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Pakistan Denies Saudi Arabia Investment in CPEC

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Pakistan Denies Saudi Arabia Investment in CPEC

Pakistan has denied that Saudi Arabia would be made part of the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework and clarified that Saudi proposed investments would fall under a separate bilateral arrangement.

According to Dawn, addressing a press conference with Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Planning and Development Khusro Bakhtiar said on Wednesday in Islamabad that there was no decision to bring a third country, like Saudi Arabia, under the framework of the CPEC.

Read More: Imran Khan:Pakistan values ties with China,Saudi Arabia

Islamabad’s clarification came after a high level 6-member Saudi Arabian delegation visited Gawadar port on Tuesday. Led by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Ahmad Hameed Al-Ghamdi the high power delegation visited different department of Gawadar port and port’s free zone. Saudi team showed interest in investing in the project and expressed satisfaction over the satisfaction over the facilities and security situation in the area.

On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Minister for Planning and Development Khusro Bakhtiar  was responding to a question about the possibility of Saudi Arabia becoming part of the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) or Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) on the CPEC. He said there could be many offshoots of the CPEC where third countries could be inv­olved in trilateral arr­ange­ment for infrastructure development, bringing in Japan, Saudi Arabia and Germany.

Read More: Pakistan: Caught in the Iran vs Saudi Arabia great game

“Saudi Arabia is not to become a collateral strategic partner in the CPEC. This impression is not true,” he said, adding that the third country participation in the CPEC was not limited to Saudi Arabia but other countries could also become part of the business and investment ventures arising out of the CPEC.

“The framework between China and Pakistan is bilateral and Saudi Arabia is not entering that framework as a third-party investor, rather the base of CPEC will be broadened and its pace will be expedited,” the minister said.

During the visit, Saudi Minister Al-Ghamdi was quoted as saying that there are historical, religious and brotherly relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. “Saudi Arabia stood with Pakistan in difficult times in the past and will do so in the future as well,” he said.

Dawn, referring to its sources, reports that Saudi Arabia was expected to be allocated a large piece of land at Gwadar for setting up a 500,000 barrels per day (BPD) refinery worth over $9 billion besides an oil storage facility for 2-3 million tonnes as part of its plan to secure its export supplies. They said Pakistan promised 16 per cent return on investment in the oil refinery.

Visit of Saudi officials at Gawadar is considered important as Riyadh in tangled in a war against its poverty stricken Yemen. It is situated about 170 km west of Iran’s Chabahar sea port where India has been investing for having trouble free access to Afghanistan and reach central Asia and Europe through Iran’s land route. Gawadar is 700 km from Dubai, one of the regional allies in the region.

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India rejects Pakistan’s claims over Karachi attack, asks Islamabad to look inward

India has strongly rejected Pakistan’s allegations over the Karachi attack, asking Islamabad to focus on addressing terrorism within its own borders.

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India on Sunday strongly rejected Pakistan’s allegations linking New Delhi to the recent militant attack in Karachi, describing the accusations as “baseless” and urging Islamabad to focus on tackling terrorism operating from within its own borders.

Responding to the claims, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Pakistan should “look inward” rather than blame other countries for its internal security challenges. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically rejects the allegations and termed them an attempt to divert attention from Pakistan’s domestic issues.

The remarks came after Pakistan alleged Indian involvement in the attack on a Pakistan Rangers headquarters in Karachi. Pakistani authorities claimed that militants targeted the security installation, leading to casualties among security personnel. However, India dismissed the accusations and reiterated its longstanding position that Pakistan must take credible action against terrorism and dismantle terror infrastructure operating from its soil.

Karachi attack and Pakistan’s allegations

According to Pakistani authorities, militants launched an assault on the Rangers’ provincial headquarters in Karachi, triggering an exchange of gunfire. At least three Rangers personnel were killed, while security forces said several attackers were neutralised during the operation. A militant group linked to the Pakistani Taliban reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

Despite these developments, Pakistan alleged external involvement in the attack, accusations that India has firmly denied. New Delhi maintained that Islamabad should concentrate on eliminating terrorist networks rather than making unsupported allegations against other countries.

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Pakistan hit by 5.5-magnitude earthquake, no casualties or damage reported

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted Pakistan on Friday, with authorities reporting no immediate casualties or significant damage.

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earthquake-tremors

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Pakistan on Friday, sending tremors across several parts of the country. However, authorities said there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant property damage.

According to seismic monitoring agencies, the earthquake was recorded at a considerable depth, which may have reduced the impact on the surface. Residents in several cities reported feeling the tremors, prompting many to move outdoors as a precaution.

Emergency and disaster management authorities began assessing the situation soon after the quake. Initial assessments indicated that no major damage to infrastructure or loss of life had been reported. Officials continue to monitor the situation for possible aftershocks.

Pakistan lies in a seismically active region due to the interaction of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making earthquakes a frequent occurrence in several parts of the country.

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Twin earthquakes strike Venezuela within 39 seconds, triggering panic in Caracas

Venezuela witnessed two powerful earthquakes within 39 seconds, triggering panic in Caracas, damaging infrastructure and leading authorities to declare a state of emergency.

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Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela within just 39 seconds, causing widespread panic, damaging buildings and disrupting key infrastructure in and around the capital, Caracas.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the first earthquake measured magnitude 7.2 and struck on Wednesday evening near the coastal town of Moron. Just 39 seconds later, a stronger 7.5-magnitude tremor hit roughly 45 kilometres away, creating what seismologists described as a “doublet” earthquake sequence.

The back-to-back quakes sent residents rushing into the streets as buildings shook violently across Caracas. Several structures suffered severe damage, with reports of building collapses in parts of the capital. Rescue workers were deployed to search through rubble while emergency teams assessed the extent of the destruction.

Visuals shared on social media showed scenes of chaos at Simon Bolivar International Airport, where parts of the terminal roof reportedly collapsed, filling sections of the facility with dust and smoke. Passengers were seen evacuating the airport as power flickered during the tremors. Authorities later announced the closure of the airport because of significant damage.

More than 20 aftershocks were recorded following the twin earthquakes, raising concerns about additional structural damage. The USGS warned that the disaster could result in significant casualties and economic losses, while landslides were also reported in affected areas.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency following the earthquakes and urged citizens to remain cautious as emergency response efforts continued. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado also expressed solidarity with those affected by the disaster.

The earthquakes are being described as among the strongest to strike Venezuela in more than a century. Authorities continue to assess the full scale of the damage and search for possible victims trapped beneath collapsed structures.

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