Ayesha Mir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is fully prepared for the upcoming review by the International Monetary Fund and is confident about its economic trajectory, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Aurangzeb confirmed that the IMF mission has begun its technical discussions in Karachi and that he will meet the team in Islamabad on Monday for the third review under Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing program.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are getting ready for the third review,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said. &ldquo;It will cover both performance benchmarks and structural benchmarks, as well as a forward-looking assessment of the program.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that Pakistan is entering the review from a position of strength. &ldquo;It is premature to say how it will go,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I would say we are well-positioned for this review.&rdquo;&nbsp;Strong economic fundamentalsAurangzeb highlighted the country&rsquo;s consolidation of macroeconomic stability over the past two years. Consecutive primary fiscal surpluses, a stable currency, easing inflation, and rising foreign exchange reserves reflect these gains, he said.&nbsp;Inflation has fallen into single digits, allowing the policy rate to drop to 10.5%, while reserves have grown from roughly two weeks of import cover in July 2023 to about 2.5 months.&nbsp;&ldquo;If the current trajectory continues, we expect to reach the international benchmark of three months of import cover by year-end,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Remittances rose to $38 billion last fiscal year and are projected to reach around $42 billion this year. IT exports are also strengthening, expected to reach $4 billion to $5 billion, alongside traditional export sectors.&nbsp;From aid-led to investment-led growthAurangzeb emphasized that Pakistan is shifting from an aid-led model to a trade and investment-focused approach, targeting business-to-business engagement with international partners.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are very focused on sectors like oil and gas, minerals, mining and IT to attract further trade and investment,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He noted recent diplomatic and economic initiatives, including CPEC Phase 2.0 with China and strengthened ties with GCC countries and the United States. Tariff negotiations with the US have reduced Pakistan&rsquo;s trade duties, further supporting competitive exports.&nbsp;Reform and continuityThe finance minister outlined ongoing reforms to strengthen fiscal sustainability.&nbsp;These include modernization of the Federal Board of Revenue, pension restructuring, government right-sizing, privatization of select state assets and enhanced debt management, which saved about Rs850 billion last year.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are focused on continuity, credibility, and reform,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said. &ldquo;Our engagement with the IMF is part of a broader strategy to ensure lasting stability, sustainable growth, and increased private-sector investment for Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;The IMF mission will also examine governance reforms, electricity tariff adjustments, and the FY2026-27 federal budget framework. Completion of the review is expected to unlock $1.2 billion in funding, reinforcing Pakistan&rsquo;s recovery and reform momentum.

Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb speaks with Pakistan TV Digital ahead of the IMF review mission. (Pakistan TV Digital)

Economy

Pakistan is well-prepared for IMF reviews this week, Muhammad Aurangzeb said, with $1.2 billion funding pending. Officials report program targets on track, including fiscal, monetary, and governance benchmarks.

Pakistan confident ahead of IMF review, eyes investment-led growth

Muhammad Ibrahim

DHAKA: Pakistan signaled important meetings and an intent to deepen political, economic and regional cooperation with Bangladesh as Islamabad&rsquo;s senior leadership attends the oath-taking of Dhaka&rsquo;s incoming government, following a landslide election that reset the country&rsquo;s power balance and endorsed sweeping constitutional reforms.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital in Dhaka on Tuesday, Pakistan Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal said he was representing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at what he described as a &ldquo;historic democratic transition&rdquo; in Bangladesh, adding that the Pakistani leader was keen to visit at the earliest opportunity. He also extended an invitation to Tarique Rahman to plan a visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.&nbsp;&ldquo;I am here to represent the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan at a very historic moment when Bangladesh is making a democratic transition and a new government is being sworn in,&rdquo; Iqbal said. &ldquo;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would very much like to visit Bangladesh as early as possible.&rdquo;&nbsp;Iqbal said he would meet Bangladesh&rsquo;s interim Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman, and the leader of the opposition, conveying Islamabad&rsquo;s message of partnership and support.&nbsp;&ldquo;We look forward to a new journey between Pakistan and Bangladesh, towards prosperity and stability, not only for our region but for our people,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Bangladesh&rsquo;s new government takes office after the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the first competitive vote since the 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s 15-year rule. Final results show the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) securing 209 of 297 declared seats, rising to 212 seats with allies, giving it a commanding parliamentary majority. Voter turnout stood at 59.44%.&nbsp;&lsquo;Twin brothers&rsquo; and a regional resetFraming Pakistan-Bangladesh ties as historically deep and forward-looking, Iqbal described the two countries as &ldquo;twin brothers,&rdquo; citing shared civilizational links, similar demographic profiles and parallel development challenges.&nbsp;&ldquo;Both Pakistan and Bangladesh are young countries with very similar economic characteristics,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This gives us a great opportunity to build bridges between our youth and work together to create opportunities.&rdquo;&nbsp;Iqbal said Islamabad sees Dhaka as a key partner in reviving regional cooperation, particularly through South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which he said has long been stalled.&nbsp;&ldquo;South Asia is the least regionally integrated region in the world,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Both Pakistan and Bangladesh can play a very important role in reviving and reactivating SAARC, because regional cooperation is now key to economic progress.&rdquo;&nbsp;Founded in 1985, SAARC brings together eight South Asian countries with the stated aim of promoting regional integration through trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties. Despite representing nearly a quarter of the world&rsquo;s population, intra-regional trade remains below 6%, with political tensions repeatedly stalling summits and initiatives.&nbsp;Trade, youth and investmentIqbal said economic ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh remain far below potential, with bilateral trade still under $1 billion, and called for an urgent push to expand commerce, investment and connectivity.&nbsp;&ldquo;There is tremendous opportunity to promote trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh,&rdquo; he said, adding that he would meet Bangladeshi business leaders during the visit and engage with students to strengthen youth-to-youth links.&nbsp;He highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s announcement of 500 scholarships for Bangladeshi students, calling it the foundation of a &ldquo;Bangladesh-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor.&rdquo;&nbsp;Shared sovereignty, shared challengesOn foreign policy, Iqbal stressed strategic autonomy and equal sovereignty as guiding principles, drawing parallels between Pakistan&rsquo;s and Bangladesh&rsquo;s political trajectories.&nbsp;&ldquo;Every country, no matter how small, has equal sovereignty,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We cannot accept hegemony on the basis of geography or power.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said both countries also share vulnerabilities to climate change, water security challenges and the need to build economic resilience, arguing that cooperation in climate adaptation, technology and skills development should be priorities. &quot;Both countries would like to see that international conventions for water should be respected. Recently, India has weaponized water from a controversial region. Which is not India, it occupied Jammu and Kashmir. And from there, it is weaponizing water. I think Bangladesh also would be closely watching these developments&quot;&nbsp;Cultural bridges and Iqbal AcademyBeyond economics and diplomacy, Iqbal pointed to cultural and intellectual links, proposing the revival of an Iqbal Academy in Bangladesh ahead of the 150th birth anniversary of philosopher-poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal next year.&nbsp;&ldquo;Iqbal is a common bridge between our people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;He gave South Asian Muslims a sense of identity and hope during colonial rule.&rdquo;&nbsp;With Bangladesh&rsquo;s new government taking office on the back of a strong electoral mandate and a voter-endorsed reform charter, both sides framed the moment as an opportunity to reset ties on pragmatic, forward-looking lines.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are not authors of the bitter past,&rdquo; Iqbal said. &ldquo;We are custodians of the future. History will judge us by the path we choose now.&rdquo;

Pakistan Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, speaks to Pakistan TV Digital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on February 17, 2026.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal in Dhaka says the country aims to expand trade, revive regional cooperation, and build stronger youth and cultural links with Bangladesh following its election and formation of the new government.

Pakistan minister signals PM visit intent as Bangladesh's new government takes office

DHAKA: Bangladesh&rsquo;s incoming leadership has placed the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at the center of its regional strategy, framing South Asian integration as both an economic necessity and a political priority following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)&rsquo;s sweeping election victory.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, BNP Standing Committee member and former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the party sees its sweeping mandate not as a victory, but as a responsibility entrusted by voters after years of disenfranchisement.&nbsp;&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t see this as a victory. We see this as a trust that the people have put on us,&rdquo; Chowdhury said, adding that restoring democratic order and economic stability would be the government&rsquo;s immediate focus.&nbsp;Chowdhury said the BNP believes Bangladesh historically turns to the party during periods of national difficulty, and argued that voters backed the BNP this time to deliver democratic transition, economic recovery and institutional reform.&nbsp;On foreign policy, he stressed that the BNP would pursue a non-aligned, multilateral approach rooted in national interest, rejecting any country-centric alignment.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our foreign policy is never country-centric. It is based on mutual respect, mutual interest, non-interference and strategic autonomy for Bangladesh,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Within that framework, Chowdhury identified Pakistan as an important regional partner, particularly in the broader push to revive South Asian cooperation.&nbsp;&ldquo;South Asian integration is very important. We are the least integrated region in the world, with only five to six percent intra-regional trade,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We need to integrate for the benefit of all countries in the region.&rdquo;&nbsp;He acknowledged that tensions between India and Pakistan have stalled SAARC in the past but insisted Dhaka would work to overcome political roadblocks. <figure id="isPasted"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/e267e889-0d1e-4fa6-9a78-25069b43d3a5-WhatsApp Image 2026-02-15 at 11.26.47 PM.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2026-02-15 at 11.26.47 PM.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP Standing Committee member and former commerce minister, speaks during an interview with Pakistan TV Digital in Dhaka on February 15, 2026, ahead of Bangladesh&#39;s incoming government swearing-in ceremony. (Pakistan TV Digital)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;&ldquo;It has been a problem, we have to admit it. But we have to work around it. Integration is a must for the future of South Asia,&rdquo; he said, citing trade, textiles, pharmaceuticals, connectivity and supply chains as shared regional priorities.&nbsp;Chowdhury also downplayed allegations of foreign propaganda and misinformation during the election period, saying external narratives had little bearing on the outcome.&nbsp;&ldquo;The people of Bangladesh are the ultimate judges. As long as there is no interference in our domestic affairs, what others say is their own business,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;On bilateral ties, Chowdhury confirmed that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had called BNP leader Tarique Rahman to congratulate him, underscoring what he described as improving regional engagement. He said neighbourhood diplomacy would remain central to the BNP&rsquo;s outlook.&nbsp;Domestically, Chowdhury outlined plans for wide-ranging economic reform, including deregulation, liberalization and restoring damaged institutions to attract investment and create jobs.&nbsp;&ldquo;Investment is the only thing that can drive the economy and create jobs,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Government&rsquo;s role is to facilitate, not to control.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that small and medium enterprises, youth employment, women and underprivileged groups would be covered under what he described as a holistic reform agenda, aligned with constitutional commitments to social welfare.&nbsp;On constitutional reform, Chowdhury said the outcome of the recent national referendum would now be debated in parliament.&nbsp;&ldquo;Now that we have an elected parliament, it will be placed there for discussion and decision,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;As Bangladesh prepares for a new government, the BNP is positioning regional integration, economic openness and institutional rebuilding as the pillars of what it calls a post-authoritarian reset, with SAARC&rsquo;s revival framed as both a strategic goal and a test of South Asia&rsquo;s political will.

Bangladesh

In a wide-ranging interview to Pakistan TV Digital ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury says voters’ mandate prioritizes democratic restoration, economic revival and South Asian integration.

Bangladesh’s incoming government signals regional reset, pushes SAARC revival

DHAKA: Bangladesh&rsquo;s prime minister-in-waiting Tarique Rahman on Saturday called for national unity and a reset in regional engagement, signaling renewed outreach across South Asia after his party&rsquo;s sweeping victory in the country&rsquo;s first competitive election since the 2024 uprising. &ldquo;Our paths and opinions may differ, but in the interest of the country, we must remain united,&rdquo; Rahman said at his first post-election press conference. &ldquo;National unity is a collective strength. Division is a weakness.&rdquo; Dedicating the victory to pro-democracy activists, Rahman said, &ldquo;This victory belongs to Bangladesh. It belongs to democracy. It belongs to the people who aspired to and sacrificed for democracy.&rdquo; Rahman&rsquo;s Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats, positioning him to form the next government after nearly two decades in political exile. Focus on India, Pakistan and SAARCPressed on relations with India, Rahman said Dhaka would prioritise strategic interests over ideology. &ldquo;We do not have country-centric policies,&rdquo; he told an Indian journalist. &ldquo;Our strategic interests come first. We prefer mutual, bilateral ties based on respect.&rdquo; On regional diplomacy, Rahman said Bangladesh would seek to revive the SAARC, noting Dhaka&rsquo;s historical role in launching the forum. &ldquo;As you know, SAARC was initiated by Bangladesh,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will try to re-initiate that process.&rdquo; Asked whether Bangladesh could act as a negotiating bridge between India and Pakistan following tensions after the May 2025 crisis, Rahman said regional stability remained a priority but stopped short of committing to formal mediation. On the sensitive question of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s status in India, Rahman said any decision would follow due process. &ldquo;The handing-over issue depends on legalities,&rdquo; he said. Domestic challenges acknowledgedRahman acknowledged the scale of challenges facing the incoming administration. &ldquo;We are about to begin our journey in a situation marked by a fragile economy left behind by an authoritarian regime, weakened constitutional institutions and a breakdown in law and order,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Restoring democracy is only the first step. Ensuring good governance is the real test.&rdquo; Responding to suggestions that his party&rsquo;s large majority could enable political &ldquo;engineering,&rdquo; Rahman rejected the claim. &ldquo;I think we engineered our campaign so that people would come out and vote,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We have been given a mandate by the people.&rdquo; He said the new government would listen closely to young voters while governing inclusively. &ldquo;Naturally we will listen to the youth, but we have other people in the country too, and we will take care of them as well.&rdquo; Election and reform&nbsp;Rahman&rsquo;s remarks came as Bangladesh concluded its 13th National Parliamentary Election, the first since a 2024 uprising ended 15 years of authoritarian rule. Final results show the BNP winning 209 seats outright, rising to 212 with allies. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats, rising to 77 with alliance partners, emerging as the largest opposition force. Overall voter turnout stood at 59.44%. Running alongside the election, voters also endorsed the July National Charter in a nationwide referendum. More than 70 million ballots were cast, with nearly 48 million voters, about two-thirds, backing constitutional reforms aimed at limiting executive power, strengthening judicial independence, and restructuring parliament. European Union observers described the elections as credible, calling them &ldquo;a pivotal step towards restoring democratic governance and the rule of law.&rdquo; From the opposition, Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman accepted the outcome, pledging to act as a &ldquo;vigilant, principled and peaceful opposition.&rdquo; Pakistan-Bangladesh tiesInternational reaction, particularly from Pakistan, framed the outcome as a milestone for democratic continuity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Rahman to congratulate him on what he termed a &ldquo;historic and resounding victory,&rdquo; reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. President Asif Ali Zardari also congratulated Rahman and the people of Bangladesh on the successful and peaceful conduct of the polls, while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would continue to engage Bangladesh &ldquo;on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect.&rdquo; With a clear mandate at home and reform legitimacy secured at the ballot box, Rahman now faces the task of translating electoral momentum into governance, while redefining Bangladesh&rsquo;s regional posture in a fractured South Asian landscape.

Tarique Rahman secures a commanding parliamentary majority as EU observers say Bangladesh’s vote is credible, competently managed and a pivotal step toward restoring democratic governance.

Bangladesh’s next PM signals regional reset, unity and SAARC revival in first address

DHAKA: Bangladesh&rsquo;s election has simultaneously reshaped political power and locked in constitutional reform, as voters handed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) a commanding parliamentary mandate while overwhelmingly approving a binding reform charter in a rare nationwide referendum. The vote, the first national election since a 2024 uprising ended years of political paralysis, was described as credible and competently managed by <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-election-commission-publishes-gazette-of-newly-elected-mps" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">international observers</a>, adding external validation to the country&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-jamaateislami-chief-recognizes-overall-outcome-of-election" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">democratic reset</a>. &ldquo;The 2026 parliamentary elections were credible and competently managed, marking a pivotal step towards restoring democratic governance and rule of law,&rdquo; said Ivars Ijabs, head of the European Union observer mission, speaking to reporters on Saturday. Final results of the 13th National Parliamentary Election show the BNP emerging as the dominant force in parliament, while voters also endorsed the July National Charter. A reform package designed to prevent a return to authoritarian rule and restructure core institutions of the state. According to the Election Commission (EC), voting was held in 299 of 300 constituencies, with results declared in 297. The BNP won 209 seats outright, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats. Smaller parties and independents filled the remaining seats. Overall voter turnout stood at 59.44%. With alliance partners included, the BNP&rsquo;s total rises to 212 seats, while Jamaat&rsquo;s tally increases to 77 seats, giving it a significantly enlarged role as the main opposition in the new parliament. Running in parallel with the election, the national referendum on the July National Charter drew more than 70 million votes, with turnout at 60.26%. Official results show about 48 million voters, roughly 68%, backed the reforms, while nearly 23 million voted against. A government gazette notification, signed by Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and issued on Friday night, confirmed that the referendum outcome makes the reform charter binding on parties that form the next government. Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus congratulated BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on what he described as a decisive and historic mandate. &ldquo;The clear mandate delivered by the people in this historic democratic transition marks a significant milestone for the country&#39;s constitutional continuity, democratic consolidation and institutional stability,&rdquo; Yunus said in a written message. Expressing confidence in the incoming leadership, he added that Rahman would guide Bangladesh toward &ldquo;a stable, inclusive and development-oriented trajectory,&rdquo; grounded in democratic values, the rule of law, and accountable governance. From the opposition benches, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman announced that his party would accept the results and operate as a responsible opposition. &ldquo;We accept the overall results and respect the rule of law,&rdquo; he said in a public statement, describing the party&rsquo;s expanded presence in parliament as &ldquo;a foundation, not a setback.&rdquo; International reaction, particularly from Pakistan, framed the outcome as a milestone for democratic continuity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Rahman to congratulate him on what he termed a &ldquo;historic and resounding victory,&rdquo; reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. President Asif Ali Zardari also congratulated Rahman and the people of Bangladesh on the successful and peaceful conduct of the polls, while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would continue to engage Bangladesh &ldquo;on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect.&rdquo; With electoral legitimacy restored, reforms approved by popular vote, and both winners and opposition accepting the verdict, Bangladesh closes its election chapter with a rebalanced political order and a constitutionally anchored path forward.

European Union observers called Bangladesh’s polls credible as voters delivered a landslide parliamentary mandate and simultaneously endorsed sweeping constitutional reforms through a nationwide referendum with turnout.

Bangladesh vote resets power balance, backs reforms after years of upheaval

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a majority of more than two-thirds of the seats in parliamentary polls, the Election Commission said on Friday. Election Commission figures said the BNP alliance had won 212 seats, compared with 77 for the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, Commission senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters, according to AFP.&nbsp; Turnout was 59%. A referendum on a sweeping democratic charter was endorsed by 60%of voters. The BNP has emerged with a decisive parliamentary majority as counting continues from Dhaka&rsquo;s landmark general election, the first since a deadly 2024 uprising ended years of one-party dominance. According to the latest unofficial results, the BNP has won&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-votes-amid-tight-security-as-polling-begins-in-landmark-election" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(41, 105, 176);" rel="noopener noreferrer">198 seats</a>,&nbsp;while Jamaat-e-Islami secured 62 seats. The youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP) won two seats, with results in several constituencies still pending or withheld on legal grounds. Polling concluded on Thursday evening, with hand counting beginning immediately under heavy security. The vote is widely seen as Bangladesh&rsquo;s most competitive election in nearly two decades, following the student-led uprising that forced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024. The BNP, returning to power after nearly 20 years, urged restraint despite its strong showing. In a statement, the party said no victory rallies would be held, calling instead for nationwide prayers.&ldquo;Despite winning by a large margin, no celebratory procession or rally shall be organised,&rdquo; the statement said, citing the party&rsquo;s responsibility to preserve stability. A clear outcome had been viewed as critical for the Muslim-majority nation of roughly 170 million people, after months of unrest disrupted daily life and key industries, including garments, Bangladesh&rsquo;s largest export sector. BNP leader Tarique Rahman, who returned from years in exile late last year, is widely expected to lead the next government. The transition was overseen by interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who assumed office after Hasina fled the country. At the BNP headquarters in Dhaka, supporters gathered overnight as the scale of the party&rsquo;s victory became apparent. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman struck a conciliatory tone, saying his party would accept the outcome if the prevailing trend held. &ldquo;We will do positive politics,&rdquo; he told reporters, adding that national interest would remain the party&rsquo;s priority. The Election Commission said results in three constituencies, Sherpur-2, Chittagong-2 and Chittagong-4, have been temporarily withheld due to pending legal cases involving winning candidates. &ldquo;The commission is legally obligated to withhold publication of results until final disposal of the relevant cases,&rdquo; said EC official Md Shahidul Islam. Turnout appeared higher than in the previous election, with officials earlier reporting participation approaching the mid-40% range by late afternoon. Voting was held in 299 constituencies, with one seat postponed following a candidate&rsquo;s death. 59% voter turnout&nbsp; Voter turnout in the 13th National Parliamentary Election held on February 12 reached 59.44%, according to the Election Commission of Bangladesh (EC). The information was released on Friday at 11:30 a.m. through a brief statement by Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of the EC&rsquo;s Public Relations Division. Several parties raised concerns after preliminary results were announced. The NCP demanded recounts in multiple constituencies, alleging discrepancies between centre-level counts, media tallies and official announcements. &ldquo;We are getting clear evidence of result tampering aimed at top candidates,&rdquo; NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said at a late-night press conference. Despite these challenges, senior BNP figures framed the outcome as a mandate accompanied by responsibility. BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the party would avoid triumphalism. &ldquo;We have many responsibilities ahead,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We do not want to create any tension through celebratory rallies.&rdquo; Alongside the parliamentary vote, a nationwide referendum on constitutional reforms was held, proposing term limits for prime ministers, stronger judicial independence and changes to parliamentary structure. Official results of the referendum have yet to be announced. International reactionsRegional and international leaders moved quickly to respond to the outcome of Bangladesh&rsquo;s landmark election, praising the peaceful conduct of the vote and the clear result. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated BNP leader Rahman on the party&rsquo;s landslide victory and extended greetings to the people of Bangladesh for what he described as a successful and orderly election. In a statement, Zardari said Pakistan &ldquo;felicitates Tarique Rahman on the decisive mandate&rdquo; and congratulated Bangladesh&rsquo;s citizens for participating in peaceful polls, reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s support for democratic governance and closer bilateral cooperation.<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=2022139603470495866&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e79a25569e508f448e776fe8581c4fedba454a27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 322px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He said Pakistan looked forward to strengthening ties &ldquo;based on shared democratic values and mutual progress.&rdquo; Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on X on Friday, stated: &quot;I extend my warmest felicitations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading the BNP to a resounding victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. I also congratulate the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the elections.&quot; &quot;I look forward to working closely with the new Bangladesh leadership to further strengthen our historic, brotherly multifaceted bilateral relations and advance our shared goals of peace, stability, and development in South Asia and beyond.&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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2022158528757350813&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e79a25569e508f448e776fe8581c4fedba454a27&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The United States also welcomed the result, offering congratulations to both voters and the winning party. &ldquo;Congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on a successful election, and to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Tarique Rahman on your historic victory,&rdquo; the US embassy in Dhaka said in a statement. It added that Washington &ldquo;looks forward to working with the new leadership to advance shared goals of prosperity, security and regional stability.&rdquo; As counting continues and final results are certified, analysts say the coming days will test whether Bangladesh&rsquo;s post-uprising transition delivers political stability and restores public trust in democratic institutions.

According to Election Commission figures, the BNP alliance wins 212 seats, compared with 77 for the Jamaat-e-Islami–led alliance; voter turnout stands at 59%, and a referendum on a sweeping democratic charter is endorsed by 60% of voters.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party wins election: Official results

Electoral officials sort ballots as counting starts at a polling station during Bangladesh's general election in Dhaka on February 12, 2026. Counting began on February 12 in Bangladesh's first election since a deadly 2024 uprising, with powerful political

Ballots are being hand-counted nationwide after polling closed peacefully, with nearly 48% turnout by afternoon and international observers monitoring credibility amid tight security.

Counting underway in first Bangladesh polls since deadly uprising

DHAKA: On the eve of Bangladesh&rsquo;s 13th parliamentary election, the capital feels unusually still. Streets that are normally choked with rickshaws, buses, and pedestrians are noticeably empty. Shops are shuttered, offices closed, and public transport thinned out, as the country observes a government-declared holiday ahead of polling.&nbsp;Dhaka, one of the world&rsquo;s busiest and most densely populated cities, is taking a pause. Security personnel patrol intersections and outside polling centres, while election officials make last-minute preparations, stacking ballot papers, checking voter lists, and securing transparent ballot boxes. For most residents, life has slowed; for those running the vote, work has intensified.&nbsp;Inside the Election Commission headquarters, however, the atmosphere is a stark contrast. The building is a hive of activity, crowded with domestic and international journalists, election staff, and observers from around the world. Television crews set up live positions, while staff coordinate logistics and field queries from returning officers across the country.&nbsp;Departure from past pollsBangladesh&rsquo;s 13th Jatiya Sangsad election represents a marked departure from recent voting history, with broad participation by opposition parties and heightened voter expectations following years of one-sided polls dominated by the now-banned Awami League.&nbsp;For more than a decade under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, elections were defined by opposition boycotts, arrests of senior leaders, and low-competition races. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) stayed away from the 2014 election entirely and formally boycotted the 2024 polls, while Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) was barred from electoral politics for years. As a result, voter turnout and political competition were widely questioned.&nbsp;&ldquo;This election is fundamentally different from the last three,&rdquo; said Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah. &ldquo;There is real competition in most constituencies, and voters have meaningful choices.&rdquo;&nbsp;In the 2024 election, the Awami League and its allies won an overwhelming majority after the BNP refused to participate, calling the polls &ldquo;illegitimate.&rdquo; According to the Election Commission, turnout was around 41%, though opposition groups disputed the figure and described voter participation as much lower.&nbsp;The 2018 election, in which the BNP did contest, was marred by allegations of vote rigging, intimidation and overnight ballot stuffing. International observers and rights groups raised concerns, and the credibility of the outcome was sharply contested. Analysts noted that opposition supporters often stayed away because the outcome felt predetermined.&nbsp;&ldquo;People stayed home not because they were apathetic, but because the outcome felt predetermined,&rdquo; said Dhaka-based political analyst Ali Riaz. &ldquo;Turnout reflected the absence of trust, not the absence of interest.&rdquo;&nbsp;Opposition returns, ruling party absentThis election reverses that pattern. The Awami League has been barred from contesting after the Election Commission suspended its registration, while 51 political parties, including the BNP and candidates linked to Jamaat-e-Islami, are actively contesting seats. More than 2,000 candidates are in the race, including hundreds of independents.&nbsp;BNP leaders say the party&rsquo;s return to the ballot has reactivated its voter base.&nbsp;&ldquo;For the first time in years, our supporters believe their vote will matter,&rdquo; BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters. &ldquo;That belief is the single biggest driver of turnout.&rdquo;&nbsp;While Jamaat-e-Islami is not contesting under its former banner, candidates linked to the party are running as independents or under allied platforms. Party leaders say their supporters, long excluded from formal politics, are motivated to re-engage.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is the first election in years where Jamaat supporters feel politically visible again,&rdquo; said a senior party figure, speaking on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;Voter expectations and youth engagementVoter expectations have also shifted. Instead of choosing between participation and boycott, citizens are weighing party platforms, candidates&rsquo; credibility, and post-election stability. Interviews with voters in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rajshahi suggest high, though cautious, &nbsp;optimism.&nbsp;&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t vote in the last election,&rdquo; Rahima Begum, a 32-year-old garment worker in Gazipur, told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;There was no point. This time, I want to vote because the Awami League is not there, and the result feels open.&rdquo;&nbsp;Younger voters, many of whom reached voting age after 2018, see the election as their first meaningful political exercise. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus acknowledged this sentiment in a televised address on Tuesday, calling the vote &ldquo;the first national election following a mass uprising.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Through your ballots, the demands once voiced on the streets will now be expressed constitutionally,&rdquo; Yunus said.&nbsp;Turnout expectations and stakesElection officials have not issued turnout projections but privately acknowledge that participation is expected to be higher than in 2024, driven by competitive races and opposition participation.&nbsp;Political scientist Meghna Guhathakurta said turnout this time will be driven less by party loyalty and more by uncertainty.&nbsp;&ldquo;When outcomes are uncertain, turnout rises,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This election has uncertainty, not because one party dominates, but because several forces are competing.&rdquo;&nbsp;Analysts caution that participation alone will not guarantee legitimacy.&nbsp;&ldquo;Turnout will matter,&rdquo; said Riaz, &ldquo;but credibility will depend on whether voters believe the process was fair, the count accurate, and power transferred peacefully.&rdquo;

Asia

Dhaka pauses ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, marked by broad opposition participation and the absence of the Awami League. Officials expect a higher turnout, as voters weigh uncertainty, credibility, and hopes for a fair process.

Dhaka holds its breath as Bangladesh prepares for historic election

We break down what&rsquo;s actually changing from NATO and the United Nations to China&rsquo;s rising influence and the choices facing middle powers and ask a bigger question: Are we witnessing the end of the old-world order, or the beginning of something new?&nbsp;The world feels more unpredictable than it has in decades. Alliances are being questioned, new power centers are emerging, and the rules that once shaped global politics no longer hold as they once did.

Dossier with Ayesha

The video explains changes in NATO and the United Nations, explores choices facing middle powers, and asks whether the old world order is ending or a new one is beginning.

Dossier | Is the world order changing?

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is set for a major fleet expansion and service overhaul as its new private owners map out an ambitious plan to grow the national carrier from 18 operational aircraft to 60 within five years, following the formal signing of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pia-revival-to-ride-on-talent-global-expertise-and-strategic-growth-arif-habib" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">privatization</a>&nbsp;agreements. Speaking with Pakistan TV Digital,&nbsp;Arif Habib, chairman of the consortium that acquired a <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/all-eyes-on-pia-as-pakistan-begins-highstakes-privatization" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">controlling</a> stake in PIA, said the immediate focus will be on restoring aircraft already grounded, expanding capacity through leased planes, and placing long-term orders with major manufacturers to rebuild the airline&rsquo;s network and competitiveness. A consortium led by the Arif Habib Group recently acquired a 75%&nbsp;stake in PIA, investing <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pia-privatization-concludes-with-135-billion-rupee-winning-bid-after-bidding-war" target="_blank">Rs135 billion</a> ($482 million) through a structured,&nbsp;competitive bidding process. The deal values the national carrier at Rs180 billion ($643 million) and marks a significant step in revitalizing the airline, which has faced financial challenges in the past. &ldquo;By the end of the current year, we will be able to take the fleet from 18 aircraft to 24,&rdquo; Habib told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;Within three years, we plan to increase it to 38 aircraft, and within five years, we are targeting a fleet of 60 aircraft.&rdquo; The expansion plan comes as the government formally concluded the legal phase of PIA&rsquo;s privatization, signing the share purchase and shareholders&rsquo; agreements with the winning consortium. Muhammad Ali, chairman of Pakistan&rsquo;s Privatization Commission, said the transaction marked a turning point for an airline that had been a sustained burden on public finances. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HXGmRNl5zrE" title="Privatization Commission chief explains how PIA handover is underway" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe>&nbsp;</div> &ldquo;The bidding was completed on Dec. 23, but after that, we needed time to finalize complex legal agreements and meet several conditions,&rdquo; Ali said. &ldquo;Today, the agreements are signed, and the handover will take approximately 90 more days.&rdquo; Ali said PIA had incurred average annual losses of around Rs50 billion ($179 million) over the past decade, with losses totaling roughly Rs650 billion ($2.33 billion) ultimately borne by taxpayers. &ldquo;Now, the government is not responsible for any loss,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Inshallah, the private sector management will make it more efficient and profitable.&rdquo; Habib said the consortium&rsquo;s strategy recognizes the tight global aircraft market, where new plane deliveries are currently projected several years out. &ldquo;If you order a new aircraft today, delivery is available around 2031 or 2032,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We are in negotiations with Boeing and Airbus so that, alongside new orders, we can acquire five- to ten-year-old aircraft on lease until the new planes arrive.&rdquo; In parallel, the new owners plan to revive aircraft currently out of service. &ldquo;Within six to eight months, we believe we will be able to bring back about eight aircraft that are not operational at the moment,&rdquo; Habib said. Beyond fleet numbers, Habib emphasized that improving passenger experience would be an early priority. &ldquo;Our plan is to improve services for users, cleaning, cabin services, check-in counters, uniforms, catering, seats, and overall presentation,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will put in new carpets, new seats, improve in-flight entertainment, and ensure that the attitude of cabin staff is more user-friendly.&rdquo; The expansion is expected to support higher flight frequencies on key international routes, particularly long-haul destinations with strong demand. Habib said the consortium aims to increase services to destinations such as the United Kingdom and Canada, where current operations are limited. &ldquo;There is a lot of demand, especially for long-haul flights, and we want to increase frequencies, including moving toward daily flights on certain routes,&rdquo; he said. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, the privatization chairman said the transaction also sends a broader message about Pakistan&rsquo;s reform agenda, underscoring the government&rsquo;s resolve to push ahead with privatization and to implement complex economic reforms through transparent and competitive processes. &ldquo;This deal shows that Pakistan is serious about privatization and that the government has the capacity and the will to execute complex transactions,&rdquo; Ali said, adding that the process was conducted through open, competitive bidding with strict financial and technical requirements. He also underscored the role of domestic investors. &ldquo;This transaction has shown that local entrepreneurs believe in Pakistan,&rdquo; Ali said. &ldquo;It sets a strong precedent for future privatizations.&rdquo; For Habib, the revival of PIA carries both commercial and symbolic importance. &ldquo;PIA is a national airline, and people&rsquo;s sentiments are attached to it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We consider it a matter of national pride to restore an airline that once had a leading position globally.&rdquo; As the transition period begins, both the government and the new owners say coordination will be critical to ensure regulatory approvals, management continuity and a smooth transfer of control, laying the groundwork for what they describe as a new growth phase for Pakistan&rsquo;s flag carrier.

Talking to Pakistan TV Digital, Arif Habib says the new owners plan to expand PIA’s fleet, revive grounded aircraft, improve services and restore the national airline’s global reach.

From 18 to 60 aircraft: New owners unveil PIA expansion plan

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Bangladesh government will pilot the distribution of 500,000 Krishak Smart Cards to farmers in 15 upazilas (sub-districts) within 180 days as part of a 2023-28 development program.&nbsp; If successful, the initiative will expand nationwide,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-signals-push-to-revitalize-saarc" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bangladeshi</a>&nbsp;media reported on Thursday. The program aims to register 22.7 million&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/govt-aims-to-launch-family-card-scheme-before-eid-bangladeshi-relief-minister" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">farmers</a>&nbsp;nationwide by 2028.&nbsp;Digital card system&nbsp;A meeting chaired by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-vows-to-reform-policies-attract-foreign-investment-in-jute-sector" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Prime Minister Tarique Rahman</a>&nbsp;in Dhaka on Monday directed authorities to roll out the digital card system as part of a technology-driven support framework for farmers. Abul Kalam Azad, coordinator of the PARTNER programme, said the Food and Agriculture Organization is collecting data to prepare the beneficiary list.&nbsp; Once the FAO submits the data and the feasibility study is complete, the Department of Agricultural Extension will finalize the beneficiary list and select the upazilas.&nbsp;Financial, logistical incentives&nbsp;The card will initially register 500,000 farmers, including landless peasants, small and medium farmers, lessees, and landowners.&nbsp; Cardholders will be able to access financial and logistical incentives, agricultural advisories, weather information and other services. If the pilot proves successful, nationwide registration will follow.&nbsp; The PARTNER project, launched in 2023, has a total budget of $1.343 billion, funded by the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Bangladesh government.

The program aims to register 22.7 million farmers across the country by 2028; a meeting chaired by PM Rahman in Dhaka directed authorities to roll out the digital card system for farmers. Cardholders will be able to access financial and logistical incentives, agricultural advisories, weather information and other services.

Bangladesh to distribute 0.5M farmer cards in 180 days

TEHRAN: Iran&#39;s President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated on Thursday that Tehran was not seeking a nuclear weapon, in a speech ahead of talks with the United States in Switzerland. The talks follow a massive military build-up by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-presses-missile-issue-as-new-iran-talks-to-open-in-geneva" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">United States</a>&nbsp;in the region not seen in decades, and with President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening strikes should talks fail. &quot;Our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-rejects-us-claims-on-missile-programme-as-big-lies" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Supreme Leader</a>&nbsp;has already stated that we will not have nuclear weapons at all,&quot;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/irans-top-diplomat-leaves-for-geneva-for-talks-with-us" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pezeshkian</a>&nbsp;said, in a reference to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. &quot;Even if I wanted to move in that direction, I could not -- from a doctrinal standpoint, I would not be permitted.&quot; &quot;If they (the US) strike us, a hundred more like us will rise and run the country. If we stand together and join hands, no power will be able to bring us to a standstill,&quot; said Pezeshkian.

Middle East

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterates on Thursday that Tehran is not seeking nuclear weapons in line with the policy set by the country’s Supreme Leader.

Iran president says ahead of US talks not seeking nuclear weapon 'at all'

ISLAMABAD: The US has levied a preliminary countervailing duty (CVD) of 126% on specific Indian solar products, citing unfair subsidies, according to an Indian media report.&nbsp;This move is expected to disrupt the growing momentum of solar exports from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/global-ai-summit-in-india-still-without-final-statement" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">India&nbsp;</a>to the US and raise concerns about increasing domestic competition and regulatory uncertainty. On Feb. 24, the US Department of Commerce announced its preliminary affirmative determination in investigations into imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/potholes-killed-over-9400-from-2020-to-2024-in-india" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">India</a>.&nbsp; The investigation also includes parallel anti-dumping probes into solar cells from these countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;Final determination&nbsp;A final determination in the countervailing duty investigations is scheduled for July 6. The new duties come at a time when the US already imposed a 10% across-the-board tariff under the Trump administration, further complicating trade relations. Despite the steep tariff, many leading Indian solar manufacturers have downplayed the immediate impact.&nbsp;&nbsp;Impact on market dynamics&nbsp;However, analysts warn that the duties could disrupt trade flows, put downward pressure on domestic prices, and affect overall profitability.&nbsp; Rating agency Icra highlighted that increased regulatory uncertainty could dampen export volumes, which stood at 3 GW in 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;Solar stocks&nbsp;Crisil Intelligence added that Indian modules could become at least 30% more expensive than US-made ones, potentially impacting market dynamics. Following the announcement, solar stocks in India dropped sharply, with Waaree Energies falling 10.47%, Premier Energies 6.27%, and Vikram Solar 5.45%, the Indian media report said.

India

On Feb. 24, the US Department of Commerce announced its preliminary affirmative determination in investigations into imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from India; final determination in countervailing duty investigations is scheduled for July 6.

US imposes 126% duty on Indian solar exports, raising trade concerns

HAVANA: Cuba said Wednesday it thwarted an attempted armed infiltration from the United States, after its coast guard opened fire on a Florida-registered speedboat near the island&rsquo;s northern coast, killing four people and wounding six. In a statement, Cuba&rsquo;s Interior Ministry said the vessel was intercepted about one nautical mile from Cayo Falcones island. As Cuban authorities approached, &ldquo;shots were fired from the illegal speedboat,&rdquo; injuring the commander of the Cuban patrol craft. &ldquo;As a result of the clash, at the time of this report, on the foreign side, four aggressors were killed and six others were wounded,&rdquo; the ministry said, adding that the injured were evacuated and provided medical assistance. The ministry said assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails and other military-style equipment were recovered from the vessel, registered in Florida under the number FL7726SH. The 10 occupants were identified as Cubans living in the United States. Those arrested after the exchange of gunfire claimed they &ldquo;intended to carry out an infiltration for the purposes of terrorism,&rdquo; according to Cuban authorities. In a subsequent statement, the ministry released the names of seven of the individuals and said most had prior records in Cuba for &ldquo;criminal and violent activity.&rdquo; &nbsp;A man allegedly sent from the United States to participate in the operation was arrested on Cuban soil and confessed, it added. The incident marks a fresh source of tension between Havana and Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was seeking its own account of events and would &ldquo;respond accordingly.&rdquo; &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to base our conclusions on what they&rsquo;ve (Cuba) told us, and I&rsquo;m very, very confident that we will know the full story of what happened here,&rdquo; Rubio told reporters during a visit to St. Kitts and Nevis. &ldquo;As we gather more information, then we&rsquo;ll be prepared to respond accordingly.&rdquo; Florida&rsquo;s attorney general ordered an investigation into the killings. The state lies just 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Cuba across the Florida Straits and has long been a focal point for Cuban migration. Cuban authorities frequently report incursions by speedboats from the United States into their territorial waters. Such incidents are often linked to people-smuggling or drug trafficking and have at times involved chases and armed confrontations with border guards. The shootings come amid broader strains between the two countries. President Donald Trump in January imposed a sweeping oil blockade on Cuba following the US ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, a key ally of Havana. Before Maduro&rsquo;s removal on Jan. 3, Cuba relied on Venezuela for roughly half of its fuel needs. Facing pressure from Caribbean leaders concerned that severe fuel shortages could destabilize the island&rsquo;s economy, Washington later said it would allow limited shipments of Venezuelan oil for &ldquo;commercial and humanitarian use,&rdquo; provided they went through private entities rather than the Cuban government or military-controlled businesses. Cuba&rsquo;s economy, already weakened by decades of US trade restrictions dating back to the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro, has been pushed to the brink in recent months. Chronic shortages of food and medicine and daily blackouts have fueled an exodus of Cubans, many heading to southern Florida. Mexico this week dispatched two military vessels carrying nearly 2,200 tons of aid to the island, its second shipment in under a month, while Canada announced Can$8 million ($5.8 million) in additional assistance on Wednesday.

Cuban coast guard ships docked at the port of Havana on February 25, 2026.(AFP)

Americas

Cuba says it killed four and wounded six people aboard a Florida-registered speedboat, describing it as armed and planning a terrorist infiltration after an exchange of gunfire near its northern coast, escalating tensions with the United States.

Cuba kills four on US-registered speedboat trying to 'infiltrate'

KYIV: US President Donald Trump spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of a fresh round of talks Thursday aimed at ending Russia&#39;s invasion, both sides said on Wednesday. A White House official gave AFP no further details about the call, which came a day before Ukrainian and US envoys were to meet, and ahead of new trilateral talks with Russia expected in early March. But Zelensky wrote on social media that he had spoken with Trump, and that his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were on the call. &quot;Our teams work intensively and I thanked them for all their work and for their active involvement in the negotiations and the efforts to end the war,&quot; he added. According to Ukrainian presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, the conversation &quot;lasted about 30 minutes.&quot; Ukraine&#39;s lead negotiator Rustem Umerov will meet Witkoff and Kushner in Geneva on Thursday, Kyiv announced. Russian state news agency Tass later said that the Kremlin&#39;s economic affairs envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, also plans to be in the city. &quot;Dmitriev plans to arrive in Geneva on Thursday to pursue negotiations with the Americans on economic issues,&quot; it cited an unnamed source as saying. The meetings are the latest round of negotiations spearheaded by Trump that so far have failed to make meaningful progress on ending Europe&#39;s deadliest conflict since World War II. Washington is pushing to bring an end to the war triggered by Russia&#39;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, which has left hundreds of thousands of dead and destroyed swathes of territory, particularly in eastern and southern Ukraine. Preparatory talks&nbsp;Zelensky said his call with Trump &quot;discussed the issues that our representatives will address tomorrow in Geneva during the bilateral meeting, as well as preparations for the next meeting of the full negotiating teams in a trilateral format at the very beginning of March.&quot; &quot;We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders&#39; level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps. This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war,&quot; he added. The Ukrainian leader has already said that a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, should take place to resolve the most difficult issues in the talks. The talks, based on an American plan unveiled at the end of last year, are deadlocked primarily on the fate of the Donbas, the industrial region in eastern Ukraine that has been the epicenter of the fighting. Russia is pushing for full control of Ukraine&#39;s eastern Donetsk region, and has threatened to take it by force if Kyiv does not cave at the negotiating table. But Ukraine has rejected the demand and signaled it would not sign a deal without security guarantees that deter Russia from invading again.

Europe

Ukraine's lead negotiator Rustem Umerov will meet Witkoff and Kushner in Geneva on Thursday; Russian state news agency says Kremlin's economic affairs envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, also plans to be in the city.

Trump, Zelensky speak before Ukraine-US talks in Geneva

GENEVA: The United States and Iran are set to hold indirect talks in Switzerland on Thursday, aiming to strike a deal to avert a fresh conflict and end weeks of threats. The new round of negotiations in Geneva comes after the US carried out a massive military build-up in the region and President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to strike Iran if a deal is not reached. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of &quot;pursuing sinister nuclear ambitions.&quot; He also claimed Tehran had &quot;already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they&#39;re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.&quot; The Iranian foreign ministry called these claims &quot;big lies.&quot; The maximum range of Iran&#39;s missiles is 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) according to what Tehran has publicly disclosed. However, the US Congressional Research Service estimates they top out at about 3,000 kilometers &mdash; less than a third of the distance to the continental United States. The dispute between the countries mostly revolves around Iran&#39;s nuclear program, which the West believes is aimed at building an atomic bomb but Tehran insists is peaceful. However, the US has also been pushing to discuss Iran&#39;s ballistic missile program, as well as Tehran&#39;s support for armed groups hostile towards Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran must also negotiate on its missile program, calling Tehran&#39;s refusal to discuss ballistic weapons &quot;a big, big problem&quot; on the eve of the talks. He followed up by saying, &quot;the president wants diplomatic solutions.&quot; Iran has taken anything beyond the nuclear issue off the negotiating table and has demanded that the US sanctions crippling its economy be part of any agreement. &#39;Neither war nor peace&#39;&nbsp;Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday he had a &quot;favorable outlook for the negotiations&quot; that could finally &quot;move beyond this &#39;neither war nor peace&#39; situation.&quot; Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is leading the Iranian delegation at the talks, has called them &quot;a historic opportunity,&quot; adding that a deal was &quot;within reach.&quot; The US will be represented by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is married to Trump&#39;s daughter Ivanka. The two countries held talks earlier this month in Oman, which is mediating the negotiations, then gathered for a second round in Geneva last week. A previous attempt at negotiations collapsed when Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran last June, beginning a 12-day war that Washington briefly joined to bomb Iranian nuclear sites. In January, fresh tensions between the US and Iran emerged after Tehran engaged in a crackdown on widespread protests that have posed one of the greatest challenges to the Islamic republic since its inception. Trump has threatened several times to intervene to &quot;help&quot; the Iranian people. Emile Hokayem, a senior fellow for Middle East security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said, &quot;The region seems to expect a war at this point.&quot; In January, there was &quot;a big push by a number of Middle Eastern states to convince the US not to&quot; strike Iran. &quot;But there&#39;s a lot of apprehension at this point, because the expectation is that this time, a war would be &quot;bigger&quot; than the one in June.

The new round of negotiations in Geneva comes after the US carried out a massive military build-up in the region; President Trump has threatened to strike Iran if a deal is not reached, accuses Iran of 'pursuing sinister nuclear ambitions.'

US presses missile issue as new Iran talks to open in Geneva

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suggested his country could &quot;get along&quot; with the United States but declared that South Korea &mdash; Washington&#39;s security ally &mdash; remained its &quot;most hostile&quot; enemy, state media reported Thursday. Kim made the remarks at the end of a landmark party congress, urging Washington to respect Pyongyang&#39;s status as a nuclear power. His words came as speculation grows that US President Donald Trump may seek some kind of meeting with Kim on the sidelines of a visit to China in April. If Washington &quot;respects our country&#39;s current status as stipulated in the Constitution ... and withdraws its hostile policy ... there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the United States,&quot; Kim said, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). But he appeared to close the door on any notion of building closer ties with South Korea, saying he would &quot;permanently exclude&quot; Seoul as one of his nation&#39;s &quot;compatriots.&quot; North Korea has &quot;absolutely no business dealing with South Korea, its most hostile entity,&quot; Kim said, calling Seoul&#39;s recent dovish efforts &quot;deceptive.&quot; Pyongyang amended its constitution in 2024 to define South Korea as a &quot;hostile state&quot; for the first time. A &quot;grand&quot; military parade marked the end of the Workers&#39; Party congress, a once-in-five-years event that directs state efforts on everything from foreign policy to war planning. North Korea has used such parades in the past to show off its newest weapons, offering a rare source of insight into the strength of its armed forces. Trump overtures&nbsp;US President Donald Trump stepped up his courtship of Kim during a tour of Asia last year, saying he was &quot;100%&quot; open to a meeting. Trump even bucked decades of US policy by conceding that North Korea was &quot;sort of a nuclear power.&quot; A Trump-Kim meeting in April would mark a major breakthrough after years of deadlocked diplomacy following the collapse of their 2019 summit in Hanoi over sanctions relief and what Pyongyang would be willing to give up from its nuclear arsenal in return. Kim appeared alongside China&#39;s Xi Jinping and Russia&#39;s Vladimir Putin at a grand military parade in Beijing last year &mdash; a striking display of his powerful friends and elevated status in global politics. Pyongyang has particularly drawn much closer to Moscow, sending thousands of troops to aid Russia&#39;s war against Ukraine. Analysts say Russia is giving North Korea military technology, food, and energy supplies in return, allowing it to sidestep tough international sanctions. &quot;With Moscow now providing a substantial economic lifeline &mdash; effectively neutralizing the bite of UN sanctions &mdash; Kim Jong Un no longer feels the same urgency to respond&quot; to Washington&#39;s dialogue gestures, Seong-Hyon Lee, a visiting scholar at the Harvard University Asia Center, told AFP.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says if Washington 'respects our country's current status as stipulated in the Constitution ... and withdraws its hostile policy ... there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the United States'.

North Korea says willing to 'get along' with US if acknowledged as nuclear power

Web Desk/AFP

JERUSALEM: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that his country stood &quot;firmly&quot; with Israel following the war in Gaza, which resulted in the death of more than 70,000 Palestinians.&nbsp; Modi also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indias-modi-heads-to-israel-to-strengthen-cooperation" style="color:#0073e6;">two-day visit</a> aimed at deepening trade and defense ties that have drawn criticism at home. &quot;India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond.&quot; In his speech, Modi did not explicitly mention the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza during the more than two-year bombardment of Gaza. Speaking to the Knesset, Modi also told Israeli lawmakers that his country&#39;s economic growth and Israel&#39;s leadership in technological innovation formed a &quot;natural foundation for our forward-looking partnership.&quot; &quot;I see a lot of synergies in areas such as quantum technologies, semiconductors and artificial intelligence,&quot; he added. Netanyahu told Modi that &quot;India supports Israel because it understands that Israel serves as a defensive wall,&quot; adding that his visit will allow them to &quot;further reinforce our ties.&quot; It is Modi&#39;s second visit to Israel as prime minister since he took office in 2014. &#39;A real friendship&#39; Earlier on Wednesday, a red carpet was rolled out at Israel&#39;s Ben Gurion airport and Modi was greeted with a hug by Netanyahu as he disembarked the plane. &quot;The two leaders share a special and a personal relationship,&quot; Shosh Bedrosian, spokeswoman for Netanyahu&#39;s office, said in a video posted on X. &quot;The bond between Israel and India is a powerful alliance as we are partners in innovation, security and a shared strategic vision,&quot; she added. Netanyahu&#39;s office said the two right-wing leaders held a private meeting after the welcoming ceremony, with the Israeli premier hailing &quot;a real friendship.&quot; In a post on X, Modi described the meeting as &quot;excellent.&quot; &quot;We discussed a wide range of topics aimed at deepening and strengthening the bilateral relations between our two countries,&quot; he said. The pair &quot;held an in-depth conversation about major developments in the region,&quot; he added. Modi is also scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog during the visit. New Delhi has steadily expanded cooperation with Israel across the defense, agriculture, technology, and cybersecurity sectors, while balancing diplomatic interests in the Middle East. Full diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992. Ties deepened after Hindu-nationalist leader Modi took office in 2014. Criticism at home Modi first visited Israel as prime minister in 2017, before Netanyahu made a reciprocal visit to India the following year. In 2023, grand plans were unveiled in New Delhi for an India&ndash;Middle East&ndash;Europe Economic Corridor to link railways, ports, electricity, data networks, and pipelines, including through Saudi Arabia and Israel. Those plans were stalled by Israel&rsquo;s devastating war in the Gaza Strip. Months after his 2017 visit to Israel, Modi travelled to Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority. His current visit has sparked criticism at home. Senior Congress party figure Priyanka Gandhi &mdash; sister of opposition leader Rahul &mdash; posted on social media on Wednesday that she hoped Modi would mention the killing of &quot;thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza&quot; during his address to the Israeli parliament. India, the world&#39;s most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, is majority Hindu, but an estimated 220 million Indians are Muslim. One of India&#39;s largest conglomerates, Adani Group, operates the Israeli port of Haifa, while Israeli military drone technology was used during India&#39;s May 2025 attack on Pakistan.

Senior Congress party figure Priyanka Gandhi says she hoped Modi would mention the killing of "thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza" during his address to the Israeli parliament; the Indian prime minister is also scheduled to meet Israeli President Herzog during visit.





Modi says India stands 'firmly' with Israel post Gaza bombardment 

WASHINGTON: Bill Gates has admitted making a &quot;huge mistake&quot; in associating with Jeffrey Epstein, telling staff at his charity foundation that he had affairs with two Russian women but denying involvement in the disgraced financier&#39;s crimes. The Microsoft co-founder is among the prominent names appearing in documents released by the US Justice Department that revealed close friendships, illicit financial dealings and private photos with convicted sex offender Epstein. In a town hall on Tuesday with staff at the Gates Foundation, a recording of which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Gates expressed regret that his relationship with Epstein had affected the work of his philanthropic organization. &quot;It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein,&quot; and to also bring Gates Foundation executives into meetings with Epstein, he said. &quot;I apologize to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made.&quot; In a draft email among the documents released by the Justice Department, Epstein alleged Gates engaged in extramarital affairs, writing that his relationship with Gates ranged from &quot;helping Bill to get drugs, in order to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls, to facilitating his illicit trysts, with married women.&quot; &#39;I saw nothing illicit&#39; Gates, 70, admitted at the town hall to two affairs. &quot;I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business activities,&quot; he said. But he denied any involvement with victims of Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking underage girls. &quot;I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit,&quot; Gates told the town hall. The tech titan said his relationship with Epstein began in 2011, three years after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution. Gates said he knew of an &quot;18-month thing&quot; restricting Epstein&#39;s travel but didn&#39;t check his background. He said his then-wife Melinda expressed concerns about Epstein in 2013, but that he continued the relationship for at least another year. &quot;Knowing what I know now makes it, you know, a hundred times worse in terms of not only his crimes in the past, but now it&#39;s clear there was ongoing bad behavior,&quot; Gates told staff. The Gates Foundation said Gates addressed the Epstein case and other issues at its scheduled twice-yearly town hall event. &quot;Bill spoke candidly, addressing several questions in detail, and took responsibility for his actions,&quot; it said in a statement to AFP.

In a draft email among the documents released by the Justice Department, Epstein alleges Gates engaged in extramarital affairs, writing that his relationship with Gates ranged from "helping Bill to get drugs […] to facilitating his illicit trysts, with married women."

Bill Gates admits affairs but denies involvement in Epstein crimes

NEW YORK:&nbsp;A record 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday, blaming Israel for two-thirds of the deaths. It was the second consecutive annual record for press deaths and the deadliest year since the CPJ began collecting data more than three decades ago. &quot;Journalists are being killed in record numbers at a time when access to information is more important than ever,&quot; CEO Jodie Ginsberg said in a statement. &quot;We are all at risk when journalists are killed for reporting the news.&quot; Over three-quarters of all the fatalities in 2025 were in conflict settings, the CPJ said in its report. More than 60 percent of the 86 members of the press killed by Israeli fire in 2025 were Palestinians reporting from Gaza, it added. The Israeli military maintains that it never deliberately targets journalists, and said the CPJ report was &quot;based on general allegations, data of unknown origin, and predetermined conclusions.&quot; &quot;Throughout the war there have been numerous cases in which terrorists operated under a civilian guise, including posing as journalists to advance terror activities,&quot; an Israeli military spokesperson told AFP. &quot;In these cases, any action taken by the IDF (military) against them was due to their involvement in terror activity and for no other reason.&quot; &quot;Any claim of intentional harm to civilians, including family members of journalists due to their professional activity, is completely false,&quot; the spokesperson said. The CPJ said the number of journalists killed in Ukraine and Sudan also increased in 2025 compared to a year earlier. The CPJ highlighted a rise in drones being used, with 39 cases documented, including 28 killings by Israel in Gaza and five by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. In Ukraine, four journalists were killed by Russian military drones, the highest annual number of journalist deaths in the war since 15 were killed in 2022. Journalists are increasingly vulnerable due to a persistent culture of impunity, the CPJ said, noting a lack of transparent investigations into killings. In Mexico, six journalists were killed in 2025 and all the cases remain unsolved. The Philippines saw three journalists shot dead. Others were killed following their reporting on corruption, such as a Bangladeshi reporter hacked to death by suspects linked to a fraud ring, according to the CPJ report. Similar organized crime-related deaths were recorded in India and Peru. In Saudi Arabia, prominent columnist Turki al-Jasser was executed by the state after being convicted on several charges that the CPJ likened to &quot;spurious national security and financial crime allegations&quot; used to punish reporters. It was the Gulf state&#39;s first documented killing of a journalist since the 2018 death of Jamal Khashoggi.

Over three-quarters of all the fatalities in 2025 were in conflict settings, the CPJ said

Articles by Ayesha Mir