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ISLAMABAD: Over 3,000 athletes from Pakistan and abroad are expected to take part in a running marathon in Pakistan’s capital today, Sunday, state-run media reported. 

Organized by the Islamabad Run With Us (IRU) running community in the capital, the marathon will feature five categories: a full marathon, a half marathon, a children’s race, a family race and a senior race. 

The IRU says it has organized over 700 complimentary community events and numerous races, adding that it launched the Islamabad Marathon event in 2020. 

“Founder of the Islamabad Run with Us community, Qasim Naz announced on Friday that the fifth Islamabad Marathon will take place on January 26, with the participation of over 3,000 athletes from across Pakistan and abroad,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. 

Naz said a prize money of Rs1 million [$3594] has been allocated for winners of all categories of the marathon. 

The marathon kicked off at the city’s newly built Iran Avenue at 9:00 am. Its route includes the GT Road and runners will have to return to the starting point, the organizer said.

Naz said a pitch system would be introduced to ensure transparency, enabling real-time tracking of athletes and accurate identification of winners.

“He said that the purpose of organizing the event is to showcase Pakistan’s soft image and highlight the country’s beauty to the world,” APP said. 

Naz said arrangements for medical and other facilities for participants have been made with cooperation from the district administration and police. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday that Islamabad wanted to formulate a comprehensive plan with American politicians to combat “terrorism,” amid Islamabad struggle to contain surging militant attacks on its soil in recent months. 

Islamabad and Washington have shared a complicated history when it comes to bilateral ties. Both countries shared close defense and security cooperation in the past, particularly during the Cold War after the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and post-September 11, 2001 attacks. 

However, more recently, US officials criticized Pakistan for not sufficiently supporting their military efforts against the Taliban following the 9/11 attacks. Islamabad denies sheltering Taliban fighters and helping them regain control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Pakistan has faced a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan since November 2022, ever since its truce with the Pakistani Taliban broke down. Islamabad blames Afghan rulers for providing sanctuaries to militants to launch attacks against Pakistan, charges the Taliban government vehemently denies. 

“See the main purpose of my visit this time [to the US] was to make a comprehensive plan against terrorism with the politicians here,” Naqvi told reporters in Washington. 

Naqvi is in Washington where he met US lawmakers this week to hold talks on issues of bilateral concern between the two countries. 

“The terrorism that we are suffering is not just our fight, it is everyone’s fight,” he added. “Both 2023 and 2024 were bad years for us but you will see that whosoever takes up arms against Pakistan will suffer a bad fate.”

On Saturday, the Pakistani interior minister visited the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington where he spoke to a delegation of the US-Pakistan Business Council. 

Naqvi invited American investors to invest in Pakistan’s priority sectors, particularly in IT and minerals, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said. 

“Talking to a delegation of the US-Pakistan Business Council during his visit to United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington, he highlighted Pakistan’s mining and IT sectors have emerged as investors’ ultimate destination,” it added. 

Citing Pakistan’s recent economic gains, Naqvi said the country is heading toward economic stability “rapidly,” adding that all economic indicators have improved.