GAZA CITY: Gaza health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people and wounded several others on Tuesday, in the latest violence to hit the territory despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. &quot;Five martyrs and several wounded were transferred (to hospital) after an Israeli airstrike targeted a group of citizens in eastern Al-Maghazi,&quot; the civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas said. Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital and a Palestinian security source confirmed the incident and the casualties.

Graphic content / TOPSHOT - Injured children wait for medical care at the trauma ward at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Middle East

At least five people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on eastern Al-Maghazi in Gaza despite a ceasefire, according to health officials.

Gaza health officials say five killed in Israeli airstrike

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that disagreements over the wording of a proposed agreement were slowing progress in negotiations with Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire. Speaking to reporters during a visit to India, Rubio said talks remained active but cautioned that finalizing an agreement could still take several days as negotiators worked through differences in the draft text. &ldquo;I think like anything with something like this, it&rsquo;s going to take a couple of days, to settle on even down to the disagreements over a word, sentence,&rdquo; Rubio said. &ldquo;So we&rsquo;ll have to work through that.&rdquo; The remarks came a day after US forces carried out what Washington described as defensive strikes in southern Iran, even as negotiators met in Doha for another round of discussions focused on ending months of conflict that disrupted regional stability, energy markets and maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio said the strategically vital waterway &ldquo;has to be open,&rdquo; adding: &ldquo;They&rsquo;re going to be open one way or the other.&rdquo;&nbsp; He described the continued disruption to maritime navigation as &ldquo;unlawful,&rdquo; &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; and &ldquo;unsustainable for the world.&rdquo; Despite the renewed military tensions, Rubio said diplomatic engagement was continuing.&nbsp; &ldquo;There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we&rsquo;ll see if we can make progress,&rdquo; he said, adding that discussions were centered on &ldquo;specific language in the initial document.&rdquo; The negotiations are part of broader mediation efforts involving regional actors, including Pakistan, following a ceasefire that took effect on April 8 after months of confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel.

US official says disagreements over wording in a draft agreement are slowing progress in ongoing Iran negotiations, despite continued diplomatic talks aimed at preserving the fragile ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz

‘Disagreements over a word’ delaying US-Iran deal progress: Rubio

SEOUL: North Korea launched several projectiles, including a ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, South Korea&#39;s military said. Pyongyang has conducted a flurry of missile tests in recent weeks, and analysts have said the diplomatically isolated state may be trying to take advantage of eroding international norms to cement its nuclear status. The North has also repeatedly shunned efforts by the South Korean government to improve relations, repeatedly calling Seoul its most &quot;hostile&quot; adversary. South Korea&#39;s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Tuesday they had detected the launches of &quot;several projectiles&quot;, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea from the North Korean city of Chongju at around 1:00 pm (0400 GMT). The Yellow Sea is the body of water separating the Korean peninsula from China. The missiles flew about 80 kilometres (50 miles), Seoul&#39;s military said, adding that it was analysing their specifications and flight range, and had &quot;strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for possible additional launches&quot;. South Korea, its main security partner the United States, and Japan were &quot;maintaining a state of full readiness&quot; and closely sharing intelligence, Seoul&#39;s military said. The launch was North Korea&#39;s first for 37 days and its eighth this year. In April, Pyongyang conducted another such test to &quot;verify the characteristics and power of a cluster bomb warhead&quot;, its state media said at the time. South Korea&#39;s Yonhap news agency reported last week, citing unnamed government sources, that Chinese President Xi Jinping would likely visit North Korea sometime this week. China is North Korea&#39;s main economic and political backer, though Pyongyang has drawn closer to Russia in recent years. Neither Beijing nor Pyongyang have yet confirmed Xi&#39;s visit.

A woman watches a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on May 26, 2026. North Korea launched an "unidentified projectile" into the Yellow Sea off its west coast on May 26,

Asia

North Korea fired several projectiles, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea as tensions rise amid its continued weapons tests and reported regional diplomatic activity.

North Korea fires ballistic missile into Yellow Sea: Seoul

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in New York on Tuesday for an official visit focused on multilateral diplomacy, global governance and international peace and security discussions at the United Nations. According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office, Dar will participate in a high-level United Nations Security Council open debate titled &ldquo;Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-centered International System,&rdquo; convened under China&rsquo;s rotating presidency of the Security Council for May 2026. The session will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.&nbsp; Pakistan welcomed the initiative, with the Foreign Office describing it as a &ldquo;timely initiative&rdquo; that highlights &ldquo;the importance of strengthening multilateralism and upholding the central role of the United Nations in addressing today&rsquo;s complex global challenges.&rdquo; Dar is also scheduled to attend a meeting of the Group of Friends on Global Governance under the theme &ldquo;Reforming and Improving Global Governance, Working Together to Address Global Challenges,&rdquo; while holding separate bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts and senior UN officials on the sidelines of the visit. The visit comes amid heightened international diplomatic activity linked to conflicts in the Middle East, maritime security concerns and broader debates over the role of multilateral institutions in addressing global crises.&nbsp; Pakistan has recently intensified diplomatic engagement at regional and international levels, including mediation efforts linked to the Iran-US ceasefire process and wider regional stability initiatives. <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: 672px; 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=2059142712172093811&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=bb02a3f6b35f2bac096cdc7ad81b06fa00722b0d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>On arrival in New York, Dar was received by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad and Pakistan&rsquo;s Consul General in New York Aamer Ahmad Atozai, according to the Foreign Office.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in New York for an official visit from 26-28 May. (Photo: MOFA)

Foreign Affairs

Ishaq Dar will attend high-level United Nations meetings on international peace, security and global governance, while also holding bilateral engagements with foreign counterparts and senior UN officials.

Pakistan foreign minister in New York for key United Nations meetings

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban have intensified restrictions on public life and independent media, banning music in a major tourist province and shutting down several local radio stations in moves critics say reflect a widening crackdown on freedoms across Afghanistan. Authorities in Nuristan province announced new Eid al-Adha measures prohibiting music for both residents and tourists, according to statements carried by London-based Afghanistan International. Under the restrictions, bringing musical instruments into the province has been banned, with officials warning that any instruments discovered at entry points would be confiscated and destroyed. The Taliban police command in Nuristan said the measures were aimed at maintaining &ldquo;order and public security&rdquo; during the holiday period. The group has long opposed music and, since returning to power in 2021, has steadily removed it from public life, banning broadcasts on television and radio and restricting performances in markets, public gatherings and celebrations. Many Afghan musicians have since abandoned their profession or fled the country. The latest directives also ban celebratory gunfire and unauthorized weapons, while tourists have been instructed to hold recreational gatherings only in designated areas. Taliban members travelling through the province were additionally told to keep personal weapons inside vehicles. The restrictions come despite Nuristan emerging in recent years as one of Afghanistan&rsquo;s most visited domestic tourist destinations during Eid holidays, drawing thousands seeking cooler weather and mountain scenery. In a separate development, Afghan media watchdogs accused the Taliban of using bureaucratic measures to silence independent media outlets after authorities shut down three local radio stations in Kandahar province. Local sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban intelligence personnel and officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture closed the stations &ldquo;Tahsin-al-Quran,&rdquo; &ldquo;Sanga,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Zama Zeewar.&rdquo; Taliban officials claimed the outlets lacked proper licences, had unpaid taxes and aired what they described as &ldquo;non-standard&rdquo; programming. However, the Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) rejected those claims, saying the renewal of licences and administrative procedures had been delayed by Taliban authorities themselves. &ldquo;Silencing media outlets because of administrative delays is unreasonable and unjust,&rdquo; the organisation said. One station manager also disputed the allegations, telling the Afghanistan Journalists Center that claims regarding tax violations and broadcasting standards were &ldquo;false&rdquo; and merely a pretext to suppress independent media. AMSO warned that the closures further weaken Afghanistan&rsquo;s already shrinking media landscape and threaten the livelihoods of journalists amid worsening economic conditions. &ldquo;Closing media outlets amid the country&rsquo;s severe economic difficulties not only deprives citizens of access to information but also exposes many journalists and media workers to unemployment,&rdquo; the organisation said. According to media advocates, at least four local media outlets have been suspended by Taliban authorities within the past week alone, including a radio station previously shut down in Bamiyan province over licensing issues. The latest actions add to growing international concern over freedom of expression and civil liberties in Afghanistan, where rights groups say the Taliban have increasingly relied on morality regulations, censorship and administrative pressure to tighten control over public and cultural life.

Daily life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule - (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

Afghanistan

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have banned music in Nuristan during Eid holidays and shut down three radio stations in Kandahar, moves media watchdogs and rights advocates say reflect widening restrictions on cultural expression, independent journalism and public freedoms.

Taliban tighten grip on Afghan media, expand public restrictions ahead of Eid

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China agreed to accelerate work on major infrastructure, industrial and connectivity projects under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded a four-day visit to China focused on expanding strategic, economic and security cooperation.&nbsp; In a joint statement issued Tuesday after meetings between PM Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, the two sides pledged to &ldquo;promote the high-quality development of the upgraded version of CPEC 2.0&rdquo; and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues.&nbsp; The agreement reflects Islamabad&rsquo;s broader push to reposition CPEC beyond traditional infrastructure financing toward industrial cooperation, manufacturing, agriculture, technology and regional trade connectivity as Pakistan seeks long-term economic modernization and export-led growth. Both countries agreed to &ldquo;move faster to build an even closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era,&rdquo; describing the relationship as carrying &ldquo;even more strategic importance and relevance&rdquo; amid shifting regional and global dynamics.&nbsp; The statement said the two sides would advance the Karakoram Highway realignment project &ldquo;in a phased and orderly manner,&rdquo; expand the role of Gwadar Port as a regional connectivity hub and strengthen land connectivity through the Khunjerab Pass.&nbsp; China and Pakistan also welcomed third-party participation in CPEC projects &ldquo;under the model agreed upon by China and Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp; The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in industrial parks, mining, oil and gas exploration, digital economy, artificial intelligence, finance, information technology and energy.&nbsp; Both sides also committed to strengthening industrial supply chains and expanding cooperation in scientific and technological innovation.&nbsp; China agreed to support Pakistan&rsquo;s agricultural modernization efforts and facilitate market access for &ldquo;more high-quality Pakistani agricultural products&rdquo; following the completion of a Chinese training program for 1,000 Pakistani agricultural technicians.&nbsp; The joint statement highlighted expanding educational, cultural and scientific exchanges, including plans for two Pakistani astronauts to train in China. &ldquo;China welcomes two Pakistani astronauts to come to China for training and looks forward to a Pakistani astronaut becoming the first foreign astronaut for the early entrance into the China Space Station,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp; On security cooperation, the two sides agreed to establish a &ldquo;China-Pakistan Security Partnership,&rdquo; expand military and counter-terrorism cooperation and strengthen security measures for Chinese personnel and projects operating in Pakistan.&nbsp; The statement said both countries opposed &ldquo;double standards on counter-terrorism&rdquo; and agreed that militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), should not be allowed to use any territory to threaten regional security.&nbsp; Pakistan reaffirmed support for China&rsquo;s positions on Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea, while Beijing reiterated support for Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development priorities.&nbsp; The two countries also reiterated support for resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute peacefully in accordance with United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements.&nbsp; During the visit, the two sides signed multiple cooperation agreements across various sectors, according to the statement.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Chinese President Xi Jinping during delegation-level talks in Beijing on May 25, 2026, as the two sides discuss CPEC expansion, regional connectivity and broader strategic cooperation. (Handout/PMO)

As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concludes a high-level China visit, Islamabad and Beijing pledge to accelerate CPEC 2.0 projects, deepen security and economic cooperation, and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues.

China, Pakistan agree to ‘move faster’ on CPEC 2.0 projects

HONG KONG: Asian stocks and oil futures were mixed on Tuesday after fresh US strikes on Iran threatened fragile negotiations to reopen the Hormuz strait. The United States and Iran have been trying to broker a deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the crucial waterway since a fragile ceasefire came into force on April 8. Stocks had rallied on Monday and crude futures contracts dropped below $100 after reports suggesting a deal was on the cusp of being reached. But these hopes were dampened on Monday when US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines. &quot;US forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,&quot; Tim Hawkins, a US Central Command spokesman, said in a statement. Both sides have played down chances of a quick deal to end the war that has driven up energy prices and fuelled global inflation. US President Donald Trump offered little certainty, saying on Monday that a deal with Tehran would either be &quot;great and meaningful&quot; or there would be &quot;no deal&quot; at all. Iran&#39;s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed progress had been made, but added a deal was not yet within reach. Top US diplomat Marco Rubio insisted on Tuesday that the blockaded strait would reopen &quot;one way or the other&quot;. Asian stocks showed a mixed picture in early trade, with Tokyo and Shanghai down around 0.5%. Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Sydney and Manila were also down. Seoul, however, was up more than 3%, opening at a new record high over 8,000, as chipmakers, carmakers and shipbuilders continued their strong gains. Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bangkok, Wellington and Taipei also climbed. Oil prices fluctuated on the geopolitical uncertainty, with US benchmark West Texas Intermediate down over 5%, and international benchmark North Sea Brent slightly up. &quot;The market&#39;s reaction remains almost mechanical at this point,&quot; said Stephen Innes, an analyst at SPI Asset Management. &quot;Every incremental diplomatic headline involving Iran gets treated like another liquidity injection directly into risk appetite. &quot;Yet beneath the surface, the actual negotiations still resemble two traders standing on opposite sides of the pit pretending the spread has narrowed while the hardest legs of the trade remain unresolved.&quot; Investors will be keeping an eye this week on how the US Federal Reserve reacts to key consumer inflation data and its potential effect on interest rates. Higher prices triggered by the US-Israeli war against Iran will limit the likelihood of interest rate cuts by the Fed to boost US growth, many economists have warned. &quot;Traders have already fully priced in another Federal Reserve rate hike by year&#39;s end, despite the arrival of Kevin Warsh as the new Fed chairman,&quot; Innes said. Russia&#39;s war against Ukraine has also injected more uncertainty, with Moscow saying on Monday it planned to launch more strikes on Kyiv following a major recent assault. Key figures at around 0230 GMT Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.0% at $98.11 a barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 5.1% at $91.71 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4% at 64,915.67 points Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4% at 4136.32 Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.3% at 25,679.68 Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.1634 from 1.1646 on Monday Pound/dollar: DOWN at 1.3487 from $1.3502 Dollar/yen: UP at 158.94 from 158.90 yen Euro/pound: UP at 86.26 from 86.25 pence London - FTSE 100: Closed for a holiday Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.8% at 8,258.26 (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 2.0% at 25,389.10 (close) New York - DOW: Closed for a holiday

An electronic quotation board (L) displays the Nikkei Stock Average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in Tokyo on May 25, 2026. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

Business

Asian stocks and oil prices traded mixed as renewed US strikes on Iran disrupted hopes for a Hormuz Strait deal, keeping markets volatile amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Asia stocks, oil prices mixed on US-Iran deal uncertainty

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held high-level meetings with leading Chinese companies in Beijing on Tuesday, as Islamabad intensified efforts to expand industrial cooperation, infrastructure connectivity, and technology investment under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The engagements come as Pakistan increasingly seeks to reposition CPEC beyond large-scale infrastructure financing toward manufacturing, industrial relocation, energy transition and export-oriented business partnerships with Chinese firms. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, PM Sharif and Chinese executives reaffirmed their commitment to &ldquo;further expand cooperation in the economic, industrial and infrastructure sectors under CPEC Phase-II.&rdquo; During a meeting with FAMSUN Chief Executive Officer Zhengjun Chen, the prime minister praised the company&rsquo;s longstanding role in Pakistan&rsquo;s agriculture sector, particularly in grain storage, feed production and food security. The statement said PM Sharif identified the reduction of post-harvest crop losses as a government priority and invited the company to establish manufacturing and technology-transfer facilities in Pakistan by utilizing incentives available under Special Economic Zones and the Green Pakistan Initiative. PM Sharif also met Chairman Hou Jianxin and representatives of Shandong Xinxu Group Corporation, welcoming the group&rsquo;s expanding investments in maritime development, battery manufacturing, mineral processing and industrial cooperation. The prime minister appreciated the company&rsquo;s role in the Xinxu Special Economic Zone, the C2 Steel project at Port Qasim, and investments in Gwadar and Pakistan&rsquo;s northern mineral sectors. Reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s backing for the projects, Sharif stressed the need for their &ldquo;fast-track implementation under CPEC Phase-II,&rdquo; according to the statement. The prime minister separately met Chairman Zhang Bingnan of China Communications Construction Company and senior representatives of China Road and Bridge Corporation. Sharif praised the companies&rsquo; contribution to Pakistan&rsquo;s infrastructure development over the past six decades, particularly in projects including the Karakoram Highway and Rashakai Special Economic Zone. He reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to accelerated progress on the ML-1 railway project, the realignment of the Karakoram Highway and other regional connectivity initiatives. The prime minister emphasized that Pakistan viewed CCCC and CRBC as &ldquo;long-term strategic partners&rdquo; in infrastructure modernization and regional connectivity. The meetings follow Sharif&rsquo;s investment-focused engagements in Hangzhou earlier this week, where he urged Chinese companies to relocate industries to Pakistan through joint ventures with Pakistani firms. &ldquo;This model will be a win-win model for Chinese and Pakistani entrepreneurs,&rdquo; Sharif said during the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference. Chinese companies participating in Tuesday&rsquo;s meetings expressed &ldquo;strong confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s economic potential&rdquo; and signaled &ldquo;keen interest&rdquo; in expanding investments across agriculture, industrial production, logistics, infrastructure and technology sectors, according to the statement. Federal ministers and senior Pakistani officials attended the meetings and were directed to ensure &ldquo;effective and timely implementation&rdquo; of decisions reached during the business engagements.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during a meeting with Chen Zhengjun, president and CEO of FAMSUN, in Beijing on May 26, 2026. (Handout/PMO)

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets senior executives of leading Chinese companies in Beijing, seeking expanded cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing and technology under CPEC Phase-II while urging faster implementation of strategic investment projects in Pakistan.

Pakistan pushes Chinese industrial investment during high-level Beijing business meetings

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday said every Pakistani pilgrim was &ldquo;very special&rdquo; for the government as tens of thousands of worshippers from the country joined more than 1.5 million Muslims at Mount Arafat during the spiritual climax of Hajj. Naqvi made the remarks during visits to camps housing Pakistani pilgrims in Mina, where he reviewed accommodation, food and transport arrangements and met worshippers, including elderly pilgrims. During the visit, the interior minister also met a 100-year-old Pakistani pilgrim and praised his determination and spirit in undertaking the pilgrimage despite his age. &ldquo;Every pilgrim is very special for us,&rdquo; Naqvi said while interacting with Pakistani pilgrims during the inspection. He also thanked Saudi Arabia for extending facilities to Pakistani pilgrims through the Makkah Route Initiative, which allows immigration procedures to be completed in Pakistan before departure. Meanwhile, pilgrims dressed in white robes gathered from early morning on the plains of Arafat, reciting Quranic verses and offering prayers at the site where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon around 1,400 years ago. Pakistan has sent around 179,000 pilgrims for this year&rsquo;s Hajj, including more than 119,000 under the government scheme and 60,000 through private operators, making it one of the world&rsquo;s largest Hajj contingents. Officials from Ministry of Religious Affairs Pakistan said arrangements for Pakistani pilgrims were continuing smoothly in coordination with Saudi authorities despite temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius across the holy sites. &ldquo;All operations, including flights, accommodation and transport, are being organized in a smooth and exemplary manner to ensure the comfort and safety of all pilgrims,&rdquo; Radio Pakistan quoted Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf as saying during his visit to Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities deployed extensive heat management and emergency response measures during the pilgrimage, while volunteers distributed water, umbrellas and food packages to worshippers moving toward Mount Arafat. Pakistan&rsquo;s Hajj mission said trained teams of Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj remained stationed across the holy sites to assist pilgrims with accommodation, transport, crowd management and emergency support. Officials said the facilitators had received specialized training in digital navigation systems, crowd handling and emergency response ahead of Hajj 2026. Pakistan also introduced a pilot project this year enabling thousands of pilgrims to travel between Makkah and Madinah aboard the Haramain High-Speed Railway, significantly reducing travel time between the two holy cities. After sunset, pilgrims will travel to Muzdalifah, where they will spend the night before proceeding to Mina for the symbolic &ldquo;stoning of the devil&rdquo; ritual, one of the final major rites of Hajj.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi says every pilgrim is “very special” for the government during visits to Pakistani Hajj camps in Mina as pilgrims gather for the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistani pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat as Hajj reaches climax

Maryam Shah

Muslims across the world are preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha, one of the two major Islamic festivals, marked by the ritual sacrifice of animals in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim&rsquo;s devotion and obedience to Allah. According to Islamic tradition, Prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son after receiving a command from Allah in a dream, before Allah replaced the sacrifice with a ram after testing his faith and submission. The event is referenced in the Holy Quran in Surah As-Saffat: &ldquo;And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.&rdquo;(Surah As-Saffat 37:107) Also known as the &ldquo;Festival of Sacrifice,&rdquo; Eid al-Adha is observed annually on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, following the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Millions of Muslims gather in mosques and open prayer grounds for special Eid prayers before carrying out Qurbani, or ritual animal sacrifice, a practice rooted in faith, charity and social responsibility. The sacrificeEach year, millions of animals are sacrificed globally during Eid al-Adha. In Pakistan alone, around 6.8 million animals were sacrificed during Eid al-Adha in 2024, according to data cited by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). The figure represented an increase from approximately 6.18 million animals sacrificed during Eid al-Adha in 2023. The total included about 2.86 million cows and bulls, 165,000 buffaloes, 3.3 million goats, 385,000 sheep and nearly 99,000 camels. Under Islamic tradition, the meat from the sacrifice is commonly divided into three portions: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor and needy, reflecting Islam&rsquo;s emphasis on compassion, charity and care for the less fortunate. Beyond its religious significance, Eid al-Adha also generates major economic activity in Pakistan, particularly for livestock farmers, traders, transporters, tanners and small businesses linked to the seasonal cattle market economy. The rules of QurbaniThe practice of sacrifice is rooted in the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Narrated Anas bin Malik: &ldquo;The Prophet sacrificed two horned rams, black and white in colour. He slaughtered them with his own hands, mentioned Allah&rsquo;s name over them, said Takbir and placed his foot on their sides.&rdquo;(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Sacrifice, Hadith 5558) Islamic scholars cite this Hadith as evidence for the method and significance of Qurbani, as well as the importance of offering the sacrifice after the Eid prayer. Islamic jurisprudence also prescribes detailed conditions for a valid sacrifice. The animal must belong to permitted categories, goat, sheep, cow, buffalo or camel, and meet minimum age requirements generally accepted by scholars: at least one year for goats and sheep, two years for cows and buffaloes, and five years for camels. The animal must also be free from major defects such as blindness, severe illness or lameness. A goat or sheep is considered sufficient for one household, while a cow, buffalo or camel may be shared by up to seven people. Managing Eid in PakistanAuthorities across Pakistan typically launch extensive cleanliness, waste disposal and security operations during Eid days to manage animal waste, traffic congestion and crowds in major urban centres. Municipal workers, volunteers and local administrations remain on high alert throughout the holiday period, particularly in large cities where temporary cattle markets and large-scale animal slaughter create additional logistical challenges. For Muslims, however, Eid al-Adha remains above all a spiritual occasion centred on sacrifice, obedience, gratitude and generosity, values deeply rooted in Islamic faith and tradition.

Children play with a bull ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in Rawalpindi on May 23, 2026. (AFP)

Blogs

Muslims gather for Eid al-Adha prayers and animal sacrifice celebrations, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion and emphasizing charity, compassion and community welfare during one of Islam’s most significant religious festivals.

Gaza health officials say five killed in Israeli airstrike

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Taliban tighten grip on Afghan media, expand public restrictions ahead of Eid