Simran Siraj

Description: For 300 years, men sang Shah Latif&#39;s poetry about women&#39;s struggles. Now women are singing it themselves. A look at how women are reclaiming their voices through Sufi poetry.

Shorts

Women are finding their voices by singing Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai poetry, highlighting women’s struggles through centuries-old Sufi traditions.

Women reclaim 300 years of Shah Latif legacy, breaking cultural barriers

WASHINGTON: Alibaba Group on Monday filed a federal lawsuit challenging the US Defense Department&#39;s designation of the Chinese technology giant as a &quot;Chinese military company,&quot; arguing the labeling is arbitrary and lacks due process. The lawsuit, filed Monday in San Francisco federal court, contests the Pentagon&#39;s determination that Alibaba qualifies for inclusion on the federal military company list. &quot;The determinations have no basis in fact or law,&quot; the complaint states. The Pentagon on June 8 released the new blacklist of 80 companies and their subsidiaries it said were aiding the Chinese military. The list saw tech giants Alibaba and Baidu added, as well as electric vehicle giant BYD. Under the designation, beginning June 30, the Pentagon cannot enter into new contracts with designated companies or their controlled subsidiaries. The designation also restricts the company&#39;s ability to retain lobbying firms in the United States, which the lawsuit argues violates First Amendment rights. &quot;The effect is already being felt: advocates who have represented Alibaba for years have informed the company that they can no longer do so,&quot; the complaint states. In the lawsuit, Alibaba said it is a publicly traded e-commerce and cloud-services provider with a diverse shareholder base dominated by major American financial institutions including JPMorgan, Citigroup, and BlackRock. China on Monday imposed export controls on 10 US companies involved in defense and rare earths mining in response to Washington&#39;s blacklist. The feud tests bilateral relations after US President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met in Beijing last month to stabilize ties. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Americas

The lawsuit contests the Pentagon's determination that Alibaba qualifies for inclusion on the federal military company list.

Alibaba sues Pentagon over blacklist designation

Web Desk

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.<hr style="line-height: 2;">Catch up: Yesterday&rsquo;s top developments<ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;"><a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-june-23-2026#:~:text=US%20Congress%20passes%20symbolic%20Iran%20war%20rebuke%20to%20Trump" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">US Congress passes symbolic Iran war rebuke to Trump</a></li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;"><a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-june-23-2026#:~:text=Iran%20announces%20three%2Dday%20holiday%20in%20Tehran%20for%20Ali%20Khamenei%27s%20funeral" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Iran announces three-day holiday in Tehran for Ali Khamenei&#39;s funeral</a></li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;"><a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-june-23-2026#:~:text=Iran%E2%80%99s%20ballistic%20missile%20program%20not%20included%20in%20Islamabad%20MoU%3A%20PM%20Sharif" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Iran&rsquo;s ballistic missile program not included in Islamabad MoU: PM Sharif</a></li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;"><a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-june-23-2026#:~:text=Palestine%20calls%20for%20accountability%20over%20Israel%E2%80%99s%20targeting%20of%20children" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Palestine calls for accountability over Israel&rsquo;s targeting of children</a></li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 2;"><a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/middle-east-live-june-23-2026#:~:text=Israel%20denying%20women%20medical%20care%20in%20prison%2C%20advocacy%20group%20says" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Israel denying women medical care in prison, advocacy group says</a></li></ul><hr style="line-height: 2;">Four more South Korean ships safely exit Strait of HormuzPublished: June 24, 2026 | 02:57 GMT | by Web Desk South Korea&rsquo;s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has said that four more South Korean-operated ships have safely left the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the number of vessels that have left the region to six. &ldquo;Four vessels operated by our shipping companies that were waiting inside the Strait of Hormuz have passed through the strait and are sailing normally,&rdquo; the ministry said, according to the Yonhap news agency. The ships had 26 Korean crew members on board, and one of the ships is headed back to South Korea, the ministry added. With their departure, the number of South Korea-linked ships remaining inside the strait has fallen to 18, Yonhap reported. The report came as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) began evacuating more than 11,000 sailors who have been stranded in the Strait of Hormuz for months. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Rubio opposes Hormuz charges as Senate symbolic resolution calls for end to Iran war&nbsp;Published: June 24, 2026 | 00:00 GMT | by Web Desk US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in the United Arab Emirates, stating that no country is allowed to impose tolls or fees on the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran seeks to extract revenue from the vital waterway. &quot;It&#39;s an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That&#39;s existing international law,&quot; he said. &quot;I don&#39;t think we have anybody to convince around here in that regard. I think all the countries in this region would agree with us.&quot; Separately, US Senate passed a largely symbolic resolution calling for an end to Trump&#39;s war with Iran, passing the measure in a 50-48 vote.&nbsp; Because the measure is a &quot;concurrent resolution,&quot; it does not go to Trump&#39;s desk for signature and carries disputed legal force. Additionally, while meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clarified that Iran&rsquo;s ballistic missile program was not included in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and was not discussed during the negotiations between Washington and Tehran.&nbsp; &ldquo;There should be no double standards regarding missile capabilities and urged support for lasting peace and regional development,&rdquo; the premier said.&nbsp; <hr>

Middle East

Rubio begins tour of Gulf states aimed at showing solidarity with key allies; Pezeshkian leads a high-level delegation to convey the message of the Iranian government and people to Pakistan following what the embassy described as a year marked by solidarity; President Trump urges Iran to honor its deal and maintain respect toward the US.



Marco Rubio visits Gulf to reassure allies hit hard by Mideast war

LOS ANGELES: Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics as he became the first man to score in six different World Cups on Tuesday while England&#39;s bid to reach the last 32 stumbled with a 0-0 draw against Ghana. Ronaldo, 41, had come in for stinging criticism after a lacklustre display in Portugal&#39;s opening 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo. But the veteran striker roared back to life with two goals as Portugal kickstarted their campaign with a 5-0 drubbing of Group K rivals Uzbekistan in Houston. A jubilant Ronaldo &mdash; who had failed to score in 10 consecutive matches at major tournaments &mdash; mouthed &quot;I&#39;m back, I&#39;m back&quot; as he celebrated with team-mates after opening the scoring in the sixth minute. He added a second on 39 minutes to give Portugal a 3-0 lead after Nuno Mendes had put Roberto Martinez&#39;s side 2-0 up in the 17th minute with a well-taken free kick. Portugal, regarded as one of the tournament favourites, cut loose in the second half with two more goals, including a spectacular Rafael Leao strike, to complete the rout. &quot;I can say it was a very tough week, a difficult week, a week in which public opinion was very harsh on us, on all the players, especially on the coach,&quot; Ronaldo said afterwards. &quot;But it&#39;s always like that, it&#39;s fine because when you think about it, it&#39;s already 23 years I&#39;ve been a professional and whenever things don&#39;t go well it&#39;s, &#39;Cristiano, he&#39;s finished, he&#39;s old&#39;.&quot; Uzbekistan&#39;s coach Fabio Cannavaro, called Ronaldo &quot;one of the strongest players in the history of football.&quot; &quot;As a defender, you need to be very smart to be close to him, because if you give one centimeter in the box, you are dead,&quot; the Italian said. The victory leaves Portugal firmly on course to qualify for the last 32 from Group K, where Colombia face DR Congo later on Tuesday. England frustratedBut while Ronaldo and Portugal celebrated, England were left frustrated in their bid to join the likes of France, Argentina and Germany in the last 32 after failing to break down Ghana in a goalless Group L stalemate at Foxborough outside Boston. England had launched their campaign last week with a stylish 4-2 win over Croatia, with their relentless attacking play sweeping aside the 2018 World Cup finalists. But against a Ghana team defending in depth, England were unable to find the invention needed to break through, creating hardly any chances that seriously troubled the Black Stars. England were also fortunate to escape what looked like a strong penalty claim from Ghana in the 79th minute when Ezri Konsa bundled over substitute Prince Adu in the box. A toothless England performance was summed up in the final minutes, when England captain Harry Kane blasted over the bar from point blank range with the goal gaping. The result leaves England and Ghana level on four points with Croatia and Panama due to play later on Tuesday. Croatia captain Luka Modric is set to play his 200th Croatia game, with only three men&#39;s players having featured more times on the international stage. Off the field on Tuesday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that US President Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19 and present the trophy to the winners. &quot;We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together,&quot; Infantino told Fox and Friends. France, one of the favorites for the title, said Tuesday that coach Didier Deschamps had left the team&#39;s camp to return home following the death of his mother. Deschamps&#39; departure means assistant Guy Stephan will take charge of the squad for Friday&#39;s final group game against Norway, when Les Bleus need only a draw to clinch first place.

Football

The victory leaves Portugal firmly on course to qualify for the last 32 from Group K, where Colombia face DR Congo later on Tuesday.



Ronaldo double fires Portugal, Ghana thwart England

GENEVA: More than 13 million Syrians -- over half the population -- are facing acute food insecurity, the United Nations warned Tuesday, calling for clearing explosive-littered fields to revitalise agriculture in the war-shattered country.&nbsp;The UN&#39;s Food and Agriculture Organization said turning fields riddled with unexploded ordnance following the brutal civil war into productive land could help solve the food crisis in Syria.&nbsp;&quot;Syria&#39;s agriculture sector is at a pivotal moment,&quot; said Pirro-Tomaso Perri, the FAO&#39;s acting representative in the country.&nbsp;&quot;After 14 years of conflict, recurrent droughts, economic hardship, damaged irrigation, weakened services, disrupted markets, and widespread explosive ordnance contamination, rural livelihoods remain under severe pressure.&quot;&nbsp;He said there were &quot;around 13.4 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity,&quot; while for many rural Syrians, &quot;cultivating land, grazing animals, harvesting crops can be life-threatening&quot;.&nbsp;The Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011 with president Bashar al-Assad&#39;s brutal repression of anti-government protests, killed over half a million people and devastated the country&#39;s infrastructure.&nbsp;Assad was eventually ousted in December 2024.&nbsp;Perri said that since then, 1,299 explosive ordinance-related incidents have been recorded in Syria, with 2,325 casualties.&nbsp;&quot;Agricultural and grazing areas continue to account for the majority of recorded incidents,&quot; he told a press conference in Geneva.&nbsp;With vast contamination and limited capacity, FAO is drawing up prioritisation plans to identify where clearance could have the greatest impact on food production.&nbsp;Once land is made safe, the FAO would then support farmers and herders with irrigation, seeds, animal feed and veterinary services.&nbsp;The FAO Emergency Resilience Plan for 2026-2028 aims to assist 9.8 million people, and requires $286 million.&nbsp;&quot;Our pledge is to continue supporting Syrian farmers, herders, and rural communities,&quot; said Perri, &quot;so that agriculture can provide food security, restore livelihoods... and help Syria move from emergency to sustainable recovery&quot;.

Africa

More than 13 million Syrians face acute food insecurity, the UN warned. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said turning fields riddled with unexploded ordnance following the brutal civil war into productive land could help solve the food crisis in Syria.

Over 13 million acutely food insecure in Syria: UN 

Foreign Affairs

Iranian president appreciates Pakistan's constructive role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and regional stability; acknowledges Pakistan's efforts to encourage the peaceful resolution of disputes and foster understanding among regional stakeholders.

'Ongoing diplomatic engagements' focus of Iranian president's Pakistan visit

Dania

Romesa Umar

ISLAMABAD: A review conducted by Pakistan TV Digital of news stories carried by seven leading Indian media outlets found that Pakistan has been a major focus of reporting over the past 48 hours, featuring in nearly 100 news stories spanning regional developments, diplomacy, security affairs, and sports. The review studied 19 Pakistan-related reports by NDTV, 15 by Aaj Tak, 16 by Times Now, 11 by Republic World, 13 by The Hindu, and 14 each by The Times of India and Hindustan Times. In several of these stories, Pakistan appeared either as the central subject or as a significant element within a broader regional perspective. The Indian media attention was the result of Pakistan&rsquo;s engagement on multiple fronts since June 20, including diplomatic outreach, security consultations, sporting developments, engagements led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, statements by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, and reactions to a deadly blast in the country&rsquo;s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A substantial portion of the Indian media coverage focused on Pakistan&#39;s role in regional diplomacy, particularly developments involving Iran and the United States. One report by Times Now falsely suggested that US Vice President JD Vance held Pakistan responsible for the delay in an Iran-related agreement. However, Vance&#39;s recent public remarks at the Lake Lucerne Summit in Burgenstock, Switzerland, highlighted ongoing engagement with Pakistan&#39;s leadership, including meetings and discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. He acknowledged the need for continuous communication as part of regional consultations. Meanwhile, Republic World described recent diplomatic developments as an example of &quot;awkward diplomacy&quot; and suggested, again falsely, that Pakistan had been sidelined in discussions involving Tehran and Washington. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered a different perspective, publicly stating that the diplomatic process had already achieved &quot;major progress,&quot; reflecting a more positive assessment of the ongoing negotiations. Similarly, a report by The Times of India questioned the significance of former US President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to move swiftly on an Iran-related memorandum of understanding ahead of talks in Switzerland and argued that the development had left Pakistan in &ldquo;an uncomfortable position.&rdquo; The characterization contrasted with several public statements made by Trump in recent months, in which he spoke positively about Pakistan and its leadership and acknowledged the country&#39;s role in regional affairs. While much of the Indian media focused on analyzing the implications of Pakistan&#39;s diplomatic engagements, Pakistani officials continued to prioritize regional outreach, security cooperation, and foreign policy initiatives to strengthen ties with international partners and advance Islamabad&#39;s diplomatic objectives.

India

Pakistan TV Digital's review found nearly 100 Pakistan-related stories across seven Indian media outlets in 48 hours, focusing on Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach, security consultations, sporting developments, and regional diplomacy.

Pakistan-obsessed Indian media publishes over 100 reports in 48 hours

Muhammad Usman Amin

ISLAMABAD: A serving police constable was arrested within 24 hours of the killing of a Sikh gurdwara caretaker and his wife in Mardan, northwestern Pakistan, authorities said Thursday, in a case that highlighted quick Pakistani law enforcement action despite the suspect&#39;s position within the police force. Jagannath and Asawanti, who served as caretakers at Gurdwara Dera Baba Karam Singh in the northwestern Pakistani city, were shot and killed Wednesday, Mardan Police spokesperson Muhammad Faheem informed media. Police identified the suspect as Sher Shah, a constable who had previously been stationed at the gurdwara. The police spokesperson said forensic teams were analyzing cell phone data, CCTV footage and using facial recognition technology to identify the killer. Anti-terrorism laws were invoked and a Joint Investigation Team was formed. Authorities said that preliminary interrogations revealed that Sher Shah harbored a personal grievance following his transfer from the gurdwara. &quot;A crime is a crime, whether committed against a Muslim or a non-Muslim,&quot; Provincial Minister for Auqaf, Hajj, Religious, and Minority Affairs Adnan Qadri said in a press conference. The victims&#39; family was granted financial aid, and Rs4 million ($14,381) were allocated for the gurdwara&#39;s upkeep. But across the border, the reaction took a completely different turn. Television pundits, politicians, and right-wing analysts in India seized the tragedy to play geopolitics. They used a singular incident to paint Pakistan as unsafe for minorities. Talk show hosts, such as Hem Saroya on her show Vantage at Firstpost, started their monologues with variations of how while Pakistan was trying to project the image of a peacemaker abroad, at home it is a completely different story. It seems Pakistan&rsquo;s recent role in facilitating peace talks between the United States and Iran has been a source of frustration for India. These attacks come at a time when India is governed by a far-right party, heavily pushing a religious nationalist agenda that increasingly targets minorities. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom reported in 2024 that in India &quot;religious freedoms continue to deteriorate as attacks and discrimination against religious minorities continue to rise.&quot; Human Rights Watch documented escalating mob violence against Muslims across multiple Indian states, while a 2025 report by India Hate Lab documented a 13% rise in hate speech from 2024. In May, during Eid al-Adha, authorities in some Indian states implemented restrictions on Muslim prayer gatherings. Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, was quoted as saying Muslims should pray in shifts or &quot;we will employ other methods,&quot; as reported by India Today Global. In 2024, approximately 1,800 homes, mostly belonging to Muslims, were demolished in Lucknow under what authorities said was an eco-tourism project, according to The New Indian Express. Attacks on Christian minority have also increased. In 2024 alone, a mob attacked 18 Christian families in Chhattisgarh according to The Wire.&nbsp; Citizens for Justice and Peace have reported how Christian minorities face constant attacks in Manipur over ethnic and religious disputes. Given the quick response from Pakistani authorities to the Mardan killings, this raises questions about differing approaches to prosecuting crimes against minorities in India.

Security

The fatal shooting of two Sikh caretakers at a gurdwara in Mardan led to a quick police response, while in India, religious minorities are regularly targetted.

How Pakistan's accountability highlights India's minority protections gap

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday said US-Iran talks in Switzerland have entered a second phase focused on nuclear issues, sanctions, and Lebanon, but could have been &quot;derailed&rdquo; by Israeli attacks on Lebanon.&nbsp; In an interview with Al Arabiya, FM Dar said that the negotiations could have started several days earlier, but were delayed by developments in Lebanon.&nbsp; &quot;These parlays, which are starting today in Switzerland, could have started a few days earlier, but because of Israel&#39;s attack on Lebanon, they actually derailed everything and stopped everything,&quot; he said. &quot;The moment this deal was signed, we saw that there was heavy bombing in Lebanon,&quot; he said. &quot;The world community should convince and persuade and influence Israel not to do what they&#39;re doing.&quot; Pakistan emerged as a key mediator during the crisis, maintaining diplomatic channels with both sides and helping facilitate negotiations that ultimately produced the memorandum. Dar said three technical groups had begun work following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding on June 18. &quot;There are three technical groups, one to deal with nuclear issues vis-&agrave;-vis Iran. Second is about sanctions and de-freezing of assets. And third one is Lebanon,&quot; he said. The discussions are taking place under a timeline that envisages some issues being concluded within 30 days, while the broader agreement is expected to take up to 60 days, with the possibility of an extension, said the foreign minister. In April, Pakistan hosted direct US-Iran talks in Islamabad and facilitated subsequent rounds of engagement, helping preserve dialogue despite repeated setbacks. Now, after months of diplomacy involving Pakistan, Qatar, and other regional stakeholders, the process has moved to Switzerland, where technical-level discussions have begun under the framework established by the Islamabad MoU. &quot;Pakistan has been right from day one; very, very active,&quot; he said. On the Strait of Hormuz, FM Dar reiterated Pakistan&#39;s position that maritime traffic should return to the status that existed before the conflict erupted on Feb. 28, including toll-free passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz. &quot;According to my interpretation, there should be no fee. Its [straits] status before the 28th of February should be restored,&quot; said Dar. &quot;No matter what you call it -- service fee, toll or fee -- whatever it is, our understanding is there should be nothing.&quot; &quot;Ships are passing since 18th of June after signing of this agreement,&quot; he said. The foreign minister acknowledged concerns that tensions involving Lebanon could still undermine the broader diplomatic effort. Despite the challenges, Dar voiced confidence that the US-Iran negotiations would ultimately succeed. &quot;I have full faith that these two countries will reach a final deal.&quot;

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. (Radio Pakistan/X)

'These parlays, which are starting today in Switzerland, could have started a few days earlier, but Israel's attacks on Lebanon derailed everything and stopped everything,' Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in an interview with Al Arabiya.

Israel attempted to ‘derail’ US-Iran talks in Switzerland: Pakistan FM 

ISLAMABAD: The tense standoff at a gurdwara in Rudraprayag district, in India&#39;s northern province of Uttarakhand, has entered its third day, as officials work to peacefully persuade a group of Sikh Nihangs occupying the building&#39;s roof to end their protest, local police and other government officials told the media. Nihangs, also known as Akalis, are a traditional order of Sikh warriors, easily recognized by dark blue robes, tall conical turbans and dedication to martial arts.&nbsp; The situation developed on June 20 after a disagreement at the Sikh temple Nagrasu Gurdwara, where a group of Nihangs reportedly clashed with staff and local authorities.&nbsp; Police said that the Nihangs climbed onto the roof and initially refused to come down, insisting on the release of four of their members who had been arrested following a separate incident in Chamoli district on June 16.<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" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; 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=2069352009866891511&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f3f25907c68a665ebe28b96552aeb0a9a32f500b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2069352009866891511"></iframe></div></div> While earlier reports indicated that a Sikh devotee had been taken hostage during the standoff, local police later alleged that there was no active hostage situation, assuring that everything was being closely monitored and remained under control. Witnesses reported seeing one Nihang waving a sword from the rooftop and allegedly throwing stones and bricks down below.&nbsp; Security forces are maintaining a strong presence around the gurdwara. Local officials said they have held several rounds of negotiations in recent days. Although some members of the group have come down from the roof, several Nihangs remain, despite repeated calls from authorities. The dispute reportedly started when the Nihangs, travelling from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag, stopped at the gurdwara for a meal.&nbsp; They complained that they were treated poorly by the caretakers of the gurdwara, which sparked an argument and led to police involvement. Authorities are reaching out to Nihang elders from Punjab for help in resolving the crisis through dialogue and to&nbsp;convince the remaining protesters to come down peacefully. The standoff has the potential to become a flashpoint with thousands of pilgrims passing through the area on their way to Hemkund Sahib, one of the most revered Sikh shrines in the world.

A standoff at the Sikh temple Nagrasu Gurdwara in Uttarakhand province has entered the third day as Nihang protesters continue to occupy the building's roof, demanding the release of arrested members, while authorities pursue negotiations with Sikh elders for a peaceful resolution.

Gurdwara standoff in northern India enters third day as talks fail 

<grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" style="visibility: visible !important; position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none; --rem: 16;" class="dnXmp"></grammarly-extension>ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia held counterterrorism talks in Islamabad on Tuesday, with discussions focused on the &quot;regional terrorist threat,&quot; particularly &quot;terrorism emanating from Afghanistan,&quot; according to a Foreign Office statement. The discussions took place during the 12th meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group to Counter International Terrorism. According to a&nbsp;Ministry of Foreign Affairs post on X, &quot;discussions centered on regional terrorist threat, with particular focus on terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and the risk it posed to neighboring states and the broader regional security.&quot; <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=2069363227394453944&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a7dd1ecd01aa916646ca6b88aa98f8f115625459&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" spellcheck="false">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The ministry said the two delegations also &quot;reviewed the state of bilateral cooperation on counterterrorism&quot; during the meeting and&nbsp;discussed ways to deepen coordination in regional and international organizations. The Foreign Office said both sides identified avenues to enhance engagement at forums, including the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Pakistani delegation was led by Additional Secretary Ambassador Muhammad Khalid Khan Jamali, while Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky represented Russia.

The 12th meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group to Counter International Terrorism was held in Islamabad on 23 June 2026 (Photo: X/@ForeignOfficePk)

Both sides reviewed counterterrorism cooperation and explored ways to enhance engagement at forums, including the United Nations and the SCO.