PNS Taimur rescues 19 fishermen in Arabian Sea

Pakistani American physician and human rights advocate Dr Asif Mahmood has been unanimously elected as chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, becoming the first South Asian to lead the independent bipartisan body. Dr Mahmood, who previously served as the commission’s vice chair, described his election as a great honour and reflected on his journey from a small village in Pakistan to leading one of the world’s leading organisations focused on protecting freedom of religion and belief. In his acceptance remarks, he said he remains committed to defending the rights of people from all religious backgrounds as well as those who do not follow any faith. He expressed hope for a world where religious freedom, human dignity and peaceful coexistence are respected and protected. His appointment follows his reappointment to the commission for a second term in May 2026, extending his service until 2028. Earlier this year, he noted that he was the first Pakistani, the first Muslim and the first Asian American to serve consecutive terms on the commission. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom was established in 1998 under legislation signed by former President Bill Clinton. It serves as an independent advisory body that monitors religious freedom around the world and provides policy recommendations to the White House, the US State Department and Congress. The commission is made up of nine members appointed by the US president and congressional leaders from both major political parties. Dr Mahmood was reappointed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and now succeeds former congresswoman Vicky Hartzler as chair. Political observers have described his election as significant because of his Democratic Party affiliation despite receiving his latest appointment during the Trump administration. His leadership is expected to draw international attention, particularly because of his work on religious freedom issues in South Asia. Dr Mahmood has played a leading role in preparing reports examining allegations of religious freedom violations in India. He has publicly called for greater international scrutiny of the treatment of religious minorities and urged the United States to consider stronger measures in response to concerns raised by the commission. The commission has also recommended that US officials seek independent assessments of religious freedom conditions in India and consider targeted measures against individuals or organisations found responsible for serious violations. Those recommendations have generated considerable debate and have been strongly rejected by Indian authorities in the past. Beyond his work on religious freedom, Dr Mahmood has remained active in public service and politics. In 2022, he contested California’s 40th Congressional District as the Democratic candidate but was defeated by Republican incumbent Young Kim. Earlier, he also ran for California Insurance Commissioner and received hundreds of thousands of votes. A native of Kharian in Pakistan’s Punjab province, Dr Mahmood completed his medical education at Sindh Medical College before moving to the United States. He later completed his medical training at the University of Kentucky Medical Center and pursued a fellowship in pulmonary medicine at Harlem Hospital, which is affiliated with Columbia University. He currently serves on the Medical Board of California after being appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2023. Over the years, he has also worked with several humanitarian and community organisations and has received recognition for providing free medical care to patients who could not afford treatment. His election as chair marks another milestone in a career that combines medicine, public service and advocacy for human rights.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a new multinational maritime defence alliance with 13 other countries to strengthen security along some of the world’s busiest shipping routes amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The Saudi Ministry of Defence said the coalition has been created to protect freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These waterways are critical for global trade and international energy supplies. The new alliance includes Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan and the Comoros. According to Saudi authorities, representatives from 43 of the 51 invited countries attended the meeting that led to the creation of the alliance. A delegation from the European Union also participated in the discussions. The ministry said the coalition aims to improve coordination among member states to address growing maritime security challenges. It will focus on intelligence sharing, joint operational planning, military exercises and coordinated maritime operations. Saudi officials stressed that the alliance is purely defensive and is not intended to target any country. They said its primary objective is to secure international shipping lanes and ensure the uninterrupted flow of global trade. The announcement comes as security concerns continue to grow across the region due to escalating tensions involving Iran and attacks on commercial vessels in strategic waterways. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait has become increasingly important for international shipping. It connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a vital link between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal. Experts estimate that around 10 to 12 percent of global maritime trade passes through the narrow waterway every year. Millions of barrels of crude oil and petroleum products are transported through the route daily, making it one of the world’s most strategically important sea lanes. Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on the Red Sea route for oil exports through its East-West pipeline, which transports crude from the country’s eastern oil fields to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. However, ships departing from Yanbu must still pass through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait before reaching international markets. Regional instability has increased concerns over the safety of commercial shipping. Repeated attacks on vessels operating in the Red Sea have disrupted maritime traffic and raised fears of higher transportation costs and energy prices.