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US Urges India, Pakistan to ‘Exercise Restraint’: Pompeo
The U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke separately with the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan and urged them to avoid “further military activity” following an air strike by India inside Pakistan.
Pompeo spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to stress on the priority of de-escalating current tensions by avoiding military action, and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil, the US Department of State said in a statement.
“We encourage India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost,” Pompeo said Tuesday.
He also urged both Ministers to prioritize direct communication and avoid further military activity.
Meanwhile, Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the U.S. Secretary of State that the Indian ‘violation’ could affect the ongoing Afghan peace process.
This comes hours after the Indian jets conducted air strikes against a militant camp in Pakistani territory on early Tuesday.
The Indian officials said on Tuesday that the air strikes hit a training camp of Jaish-e-Mohammed, the group that claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb attack killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir on February 14 and raised tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbors
Pakistan says there were no casualties in the strike, while India says it hit a terrorist training camp and killed a “very large number” of militants.
The Indian aircraft “released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot”. There were “no casualties or damage,” Pakistan Army spokesman Asif Ghafoor wrote on Twitter.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister in a video message called the airstrikes as ‘grave aggression’ by violating the line of control.
He stressed, “Pakistan deserves the right to self-defense and adequate response.”
The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has signed a 30-year agreement with a private company to extract marble in Daikundi province.
Under the contract, the company will invest AFN 283 million in exploring and mining marble at the “Mesh-Uliya” site, spanning 16.74 square kilometers in central Daikundi.
Hedayatullah Badri, Minister of Mines and Petroleum, stated that the marble will be processed domestically before being exported abroad. He added that the Mesh-Uliya project is expected to create around 200 jobs, and the company is committed to supporting local communities through social initiatives.
Economic experts highlight that such investments, especially those focusing on domestic processing, are crucial for job creation, boosting exports, and strengthening the national economy. Analysts further note that the project will improve local infrastructure, expand social services, and enhance the economic and social well-being of Daikundi residents.
Since the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, efforts to develop Afghanistan’s mining sector have intensified, with multiple contracts signed in areas including cement, copper, iron, and lapis lazuli, involving both domestic and international companies.
A passenger bus veered off the Salang Highway before dawn on Sunday, leaving five people dead and 44 others injured, the Ministry of Public Works said.
According to the ministry, the incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. in the Shawol area of North Salang when a passenger bus deviated from the main road due to the driver’s negligence.
Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works, said five passengers were killed and 44 others sustained injuries. He added that personnel from the Salang Maintenance and Protection Directorate promptly arrived at the scene and transferred the injured to the Khunjān clinic for medical treatment.
The Ministry of Public Works has urged drivers and passengers traveling on the Salang Highway to strictly follow the instructions of on-duty teams, observe traffic regulations, and carry warm clothing, food supplies, and snow chains to prevent similar incidents.
The ministry also noted that heavy snowfall and stormy weather have led to the temporary closure of the highway, while road maintenance teams are continuing snow-clearing operations.
Latest News
Major fire in Mandawi Kabul market contained, extensive losses prevented
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
The Ministry of Interior reported that personnel from the General Directorate of Firefighting and Emergency Response successfully prevented the further spread of a fire at Mandawi market on Kabul early Sunday morning.
Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesperson for the ministry, said that the fire destroyed 10 storage facilities and 8 shops. He added that initial losses are estimated at around $700,000, but timely action by firefighting personnel saved property worth approximately $2.2 million.
Qani explained that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. He praised the rapid and effective containment operations, which prevented more extensive damage.
Local shopkeepers said the fire broke out around 4 a.m.
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