booker calls diplomacy
|

Booker calls for diplomacy, says Pakistan can help promote Middle East peace

Democratic US Senator Cory Booker has called for diplomacy and dialogue instead of military action, saying the United States needs diplomacy, not bombs, to address conflicts in the Middle East.

Speaking at a Pakistan Independence Day event in New York, Booker said Pakistan was in a strong position to play a constructive role in promoting peace across the Middle East. He stressed that dialogue should take precedence over war and urged greater diplomatic efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts.

Booker also highlighted the humanitarian consequences of conflicts in the region, saying every human being deserves dignity and respect. He said children in Palestine and Iran deserve the same consideration and protection as American children.

“When a humanitarian tragedy is unfolding, none of us should remain silent,” Booker said, emphasizing the need to continue raising voices for a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Iran.

The senator also praised the role of Pakistani Americans in strengthening ties between the United States and Pakistan. Referring to the efforts of the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC), he said the organization had worked to bridge communities and ensure that Pakistani Americans receive their rightful place and representation at the local level.

Discussing bilateral relations, Booker said the friendship between the United States and Pakistan began soon after Pakistan’s independence and has continued to develop over the decades. He noted that Pakistani Americans have made significant contributions in a wide range of fields, including medicine, engineering, public service and business.

He said the success of Pakistani Americans also contributes to the strength and prosperity of the United States, stressing the importance of ensuring that the community has a strong and influential voice in American society.

Booker further spoke out against discrimination and Islamophobia, saying that when a Muslim faces prejudice in the United States, it is not only a problem for the individual or the Muslim community but a problem for the entire country.

He recalled his efforts to combat anti-Muslim hatred and said he had introduced legislation aimed at addressing Islamophobia and protecting Muslims from discrimination.

The senator’s remarks came as Pakistani Americans gathered in New York to mark Pakistan’s Independence Day and celebrate the community’s contributions to American society. The event, organized by APPAC, brought together senior officials, community leaders and prominent Pakistani Americans.

APPAC Chairman Dr. Ijaz Ahmad and other speakers also addressed the gathering, highlighting the role of the Pakistani-American community in strengthening people-to-people ties and promoting closer relations between Pakistan and the United States.

The event also underscored the growing role of Pakistani Americans in civic and public affairs, with speakers calling for greater representation and continued engagement between the two countries.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Italy’s fourth summer heat wave peaks as rec…

    Italy’s fourth heat wave of the summer reached its most intense point on Monday, with a record 25 cities placed under red heat alerts as temperatures climbed above 40 degrees Celsius in parts of the country, according to local media reports. Italy’s Health Ministry raised the number of cities under its highest heat risk warning from 23 on Sunday to 25 on Monday, marking the highest total recorded so far this summer. Only Reggio Calabria and Messina avoided the red alert designation, though both remained under yellow level warnings. The Po Valley and central regions of the country are experiencing the harshest conditions, while inland areas and Sardinia could also see temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius. In parts of central and northern Italy, overnight temperatures are expected to stay above 25 degrees Celsius, a pattern meteorologists have described as super tropical nights. The central province of Terni recorded a temperature of 41 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Experts have linked the extreme heat to a persistent African anticyclone combined with continued warming of the Mediterranean Sea, where surface temperatures have reached or surpassed 30 degrees Celsius across much of the basin. Meteorologist Lorenzo Tedici of iLMeteo.it said the accumulated heat is expected to fuel atmospheric instability, warning of strong afternoon thunderstorms forming over the Alps and Apennines. Italy’s Civil Protection Department has issued yellow alerts for heavy rainfall along the Apennine mountain range stretching from Umbria to Calabria, as well as in inland areas of Sicily. Tedici said a genuine shift away from the hottest phase of summer 2026 is unlikely before at least mid August. Authorities have also flagged an elevated risk of wildfires, placing Sicily and Emilia Romagna under orange alerts as the heat wave continues to grip the country. The extreme temperatures fit a broader pattern of intensifying summer heat across southern Europe in recent years, as scientists have repeatedly linked rising Mediterranean sea temperatures and more frequent heat waves to long term climate trends affecting the region’s weather systems.

  • | | | | |

    Pakistan played key role in easing US-Iran tensions: analysis

    Pakistan played an important mediating role in efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran and helped bring the two sides to the negotiating table, according to an analysis by South Asian Voices, a policy platform focusing on security, political and economic developments in South Asia. The analysis said Pakistan stepped in at a critical stage when tensions between Washington and Tehran had escalated sharply and both sides had suffered significant losses. According to the assessment, Islamabad successfully facilitated communication between the United States and Iran and helped bring a global power and a major regional power into direct negotiations. The report described Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement as significant, arguing that Islamabad managed to perform a role that several major powers, including China, France, Germany, India and the United Kingdom, had been unable to achieve. The analysis further noted that talks between American and Iranian representatives in Islamabad continued for more than 20 hours. It described the discussions as the highest-level direct contact between the United States and Iran since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Although Washington and Tehran subsequently accused each other of violating the terms of a ceasefire, the two sides did not completely abandon the diplomatic process, according to the analysis. The report therefore argued that it would be inaccurate to hold the mediator responsible for the failure of the process, stressing that Pakistan’s role should instead be viewed in the context of its efforts to keep communication channels open between the two sides. The assessment highlights Islamabad’s growing diplomatic role in attempts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran and underscores Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate dialogue during a period of heightened regional instability.

  • |

    Muslim student in Russia named in India protest case 

      A Muslim student from India’s Bihar state has claimed that he was named in a police case related to protests against the alleged NEET examination paper leak, despite having lived in Russia for the past four months. The student, identified as Mohammad Sadaqat, belongs to Kishanganj district in Bihar. He alleged that his name was included in a First Information Report (FIR) registered after demonstrations held on July 24 against the alleged NEET paper leak, even though he was not in India at the time of the protest. In a video message shared on social media, Sadaqat said he has been residing in Russia for the last four months for educational purposes and therefore could not have participated in the protest. According to him, the case relates to a demonstration that took place at LRP Chowk, where people gathered to protest against the alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET examination. The student maintained that he was shocked to learn that his name had been included among those accused in the case. He said his passport and travel records clearly show that he was outside India when the protest occurred. He urged the authorities to verify the facts and remove his name from the police case, arguing that it was impossible for him to have taken part in the demonstration while living abroad. Sadaqat appealed to the district administration and police officials to conduct a fair investigation and correct what he described as an error. He emphasized that he was not present in India during the protest and requested that the allegations against him be withdrawn after proper verification. Meanwhile, Kishanganj Superintendent of Police Hari Mohan Shukla neither confirmed nor denied whether the student had been named in the FIR. Responding to questions from the media, the police chief said that anyone who has concerns regarding the protest-related cases is welcome to approach the police. He stated that authorities would examine any complaint submitted by an affected individual and review the available evidence before taking an appropriate decision. However, he did not specifically address Sadaqat’s claim or comment on the contents of the FIR. The Bihar Police’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) initially responded to the student’s viral video by assuring the public that the matter would be investigated. The response suggested that the allegations raised in the video would be looked into by the relevant authorities. However, the police later deleted the post without providing any explanation, prompting further discussion on social media. The deletion has raised questions among users, although officials have not commented on why the statement was removed. The controversy comes amid widespread protests in Bihar over the alleged NEET paper leak, an issue that has sparked public outrage and demands for accountability. During a statewide strike organized in connection with the controversy, police reportedly detained 694 people for allegedly participating in protests and violating public order. According to reports, nearly half of those detained were minors. The incident involving Mohammad Sadaqat has drawn significant attention online, with many social media users calling for a transparent investigation into his claims. Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the case, and the matter remains under official review.

  • |

    Meloni demands probe into Bologna death after violent clashes

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for a thorough investigation into the death of a man during a police operation in Bologna, while strongly condemning violent protests that left dozens of police officers injured. The incident occurred in the Pilastro area of Bologna, where police were called to respond to reports of an aggressive man damaging a vehicle. The man, identified as Moroccan-born Abderrahim Fakir, died following the confrontation with police. Meloni said all facts surrounding the incident must be established through a transparent investigation. She stressed that the truth should be determined without bias and that responsibility should be identified based on evidence. The situation later escalated when protesters gathered in Bologna and clashes broke out with police. Demonstrators threw firecrackers, bottles and chairs at law enforcement personnel, prompting police to use tear gas and water cannons to control the crowd. Police officials said 56 officers were injured during the violent demonstrations. Meloni condemned the attacks on security personnel, saying violence could not be justified under any circumstances. Authorities have launched an investigation into the man’s death. Bologna police said body-camera footage from the officers involved would be handed over to investigators as part of the inquiry. According to initial reports, officers attempted to calm Fakir before using pepper spray and restraining him while trying to place him under arrest after he allegedly became aggressive. The incident has triggered political debate across Italy, with opposition parties demanding accountability and government supporters defending the actions of police officers. Meloni accused some protesters of using the incident as an excuse to create unrest rather than seeking justice. She said those responsible for attacking police and damaging public property were pursuing confrontation instead of the truth.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *