U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly asked Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to moderate the tone of Al Jazeera’s coverage of the conflict in Gaza.
According to a report by Axios, Blinken made this request during a meeting with leaders of the American Jewish community. He mentioned that during his visit to Doha on October 13, he urged the Qatari government to adjust its public stance on Hamas.
One source mentioned in the report suggested that Blinken specifically requested that the Qataris reduce the intensity of Al Jazeera’s coverage due to its perceived anti-Israel bias. It’s worth noting that Blinken’s comments seemed to refer to Al Jazeera Arabic, rather than Al Jazeera English.
Anadolu contacted the State Department for confirmation, but as of the report, they did not receive a response. The Qatari Foreign Ministry did not comment on the matter either.
Notably, shortly after the Axios report, Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Wael al-Dahdouh’s wife and two children were tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip.
Army Chief General Asim Munir Stresses Safety and Security of Pakistanis
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has emphasized the importance of the safety and security of Pakistanis, stating that it cannot be compromised as the deadline for the eviction of illegal refugees in the country approaches.
In a press release shared by Inter-Services Public Relations, General Munir said, “Safety and security of each Pakistani is of paramount importance which cannot be allowed to be compromised at any cost.” His comments were made in the context of repatriation and deportation of illegal foreigners, with Pakistan setting a November 1 deadline for their removal.
Meanwhile, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced that the government has established “holding centers,” which are temporary camps, to accommodate any illegal refugees who remain in the country after the deadline.
General Munir made these remarks while addressing participants of the National Security Workshop – 25 at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. Officials briefed the 25 participants on regional and internal security dynamics and the national security environment. This annual event at the National Defence University includes representatives from various segments of society, with 98 participants attending, including parliamentarians, senior civil and armed forces officers, and civil society representatives.
