Pakistan terms Afghan minister's comments 'highly regrettable'

— APP/File

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday termed the accusations made by Afghanistan’s Acting Defence Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob “conjectural allegations”. In a statement, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that the statement was “highly regrettable” and defied the “norms of responsible diplomatic conduct”. “In the absence of any evidence, as acknowledged by the Afghan minister himself, such conjectural allegations are highly regrettable and defy the norms of responsible diplomatic conduct,” said the spokesperson in a statement. The spokesperson reaffirmed Islamabad’s “belief in the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states” and condemnation of “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. “We urge the Afghan interim authorities to ensure the fulfilment of international commitments made by Afghanistan not to allow the use of its territory for terrorism against any country,” said the spokesperson.

'Pakistan should not allow its airspace to be used against us'

Afghan defence minister Mujahid accused Pakistan earlier today of providing airspace for US drones to enter his country, characterising the incursions as a continuation of Washington's "invasion". Mujahid's comments came less than a month after US President Joe Biden announced the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike in Kabul. US drones continued to be seen flying over Kabul even now, Mujahid said. "Our information shows that they (US drones) are entering into Afghanistan from Pakistan, using the airspace of Pakistan," Mujahid told reporters when asked where the drones were coming from. "We demand that Pakistan should not allow its airspace to be used against us." Deploying these drones into Afghanistan is "still a clear invasion of Afghanistan and its airspace by the Americans", Mujahid said.
"They are doing this shamelessly. We condemn this illegal act and demand that the Americans put an end to it." The United States led an invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 that toppled the first Taliban government, after the group refused to hand over the late Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks. The drone attack in July that killed Zawahiri, bin Laden's successor, was the first known strike by the US on a target in Afghanistan since Washington withdrew its forces from the country on August 31 last year. Mujahid said the authorities were investigating Biden's claims of killing Zawahiri. "We will share the details when it is complete," he said. Officials have neither confirmed Zawahiri's presence in Afghanistan nor acknowledged his death.

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Pakistan stands by counter-terrorism, FO comments on killing of Al-Qaeda's Zawahiri

The front facade of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Islamabad. — Radio Pakistan/File

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said that Pakistan stands by counter-terrorism efforts in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

The statement from the Foreign Ministry came after the killing of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan.

Addressing media queries regarding the crucial development, the ministry’s spokesperson said that Pakistan’s role and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism are well-known.

“Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the statement read.

The statement further added that they have seen the official statements by the United States and media reports regarding a counter-terrorism operation carried out by the US in Afghanistan.

After the incident yesterday, President Joe Biden announced that the United States had killed Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of the world's most-wanted terrorists and suspected mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In a televised address, Biden said the strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, had been carried out on Saturday. "I gave the final approval to go get him," he said, adding that there had been no civilian casualties.

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Hira Mani shares apology video after comments on Dua Zahra case

Pakistani actress Hira Mani. — Instagram/@hiramaniofficial

Pakistani actress, Hira Mani, who often comes under fire for her controversial comments from time to time, recently apologised to the public for issuing yet another problematic statement related to the Dua Zahra.

The celebrity issued a clarification in a video after netizens vehemently criticised Mani for saying in an Instagram story that she was eagerly praying to Allah not to let Dua Zehra and her husband, Zaheer Ahmed, get separated.

Dua, a minor, had made headlines across the country after she had mysteriously disappeared from Karachi but it was later discovered that she had run away from her home to marry 21-year-old Zaheer Ahmed, who was a resident of Lahore.

The actress shared a video, lamenting her statement and saying that she did not know that it was a kidnapping case and that Dua was underage. 

"I am sorry if I have hurt anyone with my statement. In fact, I was hurt too when I got to know about the case and thought how much Dua's parents would be distressed."

She went on to say that people close to her got upset with her statement as well. "They said that I shouldn't have made the comments as I did not know about the case," she added. 

Apologising to Dua's parents, Hira said that she commented about the couple in an emotional state. 

"I made a mistake and I accept it. I am human too and humans make mistakes," she said. 

"May Allah keep Dua Zahra, her family, and parents in His protection," she concluded.  

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/hira-mani-shares-apology-video-after-comments-on-dua-zahra-case/?feed_id=3038&_unique_id=62e1b1a1a263f

NBA legend Jerry West thinks J.J. Redick’s comments on Bob Cousy were 'very disrespectful'

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NBA legend Jerry West does not appreciate the assertion by former NBA player and ESPN analyst J.J. Redick that six-time NBA champion Bob Cousy played against "plumbers and firemen." 

Redick made the comments in April when he and "First Take" panelist Chris "Mad Dog" Russo were discussing Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul. 

ESPN broadcasters Dave Pasch and J.J. Redick prior to a game between the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns at FTX Arena March 9, 2022, in Miami, Fla.  (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

‘Let’s celebrate Bob Cousy in his era, but you cannot compare pre-1980 to the modern NBA," Redick said. 

"He was being guarded by plumbers and firemen," Redick continued as Russo argued that Cousy "changed the game." 

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Now, West is firing back, calling Redick’s comments "disrespectful." 

"Obviously the game is completely different, the athletes are completely different," West said on Sirius XM NBA Radio. "And I know J.J. just a little bit. He’s a very smart kid and everything, but tell me what his career looked like? What did he do that determined games? He averaged 12 points a game in the league. Somewhere along the way, numbers count.

LA Clippers executive board member Jerry West attends a game between the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas and Mack Center July 7, 2022, in Las Vegas.  (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

"The only reason I’m talking about him is because he was not an elite player, but he was a very good player. But he had a place on a team because of his ability to shoot the ball."

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West’s NBA career coincided with Cousy’s for a few years, with West playing for 14 years from 1960 to 1974. Cousy played from 1950 to 1963 before retiring for six years. He made a comeback during the 1969-1970 season, appearing in seven games for the Cincinnati Royals. Cousy won six championships as a member of the Boston Celtics and was named first-team All-NBA 10 times. 

ESPN analysts J.J. Redick and  Mark Jones during Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference semifinals May 12 2022, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.  (Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images)

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"My era, I was an athlete way before my team," West continued. "I had a huge vertical and probably no one in the league was much faster than me. And certainly the competitive part of it, I would put myself among any player that played the game today also. Winning is all that matters. That’s what drove me. And I suddenly got better every year. We didn’t have the facilities to get better. We had to work in the summers to support our families. 

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"J.J. should be very thankful that he’s made as much money as he’s made. And Bob Cousy, who I played against for a couple of years … I just think it's very disrespectful." 

Redick played 15 years in the NBA for six teams and averaged 12.8 points per game. 

Joe Morgan is a Sports Reporter for Fox News.

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