NATO Secretary-General Calls for Continuing War on ISIS

 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Petra News)
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Petra News)
TT

NATO Secretary-General Calls for Continuing War on ISIS

 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Petra News)
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Petra News)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underlined the need to continue fighting ISIS at the political and intellectual levels following its military defeat.

In a joint news conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman, Stoltenberg said: “We need to continue our fight against the terrorist group at the political and intellectual levels,” praising Jordan’s role in fighting terrorism and extremism at the regional and international levels.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II discussed with Stoltenberg in Amman the efforts to fight terrorism and cooperate in the military and training fields, according to a statement by the Royal Court.

The meeting focused on “the importance of strengthening cooperation between Jordan and NATO in the military and training fields and efforts to combat terrorism, which threatens global security and peace,” the statement added, highlighting the Arab country’s keenness to strengthen its partnership with the organization.

For his part, Stoltenberg expressed appreciation for the important role assumed by Jordan to achieve peace, enhance security and stability in the region, and deal with regional challenges, stressing that the organization was seeking to improve cooperation with the Kingdom to the highest levels.

The NATO secretary general arrived in Jordan on Tuesday from Iraq as part of a regional tour.

In the joint news conference with Safadi, Stoltenberg expressed his concern over the situation in Syria, pointing to the humanitarian situation of the population of Eastern Ghouta and other parts of the country.

Safadi emphasized the kingdom’s interest in strengthening cooperation with NATO and deepen the strategic partnership in order to promote joint action to consolidate security and stability in the region.

He stressed, in this regard, the importance of cooperation programs between Jordan and NATO to strengthen and develop defense capabilities.

Safadi added that he discussed with Stoltenberg developments in the Palestinian issue, stressing the need to commit to the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the 1967 borders.

The foreign minister noted that talks also touched on the Syrian crisis, to which he said there was no military solution, highlighting the necessity to unite all efforts to reach a political solution that would be acceptable to the Syrian people on the basis of Security Council Resolution 2254 and through the Geneva process.



Islamabad Locked Down ahead of Protests Seeking ex-PM Imran Khan's Release

Police officers stand guard near their vehicles during a protest by Pakistani Shiite Muslims against an attack on passenger vehicles in Kurram, in Dera Ismail Khan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, 22 November 2024. EPA/SAOOD REHMAN
Police officers stand guard near their vehicles during a protest by Pakistani Shiite Muslims against an attack on passenger vehicles in Kurram, in Dera Ismail Khan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, 22 November 2024. EPA/SAOOD REHMAN
TT

Islamabad Locked Down ahead of Protests Seeking ex-PM Imran Khan's Release

Police officers stand guard near their vehicles during a protest by Pakistani Shiite Muslims against an attack on passenger vehicles in Kurram, in Dera Ismail Khan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, 22 November 2024. EPA/SAOOD REHMAN
Police officers stand guard near their vehicles during a protest by Pakistani Shiite Muslims against an attack on passenger vehicles in Kurram, in Dera Ismail Khan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, 22 November 2024. EPA/SAOOD REHMAN

Pakistan's capital was put under a security lockdown on Sunday ahead of protests by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan calling for his release.
Highways leading to Islamabad through which supporters of Khan, led by members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, are expected to approach the city and gather near the parliament, have been blocked.
Most major roads of the city have also been blocked by the government with shipping containers and large contingents of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in riot gear, while mobile phone services have been suspended.
Gatherings of any sort have been banned under legal provisions, the Islamabad police said in a statement.
Global internet watchdog NetBlocks said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that live metrics showed WhatsApp messaging services had been restricted ahead of the protests.
A key Khan aid, Ali Amin Gandapur, who is the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and is expected to lead the largest convoy into Islamabad, called on people to gather near the entrance of the city's red zone, known as "D Chowk".
Islamabad's red zone houses the country's parliament building, important government installations, as well as embassies and foreign institutions' offices.
"Khan has called on us to remain there till all our demands are met," he said in a video message on Saturday.
The PTI's demands include the release of all its leaders, including Khan, as well as the resignation of the current government due to what it says was a rigged election this year.
Khan has been in jail since August last year and, since being voted out of power by parliament in 2022, faces a number of charges ranging from corruption to instigation of violence.
He and his party deny all the charges.
"These constant protests are destroying the economy and creating instability ... we want the political leadership to sit together and resolve these matters," Muhammad Asif, 35, a resident of Islamabad said in front of a closed market.
The last protest in Islamabad by PTI in early October turned violent with one policeman killed, dozens of security personnel injured and protesters arrested. Both sides accused the other of instigating the clashes.