Lavrov said at a press conference that the new US strategy in Afghanistan has no chance for success. “The main emphasis in the new strategy, which was announced by Washington, is made on settlement through use of force,” Lavrov said. “We believe that it’s a dead-end approach.” He said that apart from that, the new strategy allows negotiations with the Taliban without any preconditions, which is also a significant flaw. Lavrov said that the UN Security Council, with the approval of Afghanistan’s government, ruled to allow the Taliban to enter the negotiation process under conditions that include severing terrorist links, bringing armed resistance to an end, and respecting Afghanistan’s constitution. He added that the new strategy jeopardizes the joint international stance formed in the UN Security Council.

Japan said it will impose fresh sanctions on North Korea by freezing the assets of Chinese and Namibian firms doing business with the nuclear-armed state. The move against a half dozen organizations and a couple of individuals comes days after Washington expanded its own punitive measures against Chinese and Russian firms, as well as people linked to Pyongyang. The US move drew an angry response from Beijing, North Korea’s key ally.

The embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Pakistan organized a Tourism Promotion Conference on Kyrgyzstan in Lahore. His Excellency Mr. Eric Aidarkanovich Beishemnbhiev, the ambassador of Kyrgyzstan in Pakistan was the Chief Guest of the event. Moreover, Mr. Esen Aksamaev, 1st Secretary to the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Pakistan along with His Excellency Mr. Zahid Anjum, Honorary Consul General of Kosovo in Pakistan, Mr. Khalid Sherdil and Mr. Muhammad Ijaz, Chairperson for Pakistan Chapter of CEO CLUBS WORLD WIDE were the guests of honor. The speakers highlighted the charm of Kyrgyzstan and motivated the guests to visit this beautiful piece of land gifted with amazing beauty by God. Large number of media persons were present to cover the event. The guests appreciated the initiative of the embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Pakistan and said that this would promote not only tourism but will also strengthen the brotherhood between two Muslim nations. The representatives of airline companies and travel agencies also showed keen interest in facilitating the persons interested to visit Kyrgyzstan.

Pakistan’s population has risen to nearly 208 million people with an average annual growth of 2.4 per cent, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said after the South Asian nation conducted its first census in 19 years. The total population is made up of more than 106 million males, more than 101 million females and 10,418 transgender people, who have been counted in a census for the first time. Provisional results show the total population of Pakistan as 207.774 million, with an average annual growth rate of 2.4 per cent over a period of 1998-2017.

China’s navy held a rare live- fire drill in the Indian Ocean to improve its fleet’s performance under real combat circumstances, state media reported. A Chinese naval formation consisting of the destroyer Changchun, guided-missile frigate Jingzhou and supply vessel Chaohu conducted the drill in the waters of the western Indian Ocean.The fleet carried out strikes against “enemy” surface ships and completed transverse replenishment of fuel and drinking water during an exercise that lasted for several days, the report said without disclosing the exact location. The drill was aimed at improving the ships’ performance under real combat circumstances, said Chen Denan, chief of staff of the Chinese fleet. The fleet is on a half-year friendship visit to Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania and conducted joint exercises with foreign navies from 10 countries since it started its voyage on April 23. Since the standoff with India at Doklam in the Sikkim section, China has been flexing its military muscle by holding several publicized live-fire exercises in Tibet.

A meeting of the Regional Committee of FPCCI on International Investment Initiative was conducted in FPCCI Lahore regional office on Tuesday August 29, 2017. Mr. Muhammad Ijaz, Chairman-Regional Committee of FPCCI on International Investment Initiative and Chairperson for Pakistan Chapter of CEO CLUBS WORLD WIDE chaired the meeting. After a comprehensive overview of global trade behaviors and Pakistan’s trade ties around the world with special focus on further strengthening these ties and to invite and motivate different countries to invest in Pakistan, it was observed that an initiative of recognition from business community of Pakistan towards international community is the need of the hour so may we engage them emotionally too.