Turkish Armed Forces’ Chief conferred Pakistan’s Military Award
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Representative Islamabad: President Arif Alvi has conferred the ‘Nishan-e-Imtiaz’ (Symbol of Distinction), a Military Award, upon Turkish Chief of Armed Forces General Yasar Güler at a special investiture ceremony at the Presidency in Islamabad. On the occasion, the president said that the unparalleled fraternal relationship between Pakistan and Turkey has […]
Korea, Japan fail to narrow differences in trade talks
Geneva: South Korea and Japan failed to narrow their differences in a second round of talks Tuesday aimed at resolving their dispute over Tokyo’s export restrictions, Seoul’s chief negotiator said. The six-hour-long meeting was arranged as part of a dispute settlement process under rules of the World Trade Organization. South Korea earlier filed a complaint […]
Moon vows to maintain security cooperation with Japan despite looming GSOMIA expiry
Seoul: President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday his government will try “till the last moment” to avoid the termination of an accord with Japan on exchanging military information but he made clear that depends on Tokyo’s stance on its export restriction against Seoul. Although the agreement, known as GSOMIA, is scheduled to come to an end […]
South Korea, U.S. abruptly cut short defense cost-sharing talks
Seoul: South Korea and the United States abruptly cut short their defense cost-sharing talks Tuesday, with the U.S. chief negotiator accusing Seoul of making proposals falling short of a “fair and equitable burden sharing.” The abrupt ending underlined wide differences between the two sides after Washington’s reported demand for a fivefold increase in Seoul’s sharing […]
South Korea, U.S. decide to postpone upcoming joint air exercises for diplomacy
Bangkok: South Korea and the United States decided to put off their wintertime combined air exercises to support diplomacy with North Korea, the two sides said Sunday, with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper urging Pyongyang to reciprocate the goodwill by returning to nuclear talks. Esper and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo announced the surprise […]
Allies working on ‘contingency plans’ over N. Korea’s year-end deadline ultimatum: Cheong Wa Dae
Seoul: The United States is trying hard to coax North Korea into restarting nuclear talks, as South Korea is also quite “serious” about the year-end deadline set by Pyongyang, a top Cheong Wa Dae official said Sunday. The North has emphasized that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump should change tack and put forward […]
Senior U.S. diplomat calls recent Moon-Abe meeting ‘encouraging’ sign
Seoul: The top American diplomat for East Asia on Wednesday described this week’s meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as an “encouraging” sign in fence-mending efforts between Seoul and Tokyo. Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell made the remarks after paying courtesy calls on Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha […]
U.S. underscores commitment to Indo-Pacific region after RCEP deal
Washington: The United States has underscored its commitment to free trade with the Indo-Pacific region after a bloc of nations led by China struck a major trade deal without U.S. participation. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free trade agreement, was announced earlier Monday by the 10 member states of the Association of […]
South Korea’s president revs up ASEAN diplomacy, breaks ice with Abe
Bangkok: Attending ASEAN-hosted summits here this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in had multiple goals — from drumming up support for the dormant Korea peace process to reaching out to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He also placed a focus on drawing more attention to an upcoming ASEAN-South Korea commemorative summit and a separate Mekong-South […]
Pakistan closes Kabul embassy following harassment of diplomats
By Nasir Aijaz AsiaN Representative Islamabad: Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul will remain closed from today (Monday) for an indefinite period due to the harassment of Pakistani diplomats in Afghanistan’s capital. “Due to security reasons, Consular Section of the Embassy of Pakistan, Kabul will be closed from tomorrow Monday, 4th November, 2019 until further intimation,” a statement issued […]