Web Desk

Lahore is set to welcome the return of Basant from February 6 to 8, as kites, music, and spring festivities take over the city after years of restrictions. Authorities have allowed celebrations under strict safety regulations, including QR-coded kites, bans on glass-coated string, and the distribution of one million safety rods to motorcyclists. Free transport services, including buses, rickshaws, and taxis, aim to ease movement as the city marks the arrival of spring.

Culture

Lahore is set to welcome the return of Basant from February 6 to 8, as kites, music, and spring festivities take over the city after years of restrictions.

Color and festivity as Lahore set for return of Basant

TEHRAN:&nbsp;Iran on Friday said it expected to hold more negotiations with the United States after a day of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-fm-calls-for-mutual-respect-ahead-of-talks-with-us" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">indirect talks in Oman&nbsp;</a>seen as a critical chance for diplomacy after President Donald Trump threatened new military action against Tehran.&nbsp;With an American naval group led by an aircraft carrier in Middle Eastern waters,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-us-talks-to-be-held-friday-in-oman-iranian-media" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US and Iranian delegations</a>&nbsp;held talks in Muscat mediated by the Gulf sultanate without publicly meeting face-to-face.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led Iran&#39;s delegation in Muscat, said talks solely focused on the nuclear issue, after the US had indicated Tehran&#39;s backing for militant groups and its ballistic missile programme also needed to be on the agenda.&nbsp;The talks were the first between the two foes since the United States joined Israel&#39;s war with Iran in June with strikes on nuclear sites.&nbsp;They also come just under a month after Iranian authorities launched a crackdown on protests that left thousands dead according to rights groups.&nbsp;US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, accompanied by Trump&#39;s influential son-in-law Jared Kushner, led Washington&#39;s delegation at the talks.&nbsp;&quot;In a very positive atmosphere, our arguments were exchanged and the views of the other side were shared with us,&quot; Araghchi told Iranian state TV, adding that the two sides had &quot;agreed to continue negotiations, but we will decide on the modalities and timing at a later date&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;The way forward will depend on our consultations with capitals,&quot; he added after the talks concluded.&nbsp;&quot;Our discussions are focused exclusively on the nuclear issue and we are not addressing any other subject with the Americans,&quot; Araghchi told the official IRNA news agency.&nbsp;In a symbol of the potential for US military action, Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of US Central Command, whose area of responsibility includes the Middle East, was also present at the talks, according to images published by the Oman news agency.&nbsp;A source with knowledge of the talks told AFP that the meetings took place at the residence of Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.&nbsp;&#39;Don&#39;t want us to hit them&#39;&nbsp;Multiple sessions of talks in the morning and afternoon saw both sides shuttling to and from the residence of Albusaidi who appeared to be acting as mediator and passing on messages.&nbsp;Writing on X, Albusaidi described the talks as &quot;very serious&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;It was useful to clarify both Iranian and American thinking and identify areas for possible progress. We aim to reconvene in due course, with the results to be considered carefully in Tehran and Washington.&quot;&nbsp;The White House has made clear it wants the talks to rein in Tehran&#39;s ability to make a nuclear bomb, an ambition the Islamic republic has always denied.&nbsp;The US delegation intended to explore &quot;zero nuclear capacity&quot; for Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, warning that Trump had &quot;many options at his disposal aside from diplomacy&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;They&#39;re negotiating,&quot; Trump said of Iran on Thursday.&nbsp;&quot;They don&#39;t want us to hit them, we have a big fleet going there,&quot; he added, referring to the aircraft carrier group he has repeatedly called an &quot;armada&quot;.&nbsp;There was no immediate comment from the American delegation in Muscat.&nbsp;&#39;Compromise or war&#39;&nbsp;The meeting comes just under a month after the peak of a wave of nationwide protests in Iran against the clerical leadership, which rights groups say were repressed with an unprecedented crackdown that has left thousands dead.&nbsp;Trump initially threatened military action against Tehran over its crackdown on protesters and even told demonstrators &quot;help is on its way&quot;.&nbsp;The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said that according to its latest toll 6,495 protesters were confirmed to have been killed as well as 214 members of the security forces and 61 bystanders.&nbsp;But it and other rights groups warn that the final toll risks being far higher, with the magnitude of the crackdown masked by the blanket internet shutdown imposed by the authorities for a fortnight.&nbsp;But Trump&#39;s rhetoric in recent days has focused on reining in the Iranian nuclear programme and the US has manoeuvered a naval group led by aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln into the region.&nbsp;Iran has repeatedly vowed it will hit back at US bases if attacked.&nbsp;&quot;We are ready to defend and it is the US president who must choose between compromise or war,&quot; state television on Thursday quoted army spokesman General Mohammad Akraminia as saying, warning that Iran has &quot;easy&quot; access to US regional bases.&nbsp;The US initially wanted to hold the talks in Turkey, include regional countries and explicitly expand the agenda beyond nuclear but then had to change course due to Iranian demands, a regional source close to the talks told AFP.

Americas

Central Asia

Iran says it expects further talks with the United States after indirect Oman negotiations, focused on the nuclear issue, as Washington warns of military options and both sides signal cautious openness to continued diplomacy efforts.

Iran FM says agreed with US to 'proceed with negotiations'

GENEVA: A senior US official on Friday criticised the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-urges-new-nuclear-treaty-after-russia-agreement-ends" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">last nuclear treaty </a>between Russia and the United States for <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/last-usrussia-nuclear-treaty-ends-in-grave-moment-for-world" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">failing to include Beijing</a>, speaking at the United Nations a day after the New START deal expired.&nbsp;&quot;In a nutshell, New START was flawed,&quot; said Thomas G. DiNanno, US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, pointing out that it had not covered all nuclear weapons, &quot;and it didn&#39;t include China&quot;.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters in Geneva before addressing the Conference on Disarmament, he said US President Donald Trump &quot;has been pretty clear that he wants a better agreement&quot;, and &quot;clarified again last night that he wants a new treaty&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;He&#39;s been crystal clear. He&#39;s been consistent on it too, since his first administration,&quot; DiNanno said.&nbsp;&quot;So we&#39;ll see how it plays out.&quot;&nbsp;Asked if China had agreed to anything, DiNanno said: &quot;We&#39;re always willing to talk to them.&quot;&nbsp;China said on Thursday it would not join nuclear talks &quot;at this stage&quot; after the treaty&#39;s expiry that day triggered fears of a new global arms race.&nbsp;Campaigners have warned that the expiry, which ended decades of restrictions on how many warheads Russia and the United States deploy, could encourage China to expand its own arsenal.&nbsp;The New START treaty ended at the turn of the calendar on February 5, after Trump did not follow up on Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin&#39;s proposal to extend warhead limits in the agreement for one year.&nbsp;Russia and the United States together control more than 80 percent of the world&#39;s nuclear warheads, but arms agreements have been withering away.&nbsp;New START, first signed in 2010, limited each side&#39;s nuclear arsenal to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads -- a reduction of nearly 30 percent from the previous limit set in 2002.&nbsp;It also allowed each side to conduct on-site inspections of the other&#39;s nuclear arsenal, although these were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic and have not resumed since.&nbsp;The Conference on Disarmament negotiating forum, which is comprised of 65 member states and meets in Geneva.

China

A senior US official says the expired New START nuclear treaty is flawed for excluding China, as Washington pushes for a new deal and Beijing refuses talks, raising fears of a renewed global arms race.

New START nuclear treaty 'was flawed': senior US official

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan committed to providing landlocked Uzbekistan access to its war water seaports during a two-day state visit by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, according to a joint declaration issued by the Foreign Office on Friday. The Uzbek president and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held talks covering bilateral relations and regional security issues during the February 5-6 state visit. Pakistan pledged to make available its seaports for Uzbek transit cargo and provide access to its road network for trade and transit requirements. It aims to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration between the two countries. The leaders also pledged to support each other&#39;s sovereignty and territorial integrity while advancing cooperation in areas including trade, culture and defense. Both sides expressed satisfaction with relations developed over 34 years since establishing diplomatic ties, citing shared historical and cultural bonds. The visit marked the inaugural meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, established during PM Sharif&#39;s February 2025 visit to Uzbekistan. The mechanism provides top-level oversight of bilateral cooperation. Trade and connectivity The leaders agreed to reach a $2 billion bilateral trade target by 2029. Uzbekistan was the first Central Asian nation to sign transit and preferential trade agreements with Pakistan, according to the statement. Both countries welcomed the Framework Agreement signed in July 2025 for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway Project, endorsing the Termiz-Kharlachi route. They committed to completing the project&#39;s feasibility study. The sides agreed to establish joint management of economic zones in both countries to facilitate industrial cooperation and exports to third markets, including the Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe. Cultural and defense cooperation The leaders signed an agreement on preserving and promoting the scientific, educational and architectural heritage of the Baburid dynasty. They agreed to expand tourism cooperation through direct flights between Tashkent and Islamabad and Lahore, and to activate a Tourism Working Group. Both nations expressed readiness to maintain dialogue on security and defense, agreeing to continue joint military exercises and training programs. They pledged cooperation between law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism, separatism, extremism and drug trafficking. Regional issues According to the statement, the two leaders called on Afghanistan to dismantle terrorist organizations operating from its territory, citing regional security concerns and the importance of stability for the railway project&#39;s implementation. Both sides expressed support for Palestinian self-determination and an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders. Uzbekistan voiced support for Pakistan&#39;s rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for 2026-2027 and congratulated Pakistan on chairing the organization&#39;s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure for 2025-2026 and the Economic Cooperation Organization for 2026-2027. Meanwhile, Pakistan commended Uzbekistan for hosting the 43rd UNESCO General Conference session in Samarkand in 2025. Both nations pledged to deepen cooperation across trade, security and regional connectivity.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and President of Uzbekistan exchange protocol to improve the bilateral trade to $2 billion annually. (PMO)

Economy

As Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev concludes Islamabad visit, Pakistan pledges seaport access, boosts connectivity, sets ambitious trade targets, and deepens strategic cooperation across security, economy, and culture.

Pakistan opens seaports to Uzbekistan, strengthens regional connectivity push

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh&#39;s Election Commission said on Friday that all preparations for the country&#39;s general elections and referendum scheduled for Feb. 12 have been completed, with the largest security deployment in the nation&#39;s history in place. &quot;Now there is no preparation left except for the voters to go to the polling stations and exercise their right to vote,&quot; Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker told the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency in an interview. Sarker said ballot papers have reached 116 constituencies, with the remaining to be delivered by Friday. EC Secretariat Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said ballots had to be reprinted in some areas following last-minute court orders reinstating candidates, causing minor delays. Security arrangements include deploying 900,000 law enforcement personnel, with the army remaining in the field for seven days before and after the polls, and Ansar paramilitary forces for eight days. Some 1,050 executive magistrates will operate mobile courts from Feb. 8 to 14, BSS reported. The 13th Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) elections will see 2,034 candidates contesting across 300 constituencies, though voting in Sherpur-3 has been cancelled following the death of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate. According to BSS, the commission has registered 127.7 million voters for the polls and referendum, with voting to be held at 42,779 polling stations nationwide.&nbsp; Fifty-one parties are contesting, alongside over 250 independents, while more than 800,000 officials and around 56,000 observers will oversee the process.&nbsp; Over 1.5 million voters, including expatriates, have registered for postal voting.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker (Photo by BSS/File)

Bangladesh

With ballots largely distributed and extensive security in place, authorities say the Feb. 12 vote will involve millions of voters, thousands of candidates and unprecedented monitoring.

Bangladesh Election Commission says poll preparations complete

ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Feb. 5 used strong language in the Upper House of the Indian parliament, Rajya Sabha, while speaking during the motion of thanks on the President&rsquo;s Address, targeting what he described as &ldquo;ghuspaithiya&rdquo; (infiltrators) and accusing political opponents of shielding them at the expense of citizens&rsquo; rights.&nbsp;According to a post by Hindutva Watch on X, Modi claimed that while developed countries deport &ldquo;illegal citizens,&rdquo; in India, pressure was being exerted on courts to protect &ldquo;ghuspaithiyas.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2019672416478278043&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=209257b8a3a5226bf2a1a4f14b062bb8e8284cd7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He alleged that such infiltrators were stealing the rights of the country&rsquo;s youth, taking away their livelihoods, and grabbing land belonging to Adivasi communities.&nbsp;Indian media reported that Modi took a direct dig at the regional political party,&nbsp;Trinamool Congress (TMC), during his speech in the Upper House, saying &ldquo;some are trying their best to protect infiltrators.&rdquo;&nbsp;He argued that people living under what he described as ineffective governance faced an uncertain future, while those in power focused on political gains.&nbsp;Serious threat&nbsp;Modi alleged that infiltration posed a serious threat to livelihoods, land rights, and public safety, particularly for tribal communities.&nbsp; He warned that young citizens were being deprived of opportunities because policies, he said, prioritized &ldquo;infiltrators&rdquo; over citizens. Drawing a comparison with other nations, he said that developed and prosperous countries were serious about removing infiltrators, whereas in India, courts were being approached to save them. Quoting Modi, Indian media reported him as saying that those advocating for infiltrators were &ldquo;snatching away the rights of my country&rsquo;s youth, taking away their livelihoods, snatching away the land of the tribals&rdquo; and creating dangers for the lives of &ldquo;our sons and daughters.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;Special Intensive Revision dispute&nbsp;Modi further criticized TMC leaders, saying they spoke on many issues but failed to acknowledge their own shortcomings.&nbsp; He said people in West Bengal were suffering and accused the state government of approaching courts to protect infiltrators because it only cared about power.&nbsp;The remarks came a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee argued in person before the Chief Justice of India, taking the Special Intensive Revision dispute to the country&rsquo;s highest court.

India

Warns young citizens are being deprived of opportunities because of policies that, according to him, prioritize ‘infiltrators’ over citizens.

 Modi targets TMC, claims ‘infiltrators’ stealing rights of youth, tribals 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the explosion at a mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad.&nbsp; The prime minister expressed deep sorrow and grief over those martyred in the blast and conveyed his condolences to the families affected. Sharif met with and directed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to conduct a full investigation into the incident and identify those responsible immediately. The PM also instructed that the injured receive the best possible medical treatment and told the health minister to personally oversee their care. &ldquo;The perpetrators of the blast must be identified and brought to justice,&rdquo; the prime minister said. &#39;Crime against humanity&#39;: President Zardari&nbsp;President Asif Ali Zardari said that targeting innocent people was a crime against humanity and reaffirmed that the entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with the affected families in this hour of grief, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. According to the Islamabad administration, the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who was stopped at the mosque&rsquo;s gate. At least 31 people have been reportedly killed in the blast, with 101 injured. Police and law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area and launched search and investigation operations, officials said. International condemnationThe United States strongly condemned the attack, calling acts of terror and violence against civilians and places of worship unacceptable. &ldquo;On behalf of the United States, I offer our sincere condolences to those injured and to the families and loved ones of those killed by this attack,&rdquo; US Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie A. Baker said in a statement.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2019740422512263430&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1dba707bd2e2650474dbe2f0d2d63a8da7f99ad4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The statement said Washington continues to support Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to advance peace and security and remains committed to its partnership aimed at promoting stability. Separately, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott said she was &ldquo;outraged and heartbroken&rdquo; by the attack. &ldquo;My thoughts and prayers are with those killed and injured and their families. Such violence is abhorrent. We stand with Pakistan,&rdquo; she said in a post on X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2019723589495468111&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1dba707bd2e2650474dbe2f0d2d63a8da7f99ad4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>

Security

The prime minister expressed grief over the loss of lives, ordered a comprehensive probe and medical care for the wounded, as police said a suicide attacker was behind the attack, leaving at least 12 dead.

PM Sharif condemns mosque blast, orders probe

Faraz Saeed

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the skies above Pakistan&rsquo;s cultural capital are once again alive with color. As midnight passed into Thursday, fireworks flared across Lahore. Kites began lifting from rooftops, and music echoed through the narrow streets of the Walled City. By dawn, the message was unmistakable: Basant, once a defining symbol of Lahore&rsquo;s spring, had returned openly, officially, and under the watchful eye of the state. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/2f944219-e304-4aeb-ae82-623b092b71ee.jpg" style="width: 605px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> The three-day festival, beginning Feb. 6, marks a turning point for a city that has long associated kite flying with its identity, yet has seen the celebration pushed into the shadows following years of bans and safety concerns. This year, the revival is neither symbolic nor tentative. It is public, regulated, and visibly embraced by the provincial government. Across Lahore, the transformation was immediate. Main roads, underpasses, and traffic circles were decorated with bright banners and large kite-themed installations.&nbsp;<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/94b0046a-9b63-4a63-8b17-71305e14ce7f.jpg" style="width: 605px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> In older neighborhoods, rooftops were adorned with lights, strings, and spools, while entire blocks seemed to pause their daily routines in anticipation of the festivities. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz acknowledged the occasion shortly after midnight, describing Basant as a cultural inheritance rather than a mere event, and extended greetings to citizens as the festival began. Traditional kite markets, including Mochi Gate, Delhi Gate, Shah Alam Market, and Anarkali, remained busy late into the night as families and young buyers stocked up on supplies. Vendors said interest was cautious in the early days, but demand surged once people became convinced the government-backed revival would proceed as announced. Liberty Chowk emerged as a focal point of the celebrations, repurposed into a public gathering space illuminated with lights and oversized kite displays. Families, couples, and groups of friends gathered there, signaling a notable shift: Basant was no longer confined to private rooftops but had returned to shared civic life. As evening fell, the city&rsquo;s rooftops reclaimed their historic role as the heart of Basant.&nbsp; Strings of lights connected neighboring homes, grills were fired up, and relatives gathered for shared meals under open skies. Folk music drifted across districts, punctuated by cheers and the familiar cry of triumph when a kite string snapped mid-air. Women prepared traditional yellow and white clothing adorned with floral jewelry, while children and elders sorted kites with an ease learned over generations. For many Lahoris, these rituals had never disappeared &mdash; only paused. Yet for a younger generation, the experience was entirely new. Many teenagers and young adults were celebrating Basant for the first time, encountering a festival they had previously known only through family stories and old photographs. Their enthusiasm blended discovery with inherited nostalgia, giving the revival a renewed emotional charge. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister made an unannounced visit to Liberty Chowk and later to Mochi Gate. Moving through the crowd with minimal security, she interacted with residents, posed for photographs, and addressed safety concerns directly. During the visit, she stopped a motorcyclist who was riding without a safety rod, a newly enforced requirement, and explained that the measure was designed to prevent injuries and could be installed free of charge at designated points. She reiterated that motorcycles were not banned during Basant, but warned that vehicles lacking safety equipment would be impounded. Officials and residents alike viewed the visit as a calculated political gesture, reinforcing the message that the festival&rsquo;s return was both sanctioned and here to stay.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/129a53d5-6723-4beb-b8be-1324f2107e8f.jpg" style="width: 570px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> According to Malik Faizan Ahmed, legal adviser to the Kite Flying Association, the scale of public participation has altered the political calculus surrounding Basant. &ldquo;The response has been so strong that reversing this decision would now be extremely difficult for any future government,&rdquo; he said, adding that the festival has regained broad social acceptance. Administratively, the celebrations are unfolding under strict controls. The Punjab Home Department has designated February 6-8 as &ldquo;Safe Basant&rdquo; and has imposedcertain restrictions to regulate public order. Metallic and nylon kite strings remain banned, motorcycles must be fitted with safety rods, and emergency services have been placed on high alert. More than 10,000 police personnel have been deployed across Lahore, supported by checkpoints, surveillance systems, and zero-tolerance enforcement.&nbsp;Authorities insist the objective is not to restrict, but to ensure the festival&rsquo;s sustainability beyond this year. For Lahore, a city shaped as much by memory as by movement, Basant&rsquo;s return is more than seasonal festivity. It is a reclamation of public space, cultural confidence, and the simple act of looking up together.

Artists play traditional drums next to a hoarding with portraits of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) party leaders, as vendors sell kites to mark Basant Festival in Lahore on February 4, 2026. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP)

Lahore welcomes the regulated return of Basant after nearly two decades, as government-backed celebrations revive kite flying across rooftops and public spaces, combining nostalgia, civic life and strict safety enforcement.

Lahore reclaims its skies as 3-day Basant festival returns after two decades

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan armed forces killed 24 khwarij (terrorists) in two separate engagements in the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. &nbsp;&nbsp;This was stated by Pakistan military&rsquo;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-security-forces-kill-216-terrorists-in-balochistan-operation-military" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">ISPR</a>), in a statement released on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ISPR press release stated: &ldquo;On 4-5 February 2026, twenty-four khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.&rdquo;&nbsp;On the reported presence of terrorists, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-security-forces-kill-41-terrorists-in-operations-ispr" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">security forces</a>&nbsp;in Orakzai District, the ISPR said.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the conduct of the operation, troops effectively engaged the terrorists&#39; location, and after an intense fire exchange, 14 terrorists were killed.&nbsp;Another intelligence-based operation by security forces was conducted in Khyber District, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/12-indianbacked-militants-killed-in-clearance-operation-after-terrorists-attack-in-police-station-banks-pakistan-army" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">ISPR</a>&nbsp;said.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the ensuing fire exchange, 10 more terrorists were effectively neutralized.&nbsp;Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorists found in the area as a relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under the vision &ldquo;Azm e Istehkam&rdquo; (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country, the ISPR said. PM lauds security forces&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the professional capabilities of the officers and personnel of the security forces for killing 24 terrorists during the operations, said a press release issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office on Friday. &ldquo;We will continue the war against the menace of terrorism until its complete eradication from the country,&rdquo; said the prime minister. &ldquo;Under the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, the entire nation, including myself, stands shoulder to shoulder with the security forces in our unwavering resolve to foil the nefarious designs of the terrorists,&rdquo; the prime minister said.&nbsp;President pays tribute&nbsp;Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for successful IBOs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said a press release issued by the President&rsquo;s Secretariat on Friday.&nbsp; &ldquo;The killing of twenty-four Khawarij in effective operations against terrorist elements is a commendable achievement,&rdquo; said the president. &ldquo;The war against terrorism caused by external interference is continuing successfully,&rdquo; President Zardari said. &ldquo;The war against the menace of terrorism will continue until its complete eradication from the country,&rdquo; said the president of Pakistan.

ISPR says, ‘On 4-5 February 2026, twenty-four khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.’

Pakistan security forces kill 24 terrorists in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa IBOs

ISLAMABAD: The Bangladesh interim government has decided to request an international investigation into the killing of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi. It plans to propose that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) conduct the investigation, as announced by the Chief Adviser&rsquo;s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, on Thursday. Alam said the decision had already been taken, and the proposal would be made to the OHCHR &ldquo;at the earliest opportunity,&rdquo; the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency reported. &ldquo;The interim government remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring full justice in this case and will extend all possible cooperation to such an investigation,&rdquo; Shafiqul&nbsp;Alam said when asked whether an international inquiry would be pursued. The government did not specify a timeline for submitting the formal request to the UN human rights office. Bangladesh has been under interim administration following political upheaval that led to the departure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as chief adviser, has pledged to hold free and fair elections.

Authorities said the proposal would be made at the earliest opportunity, underlining the interim administration’s pledge to cooperate fully with an international human rights investigation into the killing.