of China or Russia. Greenland is on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States. It is also believed to have untapped rare-earth minerals and could be a vital asset as the polar ice melts and new shipping routes emerge. &quot;I think it&#39;s time for the US to put its footprint back on Greenland,&quot; US envoy Jeff Landry told AFP as he wound up his first visit to the island since his appointment in December 2025. &quot;I think that you&#39;re seeing the president talk about increasing national security operations and repopulating certain bases in Greenland,&quot; he said. &quot;Greenland needs the US,&quot; he added. The United States wants to open three new bases in the south of the territory, according to recent media reports. A 1951 defense pact, updated in 2004, already allows Washington to ramp up troop deployments and military installations on the island provided it informs Denmark and Greenland in advance. Independence?&nbsp;Trump backed down from threats to seize Greenland in January, and a US-Danish-Greenlandic working group was set up to address his concerns. Even if a &quot;master&#39;s&quot; desire to &quot;secure control of Greenland ... is completely disrespectful ... we are obliged to find a solution,&quot; Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen told reporters on the sidelines of a Greenland economic forum on Tuesday. US envoy Landry, who is also the Republican governor of Louisiana, arrived in Greenland&#39;s capital Nuuk on Sunday. He was not officially invited and his presence has stirred controversy on the island. Greenlandic and Danish officials have repeatedly said that only Greenland can decide its future. Landry met with Nielsen and Greenland&#39;s Foreign Minister Mute Egede on Monday. Nielsen said the talks were &quot;constructive&quot; but noted there was &quot;no sign ... that anything has changed&quot; in the US position. In an interview published in Greenlandic daily newspaper Sermitsiaq on Wednesday, Landry fanned Greenland&#39;s dreams of independence. While polls show a majority of Greenlanders are in favor of gaining independence from Denmark someday, the government has no such immediate plans, as many issues remain unresolved &mdash; primarily regarding the island&#39;s economy, which is heavily dependent on Denmark. &quot;I think there are some incredible opportunities that can actually lift Greenlanders from dependency to independence,&quot; Landry said in the interview. &quot;I think that the president of the United States would like to see the country become economically independent. And I think it&#39;s possible here,&quot; he said. Adding to the controversy around Landry&#39;s visit was the fact that he was accompanied by a US doctor, who told Danish television TV2 he was there &quot;to assess the medical needs&quot; in Greenland. Denmark and Greenland in February rejected Trump&#39;s offer to send a naval hospital ship &quot;to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there.&quot; Greenland&#39;s health minister Anna Wangenheim criticized the US doctor&#39;s presence. &quot;Greenlanders are not guinea pigs in a geopolitical project,&quot; she said.

Americas

Trump has repeatedly argued the United States needs to control Greenland because of national security concerns, claiming that if it does not, the island risks falling into the hands of China or Russia.

US needs to 'put its footprint back on Greenland': Trump envoy

LONDON: Britain on Wednesday struck a long-awaited trade agreement with the six Gulf Cooperation Council states, the first such deal between the bloc and a Group of Seven country.&nbsp;The agreement with the GCC -- which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- is set to deliver relatively modest economic benefits for the UK.&nbsp;However, it comes as Britain seeks to bolster trade ties across the world following its departure from the European Union at the start of the decade, a need that has become more pressing after the United States unveiled sweeping global tariffs.&nbsp;&quot;At a time of increased instability, today&#39;s announcement sends a clear signal of confidence,&quot; said business and trade secretary Peter Kyle.&nbsp;He said the deal reinforces &quot;the strength and stability of the UK&#39;s trading relationship with the Gulf at a critical moment.&quot;&nbsp;The agreement will remove &pound;580 million ($778 million) in tariffs on UK goods imported to the region, covering food, medical equipment and advanced manufacturing.&nbsp;Foods such as cereals, cheddar cheese, chocolate and butter are set to become to tariff-free under the agreement.&nbsp;The UK auto industry and the professional services industry, which accounts for more than half of the country&#39;s exports to the GCC, are also expected to benefit from the deal.&nbsp;Along with eliminating certain custom duties, the deal promises stronger intellectual property protections and a quicker customs process.&nbsp;Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the Gulf states as &quot;valued economic partners.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;This agreement deepens that relationship, building trust and unlocking new possibilities for trade and investment,&quot; he added.&nbsp;The government estimated that the agreement will add &pound;3.7 billion a year to the British economy.&nbsp;Under the Labour government, Britain has secured a number of post-Brexit trade deals.&nbsp;It struck a free trade agreement with India last year, its biggest deal since leaving the EU.&nbsp;It also made a long-sought agreement with the United States to cap tariffs at 10 percent on most UK imports to the country.

Middle East

Britain signed a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council, the first between the bloc and a G7 nation, removing £580 million in tariffs on UK goods and boosting trade, services, investment, and intellectual property protections after Brexit.

UK strikes trade deal with Gulf states

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Nigerian content creator Kayode Pelumi-Ridwan has praised Pakistan&rsquo;s hospitality, cultural diversity, and welcoming society, saying the country played a major role in shaping his rise as a social media personality.&nbsp;In an exclusive interview with PakistanTV, Lumi said Pakistan deserves greater global recognition for its warmth, vibrant traditions, and strong sense of community, adding that his experience in the country challenged many misconceptions often seen online.&nbsp;&ldquo;Social media is the new cool,&rdquo; Lumi said, describing digital platforms as powerful tools that are transforming communication, entertainment, and public engagement worldwide.&nbsp;Known for speaking Urdu, Punjabi, and Pashto, Lumi said connecting with people through language helped him build strong engagement with audiences across Pakistan. He added that cultural similarities between Pakistan and Nigeria inspired him to create content focused on positivity and cross-cultural understanding.&nbsp;The interview also highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s growing soft power appeal, with international creators increasingly using digital platforms to showcase the country&rsquo;s cultural richness, linguistic diversity, and hospitality to audiences around the world.&nbsp;Lumi concluded by encouraging young content creators to stay authentic, responsible, and mindful of the impact their work can have online, emphasizing that meaningful content and positive engagement are key to building lasting connections with audiences.

Nigerian creator Kayode Pelumi-Ridwan praised Pakistan’s hospitality, cultural diversity, and welcoming society, saying the country shaped his digital journey. Speaking Urdu, Punjabi, and Pashto, he highlighted social media’s power to promote positivity, authenticity, and cross-cultural understanding.

Pakistan’s Hospitality, Culture Inspired My Digital Journey: Nigerian Creator

BEIJING: Tech giant Alibaba released on Wednesday a new artificial intelligence chip it said performed three times as well as its predecessor, showcasing growing domestic chipmaker prowess as US titan Nvidia struggles for access to China. Semiconductors have been at the centre of a fierce US-China race for AI supremacy, with Nvidia&#39;s most advanced chips banned from sale in China by Washington over national security concerns. Beijing has in response sought to bolster its self-reliance, pouring resources into promoting its domestic industry and reportedly barring firms from buying Nvidia chips. Alibaba said its new chip, Zhenwu M890, can deliver three times the performance of its predecessor Zhenwu 810E, which is widely believed to match the capabilities of Nvidia&#39;s H20. The H20 is a less powerful version of Nvidia&#39;s AI processing units designed specifically for export to China. A more high-end option, the H200, has been licensed to sell to China from the US side, but its access to the Chinese market appears to have stalled. Zhang Guobin, founder of Chinese specialist website <a data-fr-linked="true" href="//eetrend.com" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">eetrend.com</a>, said the timing of the Alibaba launch is &quot;extremely precise&quot;. &quot;It&#39;s during a window when the prospects of the H200 entering the Chinese market are highly uncertain and Nvidia&#39;s business in China has effectively dropped to zero,&quot; he told AFP. Nvidia boss Jensen Huang was part of a US business delegation that travelled to Beijing with President Donald Trump last week. He said he had not discussed the H200 directly but added &quot;the Chinese government has to decide how much of their local market... they want to protect&quot;. The new Zhenwu M890 chip &quot;provides a reliable option that is insulated from fluctuations in export controls, enabling domestic AI companies to formulate long-term technology roadmaps,&quot; said <a data-fr-linked="true" href="//eetrend.com" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">eetrend.com</a>&#39;s Zhang. &quot;At the very least... (it) proves that in the field of high-end AI computing power, China now has a &#39;Plan B&#39; that does not depend on Nvidia,&quot; he added. However, when it comes to performance, Nvidia still holds its lead. Even the H200 is significantly less advanced than the firm&#39;s top-range chips -- the Blackwell series and forthcoming Rubin processors. Alibaba said to date it has shipped more than 560,000 chips in its Zhenwu series, to over 400 customers, including automakers and financial institutions. The Hangzhou-based tech giant, which runs some of the country&#39;s biggest ecommerce platforms, has accelerated its pivot to AI in recent years. Its open-source Qwen AI model family is popular among developers, surpassing one billion cumulative downloads since its initial launch in 2023.

Artificial Intelligence

Alibaba unveiled a new AI chip claiming triple the performance of its predecessor, highlighting China’s growing semiconductor capabilities as Nvidia faces US export restrictions and declining access to the Chinese market amid intensifying AI competition.

Alibaba unveils new AI chip as Nvidia access remains stalled

LONDON: Climate change experts urged the UK to set maximum temperature rules for workplaces and adapt hospitals and schools to a warming planet in a report published Wednesday. The report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the government on adapting to global warming, said Britain should set &quot;measurable&quot; targets to reduce the effects of climate change. Experts identified the key climate change threats facing the UK as heat, flooding and drought, with 92% of homes &quot;likely to overheat&quot; by 2050 and acute water supply shortfalls without urgent government action. &quot;The UK was built for a climate that no longer exists today and will be increasingly distant in years to come,&quot; the CCC report notes, following concerns in recent heatwaves that the UK&#39;s infrastructure is not prepared for higher temperatures. The country, which recorded its hottest year on record in 2025, has seen extreme weather events intensify in recent years, with unprecedented heat waves, floods that have caused significant damage, and long spells of drought. Four of the UK&#39;s last five years now appear in the top five warmest years since 1884, and all of the top 10 hottest years will now have taken place in the last two decades. &#39;Increased ambition&#39; In its fourth report advising the government, the CCC noted that efforts to limit global warming to below 2C should not prevent the UK from &quot;preparing&quot; for the consequences of global warming. Countries agreed in the 2015 Paris Agreement to try to limit global warming to &quot;well below&quot; 2C, and aim for a 1.5C cap, which scientists warn is increasingly unattainable as human-driven climate change accelerates. The CCC report urges setting &quot;maximum working temperature regulations&quot; to protect workers, installing cooling infrastructure like air conditioners and heat pumps, building flood defenses and investing in reservoirs, among other recommendations. It did not recommend what the maximum temperature should be set at. Britain does not have any rules for maximum temperatures yet, and the CCC pointed to examples of countries like Spain, where the maximum legal indoor working temperature is 27C. It advises the government to have &quot;increased ambition&quot; and estimates that investment of around &pound;11 billion ($14.7 billion) a year from the public and private sector is needed. The country has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels and is aiming to be carbon neutral by the middle of the century.

Europe

The Climate Change Committee urges the UK to set strict maximum workplace temperatures and prepare critical infrastructure for intensifying heat, flooding and drought with an estimated £11 billion annual investment.

UK climate advisers urge setting maximum working temperature

JERUSALEM: Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday voted to advance a bill submitted by the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/israel-pm-confirms-gaza-flotilla-interception-says-thwarting-malicious-scheme" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Netanyahu</a> which would dissolve parliament and pave the way for early elections. In a preliminary reading, 110 out of 120 lawmakers voted in favor and none against the bill, which will now pass to a committee before three more parliamentary readings. If the bill is ultimately approved it would automatically trigger elections to be held after 90 days. Polls are currently scheduled to take place by the end of the legislative term on October 27. Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties, while his fractious right-wing coalition appears to be facing possible collapse. Ultra-Orthodox parties accuse Netanyahu of failing to deliver on his promise to pass legislation that would permanently <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/thousands-of-orthodox-jews-protest-israeli-draft-changes-in-new-york" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">exempt young men</a> of their community from compulsory military service if they are studying in yeshivas, or religious seminaries. Sensing an opportunity amid the turmoil, several opposition parties announced earlier this month that they intended to introduce their own bills to dissolve the Knesset. On Wednesday coalition chairman Ofir Katz said: &quot;This coalition has completed its days. &quot;This is the only opposition that caused the coalition to grow. In this term we passed nine budgets and 520 laws,&quot; he added. The bill does not set a date for elections, which would be fixed during the committee stage.

Dozens of protesters gather in front of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) to demonstrate against a controversial bill that proposes the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners in West Jerusalem on March 31, 2026. (AFP)

Netanyahu is under mounting pressure from ultra-Orthodox parties, while his fractious right-wing coalition appears to be facing possible collapse.

Israeli lawmakers advance bill to dissolve parliament

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Senate on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The resolution, titled &ldquo;Re-affirming China-Pakistan Friendship and Brotherhood,&rdquo; was presented in the Senate by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in his capacity as Leader of the House, according to the Foreign Office. Speaking on the occasion, Dar extended heartfelt congratulations to the leadership and people of both Pakistan and China on the historic milestone, describing bilateral relations as a cornerstone of regional peace, stability and development.&nbsp; He said the ties between the two countries, anchored in mutual trust, mutual respect and shared aspirations, have continued to grow stronger over the past 75 years. The deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to further deepening cooperation with China across political, economic, strategic and people-to-people domains. He also highlighted the shared resolve of both countries to carry forward their &ldquo;iron-clad friendship&rdquo; for future generations.

Resolution presented before the Senate of Pakistan titled “Re-affirming China-Pakistan Friendship and Brotherhood ”commemorating the 75th anniversary. (Photo: MOFA)

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar presented the resolution, 'Re-affirming China-Pakistan Friendship and Brotherhood,' in his capacity as Leader of the House.

Pakistan Senate adopts resolution reaffirming China ties on 75th anniversary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally reopened offshore oil and gas exploration after nearly 20 years, with the signing of 23 production-sharing agreements and exploration licenses for blocks awarded under the Offshore Bid Round 2025, marking a renewed push to attract investment in the country&rsquo;s offshore energy sector, according to an official statement on Wednesday.&nbsp; The awarded blocks are located in the Indus and Makran offshore basins, adjoining the territorial waters of Sindh and Balochistan. The agreements cover approximately 54,600 square kilometers of Pakistan&rsquo;s offshore area. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik witnessed the signing ceremony. Two offshore blocks awarded under the same bid round, Offshore Deep-C and Offshore Deep-F, had earlier been executed on December 2, 2025, with Mari Energies Limited, Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company, and Fatima Petroleum Company Limited during a ceremony held at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp; The statement said that with the signing of the remaining 21 agreements, the contractual framework for the entire 2025 portfolio is now complete. Mari Energies Limited emerged as the most active participant in the 23 offshore blocks, serving as operator on 18 blocks and as a joint venture partner on five blocks with other exploration and production companies. Oil and Gas Development Company Limited and Pakistan Petroleum Limited have each been awarded eight exploration blocks, including two blocks as operators. Prime Global Energies Limited has been awarded one block as operator. United Energy Pakistan Limited and Orient Petroleum Incorporation, alongside other joint venture partners, also participated in the signing ceremony. Collectively, the awarded blocks represent an investment of approximately $82 million during Phase I of the initial three-year license period. Total investment is projected to increase to approximately $1 billion if exploration activities progress to Phase II drilling operations. Phase I activities will involve extensive geological and geophysical studies, including seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation, aimed at better defining the hydrocarbon potential of Pakistan&rsquo;s offshore basins. Subject to encouraging results, Phase II will involve the drilling of exploratory wells in prospective offshore areas. The Petroleum Division intends to engage leading international oil companies in the next phase of offshore exploration, with several global energy firms already evaluating available offshore data, the statement said.&nbsp;

Economy

Agreements signed for 23 blocks in the Indus and Makran basins to attract foreign investment and boost offshore oil and gas exploration.

Pakistan reopens offshore exploration after 20 years, 23 agreements signed 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan declared a three-day public holiday from May 26 to 28 to observe Eid-ul-Adha, according to a government notification. Eid-ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the conclusion of the annual <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-hajj-operation-accelerates-as-thousands-of-pilgrims-arrive-in-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hajj pilgrimage</a> to the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The festival takes place on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim&#39;s (Abraham) submission to God. On the festival&#39;s opening day, Muslims gather for special congregational prayers. Families engage in &quot;qurbani,&quot; the ritual slaughter of permissible (halal) livestock, including goats, sheep, cattle, and camels. The sacrificial meat is divided equally among the household, extended family and friends, and the poor. Throughout the celebration, adherents dress in new clothes, visit relatives, and greet one another with &quot;Eid Mubarak.&quot;

Culture

Pakistan's government declares a three-day public holiday for Eid-ul-Adha, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signing off on the decision

Pakistan announces three-day public holiday for Eid-ul-Adha

ISLAMABAD: The US Senate on Tuesday advanced a resolution to limit President Donald Trump&rsquo;s authority to conduct military action against Iran without congressional approval, marking the first time Democrats have cleared such a procedural vote after seven failed attempts. The joint resolution, introduced by Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and several other senators, directs the president to remove US armed forces from &quot;hostilities within or against Iran&quot; unless Congress formally authorizes military action through a declaration of war or a specific use-of-force authorization. According to the text of the resolution, lawmakers argued that Congress alone has the constitutional authority to declare war under Article I of the US Constitution and that Congress has neither declared war on Iran nor approved military force against the country. The Senate voted 50-47 to discharge the resolution from the Committee, with four Republican senators, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, and Bill Cassidy, joining most Democrats in backing the resolution, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted against it, CBS News reported. The resolution further states that military action against Iran, including the enforcement of a naval blockade, would constitute hostilities under the War Powers Resolution. However, the measure includes provisions allowing the United States to defend itself against attacks, continue intelligence-sharing with allies, and assist partner countries targeted by Iran or its proxies through defensive support, according to the resolution. Speaking before the vote, Kaine said Americans were increasingly opposed to another conflict in the Middle East. &quot;They are deeply opposed to this war,&quot; he told reporters, according to CBS News. Kaine also linked the conflict to rising economic pressure on Americans, particularly fuel prices ahead of the Memorial Day holiday travel period. &quot;We&rsquo;re coming up on Memorial Day. A lot of people do a lot of driving, they&rsquo;re going to be paying a lot for gas,&quot; Kaine said, according to CBS News. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the vote showed growing Republican unease over the administration&rsquo;s Iran policy. &ldquo;Momentum is building to check him,&rdquo; Schumer said. The resolution still has to pass a final vote and, even then, would face major obstacles in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which has already rejected similar efforts, and would almost certainly be vetoed by Trump if it reached his desk, AFP reported.

US Senator Tim Kaine speaks following the Senate's vote on the War Powers resolution, at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on February 13, 2020. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP)

The Senate has approved a procedural step to limit unauthorized US hostilities against Iran. However, the resolution still has to pass a final vote in both chambers of Congress and likely presidential opposition. 

Articles by Monitoring Desk