Skip to main content

Featured

Pakistan's Crackdown on Afghan Refugees: A Controversial Move

In recent weeks, Pakistan has intensified its efforts to arrest Afghan citizens residing in the country without proper documentation. This move has sparked significant controversy, with the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad accusing Pakistan of attempting to expel all Afghan refugees from its territory. The Afghan Embassy issued a strongly worded statement, condemning the short timeframe given by Pakistani authorities and the unilateral nature of their decision. The embassy claimed that Afghan nationals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been subjected to arrests, searches, and orders to leave the cities and relocate to other parts of Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has dismissed these allegations, stating that the authorities are merely facilitating conditions for the swift return of Afghans to their home country. The ministry emphasized that Pakistan has long threatened to deport Afghans living in the country illegally. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently approved a March 31 dea...

Hope Amidst Rubble: Palestinian Rescue Workers Search for Survivors on Day 2 of Ceasefire

Palestinian Emergency Services announced on Monday that a search is underway for thousands of Palestinians believed to be buried under rubble, as Gaza's residents grapple with the shock of the devastation on the second day of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The truce in the 15-month-old war, which has laid waste to the Gaza Strip and inflamed the Middle East, took effect on Sunday with the release of the first three hostages held by Hamas and 90 Palestinians freed from Israeli jails. Now, attention is starting to shift to the rebuilding of the coastal enclave, which the Israeli military has demolished in retaliation for a Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

"We are searching for 10,000 martyrs whose bodies remain under the rubble," said Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson of the Palestinian Civil Emergency Services. At least 2,840 bodies were melted and there were no traces of them, he said. Displaced Gazan Mohamed Gomaa lost his brother and nephew in the war. "It was a big shock, and the amount (of people) feeling shocked is countless because of what happened to their homes - it's destruction, total destruction. It's not like an earthquake or a flood, no no, what happened is a war of extermination," he said.

Residents and medics in Gaza said for the most part the ceasefire appeared to be holding, although there were isolated incidents. Medics said eight people had been hit by Israeli fire since Monday morning in the southern city of Rafah, without giving details of their condition. The Israeli military said it was checking the reports.

Billions of dollars will be needed to rebuild Gaza after the war. A U.N. damage assessment released this month showed that clearing over 50 million tonnes of rubble left in the aftermath of Israel's bombardment could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion. While, a U.N. report from last year, said rebuilding Gaza's shattered homes could take at least until 2040, but could drag on for many decades. The debris is believed to be contaminated with asbestos, with some refugee camps struck during the war known to have been built with the material.

Israel said its goal in the war was to eradicate Hamas and destroy the tunnel network it built underground.




Comments

Popular Posts