Briefly

PAKISTAN

Peace talks with Afghanistan 'failed'

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that the latest round of Pakistan-Afghanistan dialogue held in Istanbul, Turkiye, "failed to bring about any workable solution". In an early morning statement released on social media platform X, Tarar said Pakistan had repeatedly engaged with the Afghan Taliban authorities over the issue of cross-border terrorism involving groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and the Balochistan Liberation Army. He said Pakistan had presented "sufficient and irrefutable evidence" of terrorist activities launched from Afghan soil, which was acknowledged by the Afghan side and the host countries, Qatar and Turkiye. Afghan officials have not yet responded to Pakistan's statement. The violence, which erupted on Oct 9, has killed more than 70 people and wounded hundreds.

MEXICO

US attacks on alleged drug boats opposed

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday voiced opposition to recent US attacks on suspected drug trafficking vessels in international waters and confirmed the launch of a rescue operation for a survivor. Speaking at her daily news conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Sheinbaum said the operation was conducted by the Mexican Navy "on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with international treaties". According to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, three strikes were carried out on Monday against four vessels suspected of carrying drugs in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of 14 "narco-terrorists" and leaving one survivor.

Xinhua - Agencies