Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday held a series of telephone conversations with his counterparts from Iran, Egypt and Bahrain, reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s call for de-escalation and dialogue amid evolving regional tensions, the Foreign Office said.<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: 770px; 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=2040506830049452185&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=fbd30ac87b25a42962272854280a0e248004bf10&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>In separate calls with Iranian Foreign Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/deeply-grateful-to-pakistan-never-refused-visit-to-islamabad-says-iranian-fm" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Abbas Araghchi</a>, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Dar exchanged views on the latest developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts.&nbsp;He stressed the importance of resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy, reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s support for all initiatives aimed at easing tensions.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 763px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2040457199722676727&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=fbd30ac87b25a42962272854280a0e248004bf10&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The leaders agreed to remain in close contact amid the evolving situation.&nbsp;During his conversation with the Bahraini counterpart, Dar also highlighted the Pakistan-China five-point initiative to promote peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region, with Bahrain appreciating Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) visits his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar. File photo: Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Foreign Affairs

Dar stresses the importance of resolving issues through dialogue and diplomacy, reiterating Pakistan’s support for all initiatives aimed at easing tensions.

Pakistani FM engages regional counterparts to push for de-escalation

ISLAMABAD: Experts warn India may face a recession in the 2026-27 fiscal year due to increasing economic vulnerabilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;The combination of rising oil prices, heavy dependence on foreign energy imports, and external pressures has raised concerns about slowing growth and a widening current account deficit.&nbsp;Economic analyst Debanchu Moan, professor at Jindal Global University, said that India&rsquo;s macroeconomic fundamentals are under strain.&nbsp;&ldquo;Anything below 6% growth in the Indian context effectively amounts to a deep recession,&rdquo; he told The Wire during a podcast.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rising oil costs and disruptions in key trade routes have pushed the Indian rupee past 95 to the US dollar, with some forecasts suggesting it could reach 100 in the coming weeks.&nbsp;Experts point to the ongoing tensions in the US-Israel-Iran conflict as an indirect factor exacerbating India&rsquo;s economic challenges. Oil supply disruptions, blocked shipping lanes, and inflationary pressures are weighing heavily on India&rsquo;s balance of payments.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;India&rsquo;s dependence on oil imports from West Asia and its limited strategic petroleum reserves leave it particularly vulnerable,&rdquo; Moan added.&nbsp;The economist also highlighted policy missteps, noting that previous favorable deals, such as discounted oil imports from Iran, were discontinued under US pressure, costing India billions of dollars annually.&nbsp;&nbsp;Additionally, commitments to increase trade with the US while reducing imports from Russia have shifted India&rsquo;s energy dependence in ways that may prove unsustainable.&nbsp;&ldquo;India has a 30-day window to stabilize its balance of payments and implement effective course corrections,&rdquo; Moan said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Without strategic planning and a clear multi-aligned foreign policy, the country risks worsening macroeconomic pressures, including inflation, trade imbalances, and slowing GDP growth.&rdquo;&nbsp;The government has been urged to manage capital flows carefully, maintain a strategic reserve buffer, and reassess its energy import strategy to avoid a deeper economic crisis.&nbsp;

India

Deepanchu Moan, economics professor at Jindal Global University, says India’s reliance on imported oil and gas, particularly from West Asia, leaves the country vulnerable to global supply shocks.

India may slip into recession in 2026-27, economist warns

JERUSALEM: In the usually lively alleyways of Jerusalem&#39;s Old City, silence reigned on <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistani-pm-extends-easter-greetings-reaffirms-commitment-to-minority-rights" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Easter Sunday</a>, with the holiday overshadowed by war and restrictions on access to the Holy Sepulchre, where the faithful commemorate Christ&#39;s crucifixion and resurrection. On routes approaching the church, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and rose from the dead, police at checkpoints screened a small number of worshippers allowed near the site. All shops in the area were closed, heightening the sense of emptiness. &quot;Happy Easter,&quot; said the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israel-preventing-mass-by-jerusalems-latin-patriarch-an-offence-to-the-faithful-italy" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem</a>, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, shortly after dawn as he entered the church surrounded by a modest group of clergy, according to AFP journalists at the site. Outside, a few Catholics and Orthodox Christians tried to reach the church but were kept at a distance by security forces. &quot;How can you tell me I cannot go to church, it is unacceptable,&quot; said one Catholic from Tel Aviv who had attended Easter worship at the site in previous years. Security has been stepped up in the Old City, located in annexed east Jerusalem and home to sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Israel has also imposed restrictions on large gatherings as a security precaution due to the constant threat of strikes during the ongoing <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-37" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Middle East war</a>. On Palm Sunday, Cardinal Pizzaballa was prevented by Israeli police from entering the Holy Sepulchre for mass, provoking outrage, before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered he be allowed in. &quot;In this land where the story began... we continue to steadfastly protect the freedom of worship for all faiths, especially at this sacred time,&quot; Netanyahu said in a message marking Easter. &#39;Hard for all of us&#39; Most Palestinian Christians belong to the Orthodox faith, which celebrates Easter on April 12. But for many other Christians, the curbs on worship have stripped Sunday&#39;s Easter celebrations of substance. &quot;It&#39;s very hard for all of us because it&#39;s our holiday... It&#39;s really hard to want to pray but to come here and find nothing. Everything is closed,&quot; said Christina Toderas, 44, from Romania. Like many other worshippers, she had resigned herself to watching the mass at the Holy Sepulchre on television. Otmar Wassermann had also attempted to enter the Holy Sepulchre but failed. &quot;I must say I was somewhat frustrated,&quot; he told AFP, recalling how the feast is generally celebrated every year. &quot;The atmosphere is incredible,&quot; Wassermann said, noting the music in particular. &quot;People who go there, they have deep faith.&quot; Father Bernard Poggi, who was preparing to attend mass in another church near the holy site, also said he understood the security measures but added that &quot;it seems to be more and more that there&#39;s an unevenness in how the laws are put into practice&quot;. Inside the Holy Sepulchre, the celebrations were being held behind closed doors in front of a very small congregation, a far cry from the crowds that usually gather. Around the Old City, where hymns and processions usually dominate at Easter, only whispers could be heard among the faithful moving discreetly through its passages. &quot;It is really sad. I just hope the war stops,&quot; said Julio Makhalfeh, a 25-year-old restaurant manager. &quot;We had enough of all this. It is time to bring some normalcy back in our life.&quot;

In this handout picture released by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem media office, Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, enters the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the old city of Jerusalem on April 5, 2025 to lead Easter Sunday Mass. (AFP

Middle East

Easter in Jerusalem's Old City was subdued as security restrictions limited worshippers at the Holy Sepulchre. Shops closed, processions canceled, and faithful watched services on television..

Easter in Jerusalem disrupted by war and restrictions at Holy Sepulchre

ISLAMABAD: For communities living along Afghanistan&#39;s riverbeds, the floods came fast. But for the aid system meant to reach them, the money never did. Since late March, floodwaters have torn through 26 provinces, severing roads and cutting off delivery of food, medicine and clean water to some of the world&#39;s most vulnerable people, according to UNHCR&#39;s Emergency Flash Update #9, issued early April. At least 51 people have been killed, 114 injured and five remain missing, according to Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) field data published April 4. More than 2,634 families have lost their homes entirely. But the deaths and rubble only tell part of the story. The floods have damaged about 13,400 acres of farmland and killed 1,730 head of livestock, according to the ARCS report, destroying the harvests and herds that millions of rural families rely on to survive the coming months. Afghanistan was already hungry before the water came. Malnutrition exceeds emergency thresholds in 25 out of 34 provinces, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). The international organization warns that further destruction of farmland in designated hunger hotspots will push those numbers higher. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the country is confronting &quot;intensifying climate shocks&quot; on top of a hunger crisis already affecting 17.4 million people. In addition, flood damage to water and sanitation infrastructure has raised the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks across affected provinces. The UNICEF 2026 Humanitarian Appeal aims to reach nearly 16 million people with urgent water, sanitation and health services in response to these compounding emergencies; however, aid has fallen short of its goals. The system meant to deliver that response was already stretched to breaking point. In February, only 160,498 people received clean water and sanitation services, compared with a cluster target of 7.8 million, according to the Afghanistan WASH Cluster&#39;s 2026 report. Across all of 2026, only 304,290 people had been reached so far. The reason is money &ndash; or rather, the absence of it. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requires $1.71 billion to address needs across Afghanistan but remains critically underfunded, according to OCHA. UNHCR alone requires $454 million for Afghanistan this year; as of the end of February, only 15% had been received. Further rainfall is expected, with the IFRC warning that it would leave thousands of already-devastated families at risk of a third wave.

An Afghan motorist wades across a flooded road during rainfall in Ghazni Province on April 1, 2026. (AFP)

Afghanistan

Floodwaters have torn through 26 Afghan provinces, severing roads and cutting off delivery of food, medicine and clean water to some of the world's most vulnerable people.

Floods have worsened Afghanistan's already broken aid system

LONDON: Before the US-Israel war on Iran, fisherman Peter Bruce spent about &pound;5,000 ($6,600) on diesel to trawl the North Sea for haddock and cod, the main species used in fish and chips. &quot;Now, the last trip we spent about &pound;10,000,&quot; he told AFP, despite his crew reducing the speed of the boat to save fuel. Bruce, whose boat, Budding Rose, is based in the Scottish port of Peterhead, estimates the extra costs over a year could exceed &pound;100,000. It was not yet clear whether the rise in energy prices would have an immediate effect on fish prices, Bruce said. But he is worried that the hike in fuel prices will hit demand for the classic British meal, which was already facing challenges on numerous fronts. Bruce&#39;s catch is sold at auction in Peterhead before being transported around Britain and abroad. He fears that customers &quot;will stop buying so much fish and chips and they&#39;ll stop going out for meals so much&quot;. Classic dish The classic recipe for fish and chips -- white fish deep-fried in batter, chips, and mushy peas, often with tartare sauce on the side -- dates back to the 1860s. Fish and chip shops usually serve nothing else, and most are takeaway. There were around 10,500 fish and chip shops in the UK in 2024 -- roughly the same as a decade earlier -- according to Seafish, a public body supporting the industry. This was more than the total number of outlets of the nine main fast-food brands -- including KFC, McDonald&#39;s and Domino&#39;s Pizza -- it boasted. Easter is a particularly busy time for the sector, as many Britons eat fish on Good Friday. Andrew Crook, who owns a fish and chip shop in Lancashire, northwestern England, told AFP the number of customers can more than double on Good Fridays. Nonetheless, &quot;we&#39;re definitely under pressure,&quot; said Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Fryers. He blamed several factors. &quot;We&#39;ve got extremely high fish prices, we&#39;ve got energy prices; wages go up continually,&quot; he lamented. The US-Israel war on Iran, now in its second month, caused a record monthly rise in petrol and diesel prices in the United Kingdom in March was caused by the conflict, according to data from the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), a British auto services company. But there are other difficulties. Oil, fertilizerStricter fishing rules to conserve species, as well as the war in Ukraine -- Russia previously supplied 30 to 40% of the country&#39;s fish -- had already weakened Britain&#39;s sector, says Crook, and forced it to raise prices. Another concern is the soaring price of fertilizers and its impact on the production of potatoes and oilseeds. Some 30% of the world&#39;s fertilizer normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which is now almost closed. Back in 2022, small businesses were worried about a shortage of sunflower oil, since Ukraine was the world&#39;s leading exporter of sunflower seeds; now they are increasingly concerned about the energy costs of heating their cooking oils. Crook, who sells fish and chips for &pound;11.45 ($15) per portion, said businesses are looking at options to avoid putting up prices, such as choosing less costly fish species like pollack from North America and South African hake, and reducing portions. &quot;We do try to cushion consumers,&quot; he said, adding that he does not want to raise his prices for now.

United Kingdom

There were around 10,500 fish and chip shops in the UK in 2024 -- roughly the same as a decade earlier -- according to Seafish, a public body supporting the industry.

US-Israel war on Iran hits Britain's fish and chip shops

ISLAMABAD: President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have extended their greetings to Christian citizens across the country and Christian communities worldwide on the occasion of Easter.&nbsp;In his message, the president highlighted the core values of Easter, describing it as a day symbolizing compassion, hope, renewal, rebirth, rejuvenation, redemption, and the triumph of life over death and good over evil.&nbsp;He noted that in Pakistan, these values are visible in everyday life, with Christian men and women contributing actively in schools, hospitals, public services, and the armed forces.&nbsp;Families mark the occasion through prayers and gatherings, often alongside neighbors of different faiths, reflecting harmony and mutual respect.&nbsp;The president also recalled the historic role of S. P. Singha, the Christian Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, in the creation of Pakistan, as well as the heroism of Cecil Chaudhry during the 1965 war. He commended the community&rsquo;s ongoing contribution to national development, particularly in education, healthcare, national defense, and social services.&nbsp;Echoing the message of equality set by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the state&rsquo;s commitment to ensuring the rights, protection, and welfare of all citizens, including minority communities.&nbsp;He emphasized that a stable and strong society depends on the respect and responsibility with which citizens treat one another in daily life, workplaces, neighborhoods, and institutions.&nbsp;Both leaders wished Pakistani Christians a blessed and joyous Easter, urging the nation to celebrate the spirit of hope, unity, and mutual respect.

The president highlights core values of Easter, describing it as a day symbolizing compassion, hope, renewal, rebirth, rejuvenation, redemption, and the triumph of life over death and good over evil.

Pakistan president, PM extend Easter greetings, reaffirm commitment to minority rights

WASHINGTON: A Pentagon AI program called Project Maven is at the center of the US strikes against Iran and potentially one of the most consequential transformations of modern warfare. What is it?Project Maven is the Pentagon&rsquo;s flagship artificial intelligence program, launched in 2017 as a narrow experiment to help military analysts make sense of the torrent of drone footage pouring in from conflict zones. Operators were drowning in imagery, searching frame by frame for objects of interest that might appear for only a moment before vanishing. Maven was built to find the needle in the haystack. Eight years later, the program has evolved into something far more expansive: an AI-assisted targeting and battlefield management system that has vastly accelerated what is known in war-making as the kill chain &mdash; the process from initial detection to destruction. How does it work?Maven functions like both the air traffic control of battle and its cockpit. Aalok Mehta, director of the CSIS Wadhwani AI Center, described the system as &ldquo;essentially an overlay&rdquo; that fuses sensor data, enemy troop intelligence, satellite imagery, and information on troop deployment. In practice, that means rapidly scanning satellite feeds to detect troop movements or identify targets, while also &ldquo;taking a snapshot of the operational theater&rdquo; to determine the best course of action for striking a specific target. In a recent demonstration posted online, a Pentagon official described how Maven &ldquo;magically&rdquo; turns an observed threat into a targeting workflow, weighing available assets and presenting a commander with options. The emergence of ChatGPT was another leap forward, broadening the use of the technology to a far greater range of users who can interact with Maven in natural language. For now, this capability is supplied by Anthropic&rsquo;s Claude &mdash; though that arrangement is coming to a bitter end after the Pentagon bristled at the AI lab&rsquo;s demand that its model not be used for fully automated strikes or the tracking of US citizens. Why did Google say no?&nbsp;The ethical question was a factor in Maven&rsquo;s early years, when Google was the program&rsquo;s original AI contractor. In 2018, more than 3,000 employees signed an open letter protesting the company&rsquo;s involvement, arguing that the contract crossed a line. Several engineers resigned. Google declined to renew when the contract expired, and subsequently published AI principles explicitly ruling out participation in weapons systems. The episode exposed a fault line in Silicon Valley between engineers who viewed autonomous targeting as an ethical red line and defense officials who saw it as essential. More recently, Google removed its AI policy restrictions and said it is leaning further into national security work. The Pentagon has said that Google, along with xAI and OpenAI, are in the mix to replace Claude in Maven. What is Palantir&rsquo;s role?In 2024, Palantir &mdash; founded in part with CIA seed funding and built from the start around government intelligence work &mdash; stepped into the space Google vacated. The company has reportedly become Maven&rsquo;s primary technology contractor, and its AI now forms the operational backbone of the program. Palantir CEO Alex Karp frames the stakes explicitly. &ldquo;This is a have, have-not world,&rdquo; he said at a recent Palantir event, arguing that it was important for the West to achieve capabilities the rest of the world lacked. A system that compresses a kill chain from hours to seconds makes an adversary obsolete, he said. How has it fared?The Pentagon and Palantir declined to comment on Maven&rsquo;s performance in the current war with Iran. US strikes have been carried out at a sustained pace, and it can be assumed that Maven&rsquo;s ability to speed up the targeting and firing process has played a central role. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, after three weeks the US strike campaign settled into a pace of between 300 and 500 targets per day. In the first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury, US forces struck over 1,000 targets, including a school housed in a building previously used as a military complex, according to various media reports. Iran has said the attack killed 168 children aged seven to 12 and wounded many other people.

Artificial Intelligence

AI-driven Project Maven accelerates US strikes on Iran, transforming modern warfare by shortening targeting cycles, raising ethical concerns over automation, civilian risk, and accountability as conflict intensifies and technology reshapes battlefield decision-making.

AI at war: Five things to know about Project Maven

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: Pakistan has resumed the phased repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals, with over 700 individuals returned on the first day through the Torkham crossing after a month-long pause linked to recent security developments. Officials said the process accelerated on the second day, with 1,970 Afghan nationals repatriated, while hundreds more arrived at the border for processing under the government&rsquo;s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. Upon arrival, Afghan nationals are transferred to the Hamza Baba Transit Camp near the border, where registration and legal formalities are completed before their return. &ldquo;Once documentation is verified and procedures are completed, individuals are handed over to Afghan authorities at the Torkham border,&rdquo; officials said. Authorities added that multiple agencies are working in coordination to ensure an orderly and dignified process. The resumption of deportations follows a temporary suspension during heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, including the launch of Operation Ghazab lil Haq in late February. Pakistani officials say the operation targeted terrorist infrastructure used for cross-border attacks, while broader measures were implemented to strengthen internal security. The Torkham crossing had briefly reopened on March 26 before being closed again following a firing incident from the Afghan side. Officials said subsequent engagements enabled the resumption of repatriation activities. Pakistan says the repatriation drive is part of a wider counterterrorism policy framework. Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has previously said the plan is &ldquo;an integral part of the revised National Action Plan,&rdquo; aimed at countering terrorism and extremism. Officials have maintained that undocumented foreign nationals have been linked to security concerns, including involvement in attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan continues alongside security operations. &ldquo;Our security forces took some counter-terrorism actions a few days ago. So, there is no change in that operation due to any talks,&rdquo; Andrabi said. He added that a Pakistani delegation is engaged in talks with Afghan counterparts, with further details expected upon its return. Officials said the repatriation process will continue in phases, beginning with Afghan prisoners and extending to undocumented residents across the country.

Security

Officials said the process accelerated on the second day, with 1,970 Afghan nationals repatriated, while hundreds more arrived at the border for processing under the government’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.

Pakistan repatriates over 700 Afghans as deportations resume

HOUSTON: The Artemis astronauts were gearing up Saturday for their long-anticipated lunar flyby, including reviewing the surface features they must analyze and photograph during their time circling the Moon. &ldquo;Morale is high on board,&rdquo; commander Reid Wiseman told Houston&rsquo;s Mission Control center as the space crew&rsquo;s work day began. Upon waking around 1635 GMT on Saturday, the astronauts were approximately 169,000 miles (271,979 kilometers) from Earth, and approaching the Moon at 110,700 miles (178,154 kilometers), according to NASA. The next major milestone of the approximately 10-day journey is expected overnight Sunday into Monday, at which point the astronauts will enter the &ldquo;lunar sphere of influence&rdquo; &mdash; when the Moon&rsquo;s gravity will have stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth&rsquo;s. If all proceeds smoothly, as Orion whips around the Moon the astronauts could set a record by venturing farther from Earth than any human before. The astronauts kicked off their day with a meal that included scrambled eggs and coffee, NASA said, and had woken up to the tune of Chappell Roan&rsquo;s pop smash &ldquo;Pink Pony Club.&rdquo; Wiseman along with fellow Americans Christina Koch and Victor Glover as well as Canadian Jeremy Hansen are on a historic journey around the Moon, which they&rsquo;re soon due to slingshot around. It&rsquo;s a feat Wiseman has dubbed &ldquo;Herculean&rdquo; and which humanity has not accomplished in more than half-a-century. Later on Saturday, Glover was due to perform a manual piloting demonstration to provide NASA with more data regarding the spacecraft&rsquo;s performance in deep space. After that, the crew was planning to go over their checklist for documenting their experience traveling around the Moon. The astronauts have had geology training in order to be able to photograph and describe lunar features, including ancient lava flows and impact craters. They&rsquo;ll see the Moon from a unique vantage point compared with the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s. Apollo flights flew some 70 miles above the lunar surface, but the Artemis 2 crew will be just over 4,000 miles at their closest approach, which will allow them to see the complete, circular surface of the Moon, including regions near both poles. &lsquo;Amazing&rsquo;The crew has been busy taking photographs including with smartphones, devices NASA recently approved to take aboard spaceflights. The space agency has released images from Orion that included a full portrait of Earth, featuring its deep blue oceans and billowing clouds. NASA official Lakiesha Hawkins praised the photographs taken by commander Wiseman, calling them &ldquo;amazing&rdquo; during a briefing Friday. &ldquo;We continue to learn all about our spacecraft as we operate it in deep space with crew for the first time,&rdquo; Hawkins said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s important to remind ourselves of that as we learn a little bit more day by day.&rdquo; The Artemis 2 mission is part of a longer-term plan to repeatedly return to the Moon, with the goal of establishing a permanent lunar base that will offer a platform for further exploration. It&rsquo;s a highly anticipated journey that demands exacting precision &mdash; but there&rsquo;s still room for the astronauts to live out their childhood dreams of spaceflight. &ldquo;It just makes me feel like a little kid,&rdquo; said Hansen recently, describing the joy of floating.

Americas

Upon waking around 1635 GMT on Saturday, the astronauts were approximately 169,000 miles (271,979 kilometers) from Earth, and approaching the Moon at 110,700 miles (178,154 kilometers), according to NASA.

Artemis astronauts preparing for historic lunar flyby

ISLAMABAD: Satellite imaging firm Planet Labs said it will indefinitely withhold images of Iran and the wider Middle East conflict zone following a request from the United States government, citing security concerns. The California-based company said in an email to customers that Washington had asked satellite imagery providers to restrict visuals of the region as the war continues to escalate. The move expands on a 14-day delay already imposed last month. &ldquo;Planet Labs will indefinitely withhold imagery of the conflict region,&rdquo; the company said, adding the policy applies to images dating back to March 9. The decision comes amid a widening conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran across the region, including against Israeli territory and US-linked sites in Gulf states. Satellite imagery plays a critical role in modern warfare, including target identification, missile tracking and operational planning, raising concerns that publicly available data could be exploited. Planet Labs said the restrictions are aimed at preventing misuse of such data. The company added it would shift to a &ldquo;managed distribution of images,&rdquo; releasing visuals only on a case-by-case basis for urgent or public interest needs. &ldquo;These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders,&rdquo; the firm said.

The decision comes amid a widening conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran across the region, including against Israeli territory and US-linked sites in Gulf states.

Pakistani FM engages regional counterparts to push for de-escalation

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