Pak-Afghan Jirga agrees on ceasefire
Peshawar, March 17: The Pakistan-Afghanistan Jirga on Monday agreed on a ceasefire and reopening of the Torkham border crossing closed since February 21 after Islamabad shut it down over a dispute concerning construction of a border post by the Afghan government. The Afghan Jirga members requested for time until later in the evening to decide on removal of constructions on the disputed land. Situated about 55 kilometres of Peshawar, Torkham has remained closed since February 21 and the movement of people via the border crossing abruptly suspended after Pakistani and Afghan security forces developed differences over construction activities on both sides of the border. Both countries have in the past closed Torkham and the southwestern Chaman border crossing, most often over deadly shootings and cross-fire. (PTI)
US, Iran-backed Houthis vow escalation
Cairo, March 17: The United States and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are both vowing escalation after the US launched airstrikes to deter the rebels from attacking military and commercial vessels on one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. The Houthi-run Health Ministry said the US strikes killed at least 53 people, including five women and two children, and wounded almost 100 in the capital of Sanaa and other provinces, including Saada, the rebels’ stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia. President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis cease their attacks, and warned that Tehran would be held “fully accountable” for their actions. (AP)
SL’s suspended police chief loses court plea to prevent his arrest
Colombo, March 17: Sri Lanka’s suspended police chief Deshabandu Tennakoon on Monday lost his appeal at the Court of Appeal seeking an order to stay the arrest warrant issued against him by a local court. The Appeal Court refused his plea without a hearing, court officials said. The two-judge bench, headed also directed the police to execute the arrest warrant issued against Tennakoon. Tennakoon, under suspension since July 2024, remains a fugitive and has been hiding since the Magistrate’s court in the southern town of Matara on February 28 ordered his arrest over the December 2023 incident in the southern resort of Weligama. (PTI)
Congo says it will participate in peace talks with M23 rebels
Dakar (Senegal), March 17: Congo’s government will participate in peace talks in Angola on Tuesday with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that has captured key areas of Congo’s mineral-rich east, a spokesperson said Monday. A delegation representing Congo is currently in the Angolan capital, Luanda, for the talks, Tina Salama, the spokesperson for President Felix Tshisekedi said. Tshisekedi had earlier refused direct negotiations with the rebels. M23 also sent a delegation to Luanda, the group’s spokesperson said on X Monday. (PTI)