��������

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Foreign Office has denied that researcher Dr. Shama Junejo is part of the country’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that is currently led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after she was seen sitting behind Defense Minister Khawaja Asif during a Security Council debate this week.

Junejo, a researcher based in London, has previously drawn criticism for her social media posts in support of Israel. A video clip showing Junejo sitting behind Defense Minister Asif at the UNSC on Sept. 25 has gone viral and since caused uproar in Pakistan.

On Friday, Asif said he did not know the woman sitting behind him in the video and it was entirely the prerogative of the Foreign Office to choose analysts and researchers for the Pakistani delegation. The minister said his views on Gaza and Israel have always been clear and only the Foreign Office could answer queries about the said woman.

“To clarify, the individual in question was not listed in the official letter of credence for the Pakistan delegation to the 80th UNGA Session, signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,” the Pakistani Foreign Office said on Saturday, responding to queries.

“As such, her seating behind the Defense Minister did not have the approval of the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister.”

Pakistan does not recognize Israel and has steadfastly supported an independent Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders. PM Sharif also resonated Islamabad’s stance in his address with the UNGA on Friday.

“My emotional attachment and commitment to Palestine spans 60 years,” Defense Minister Asif wrote on X. “My views on Gaza are clear, and I express them openly. My thoughts on Israel and Zionism are nothing but hatred. Who this woman is, why she was with us in the delegation, and why she was seated behind me — only the Foreign Office can answer.”

In a now-deleted Sept. 21 post on X, Junejo, who has been criticized by many Pakistanis for her support of Israel, claimed that she has been working as an adviser to PM Sharif since May 2025. The researcher has also been photographed in the past with PM Sharif, his elder brother and three-time former PM Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Defense Minister Asif.

In an August 2022 post on X, then Twitter, she said meeting Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu “would have been an honor” and that she would have used a photo with him as her profile picture. She has also previously praised Israeli technology, including drip irrigation, suggesting it could benefit Sindh and southern Punjab.

But the researcher said she joined others in leaving the UN General Assembly during Netanyahu’s speech on Friday. “We walked out from UNGA when the war criminal Netanyahu entered,” Junejo said on X.

Asad Qaiser, a former speaker of the lower house of Pakistan parliament, said the defense minister and the Foreign Office were “lying,” asking who allowed Junejo to reportedly travel in a Pakistani plane from London to New York, who allowed her an official Pakistani government seat behind Asif at the UNSC, and who prepared her passes that enabled her to regularly attend UN sessions.

“These questions are extremely important,” Qaiser said. “Most importantly she has been meeting Israeli diplomats and is known for her support to recognize Israel.”

“This is an extremely grave situation that the PM himself must explain,” he added.

DUBAI: Pakistan will be gunning for revenge but an unbeaten India look firm favorites to retain the Asia Cup title when the arch-rivals clash in a potentially testy final in Dubai on Sunday.

The Indian juggernaut has crushed every opposition on their path before swaggering into the final of the eight-team tournament looking every inch the reigning 20-over world champions.

Pakistan were swatted aside twice, first in the group stage and then in Super Fours, by an India team containing the world’s top-ranked batter and bowler in the T20 format in opener Abhishek Sharma and spinner Varun Chakravarthy.

Six-hitting machine Abhishek is also the tournament’s leading scorer with 309 runs from six innings, often setting the tone of India’s batting in the first six powerplay overs.

In a low-scoring tournament where only Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka managed a century, Abhishek’s red-hot form at the top meant skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s struggle with the bat has not really been felt.

Wily seamer Jasprit Bumrah has helped India control the powerplay overs with the ball but left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been their wrecker-in-chief leading the bowlers’ chart with 13 wickets.

Fellow spinners Axar Patel and Chakravarthy have also kept it tight in the middle overs and the slew of all-rounders at his disposal has left Suryakumar practically spoilt for bowling choices.

Sparks flew and tempers frayed both times India and Pakistan met in what is their first tournament since a military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors in May.

India survived a scare in Friday’s dead rubber when they edged out Sri Lanka via Super Over, which should shake off any complacency that might have crept into their campaign.

“(I got) what I wanted from the boys — just to try and execute their plans, be clear and not to fear,” Suryakumar said of their flawless campaign heading into the final.

“That was really important and I am sure everyone got what they wanted. Happy to be in the final.”

Pakistan will naturally be motivated to avoid a third defeat to the arch-rivals in a single tournament and will take heart from their narrow victory in Thursday’s virtual semifinal against Bangladesh.

“Very excited,” Pakistan captain Salman Agha said of the final against India.

“We know what we need to do, and we are a good enough team to beat anyone, and we will come on Sunday and try to beat them.”