Ayesha Mir

In this episode of Dossier with Ayesha, we trace how Nixon&#39;s 1972 handshake with Mao Zedong ended 25 years of isolation and set off a chain reaction that has never really stopped, through decades of deepening trade, a bruising tariff war, COVID, a spy balloon, and now Trump and Xi in Beijing.&nbsp; The Strait of Hormuz is closed, Xi is warning that mishandling Taiwan could lead to conflict, and both leaders have agreed that the strait must remain open.

Dossier with Ayesha

The Strait of Hormuz is closed, Xi is warning that mishandling Taiwan could lead to conflict, and both leaders have agreed that the strait must remain open.

From Nixon to Trump: Why US-China is the most consequential relationship

KARACHI: Former Pakistani foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has described the Iran-US ceasefire and its extension as a major diplomatic success, saying Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation helped create the conditions for dialogue at a critical moment for regional and global stability. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Bhutto-Zardari said Pakistan&rsquo;s recent diplomatic engagement played a key role in helping secure a ceasefire between Iran and the United States and later its extension, paving the way for negotiations after weeks of conflict that rattled regional security and global energy markets. &ldquo;The fact that you established a ceasefire, that&rsquo;s a success. The fact that you extended the ceasefire, these are massive successes,&rdquo; Bhutto-Zardari said. &ldquo;It means the difference between the world being at war or not.&rdquo; Bhutto-Zardari said the conflict, now in its eighth week, has carried consequences far beyond the immediate region, with strikes inside Iran, wider instability across the Middle East and disruptions in energy markets driving up fuel prices and worsening inflationary pressures worldwide. He argued that the economic burden of the conflict is being felt globally, not just by the countries directly involved. &ldquo;Every single one of us are paying the price of this conflict at the petrol pumps, at the grocery store, every single day,&rdquo; he said, adding that unresolved issues continue to weigh on the global economy despite the ceasefire. The former foreign minister stressed that Pakistan&rsquo;s role should not be viewed as a standalone national achievement but as part of a broader international effort to restore stability. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not a Pakistani victory&hellip; it is a victory for the international community,&rdquo; he said, adding that preserving the ceasefire and building toward a sustainable peace remained in the collective interest of all nations. Defending diplomacy as a long-term process, Bhutto-Zardari rejected expectations of immediate breakthroughs. &ldquo;This diplomacy is a process. It&rsquo;s not a cricket match that you either win or lose,&rdquo; he said, citing the years-long negotiations that culminated in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal as evidence that meaningful diplomatic progress requires patience and persistence.

Foreign Affairs

Talking to Pakistan TV Digital, the former foreign minister describes diplomacy as a process rather than a win-or-lose contest, stressing that meaningful progress demands patience and persistence, as shown by the years-long negotiations behind the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Iran-US ceasefire a diplomatic success, says ex-Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

ISLAMABAD: JD Vance is en route to Islamabad to lead high-stakes peace talks with Iran, a rare diplomatic role for a US vice president that could shape the outcome of negotiations and signal renewed US engagement in the region.

JD Vance is en route to Islamabad to lead high-stakes peace talks with Iran, a rare diplomatic role for a US vice president that could shape the outcome of negotiations and signal renewed US engagement in the region.

Anti-war JD Vance leads Iran peace talks in Islamabad

As tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran continue, Pakistan is emerging as a potential diplomatic bridge. What makes Islamabad uniquely positioned to play this role, and could it actually influence the outcome?

Shorts

What makes Islamabad uniquely positioned to play this role, and could it actually influence the outcome?

Why world turned to Pakistan for ending hostilities in Middle East

DHAKA: In the narrow, bustling lanes of Mirpur area of Bangladeshi capital, the hum of handlooms is constant. A quiet, rhythmic pulse that has carried generations of artistry across borders. Here, in Banaroshi Palli, silk threads do more than shimmer; they tell stories of migration, labor, identity and survival. &ldquo;I have been working here since I was 15 years old,&rdquo; says Muhammad Pappu, his fingers moving instinctively across fine strands of silk. &ldquo;Everything we make is handmade. Everything is original.&rdquo; Banaroshi Palli is not simply a marketplace. It is a living archive of South Asian textile heritage, built decades ago by artisans who migrated from India&rsquo;s historic weaving city of Varanasi. They brought with them centuries-old techniques, transforming this corner of Dhaka into one of Bangladesh&rsquo;s most distinctive craft clusters. Today, the sarees produced here are part of a wider textile economy that underpins Bangladesh&rsquo;s global reputation. While the country is best known for its ready-made garment (RMG) sector, which accounts for more than 80% of export earnings and employs over four million workers, according to government and industry estimates, traditional handloom industries like Banaroshi weaving remain a vital, if often overlooked, cultural and economic backbone. Each saree produced in Mirpur is the result of intense collaboration. &ldquo;One saree takes 10 to 15 days,&rdquo; Pappu explains. &ldquo;If it is a wedding saree, it takes 15 days. There are different people, the design maker, the color cutter, the weaver. Ten to fifteen people can work on one piece.&rdquo; That labor-intensive process stands in stark contrast to the speed and scale of Bangladesh&rsquo;s factory-based apparel sector. Yet, it is precisely this slow craftsmanship that gives Banaroshi sarees their value, both culturally and commercially. Inside a modest but storied shop, Muhammad Sufiyan gestures toward neatly stacked sarees in jewel tones. He is a worker here, part of a business that has stood for nearly half a century. The shop, Banarshee Kothi, carries decades of craftsmanship woven into its shelves. A place where tradition is not owned by one person, but sustained collectively by the hands that keep it alive. &ldquo;This shop is 48 years old,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;We have silk, cotton, and Katan. Handloom sarees are very good quality and they are budget-friendly too.&rdquo; Prices range widely. A simple saree may cost as little as 2,000 taka (around $16), while intricate bridal pieces can reach 30,000 taka (about $245). Some of the finest pieces, Sufiyan notes, are exported abroad, finding buyers in diaspora communities and international markets where demand for handcrafted textiles is growing. Bangladesh&rsquo;s handloom sector employs hundreds of thousands of artisans nationwide, according to estimates from local industry groups. However, many face economic uncertainty, competition from machine-made imports, and limited access to global markets. &ldquo;There are expensive sarees that are sold outside,&rdquo; Sufiyan says, hinting at both opportunity and challenge. &ldquo;But what we make here, it is authentic.&rdquo; Walking through Banaroshi Palli, the sensory overload is immediate: flashes of gold thread, deep crimson silks, patterns inspired by flowers, leaves, and Mughal-era motifs. It feels less like a market and more like an open workshop where heritage is continuously being remade. For visitors, the saree often becomes more than a purchase. In Bangladesh, the saree is seen as far more than clothing. It embodies tradition, expressed through vibrant colors and cultural meaning. That sentiment resonates far beyond Dhaka. Across South Asia and in global diaspora communities, sarees mark weddings, festivals, and milestones, binding personal memory to collective identity. Yet behind each finished garment lies a complex human story: of artisans preserving ancestral skills, of families sustaining small businesses, and of a nation balancing industrial growth with cultural continuity. As Sufiyan carefully folds another saree, he pauses, almost as if weighing its significance. &ldquo;These are not just clothes,&rdquo; he says quietly. &ldquo;This is our history.&rdquo;

Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s saree business blends centuries-old craftsmanship with modern trade, employing thousands of artisans in handloom clusters like Mirpur while contributing to exports, sustaining cultural heritage, and facing challenges from mechanisation and global competition.

In Dhaka, saree artisans weave heritage into global markets

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has ruled out any dialogue with the Afghan Taliban, saying there is &ldquo;nothing to talk about&rdquo; until terrorism originating from Afghan soil comes to an end, Prime Minister&rsquo;s Spokesperson for Foreign Media Mosharraf Zaidi said Friday.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Zaidi rejected suggestions of renewed talks after Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid indicated openness to dialogue.&nbsp;&ldquo;There won&rsquo;t be any talks. There&rsquo;s no dialogue. There&rsquo;s no negotiation. Terrorism from Afghanistan has to end,&rdquo; Zaidi said, describing Pakistan&rsquo;s position as clear and unchanged.<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LbLPjNXSs4I" title="Pakistan seeks to neutralize threats from Afghanistan: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar" 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;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>He said militancy inside Afghanistan is an internal issue for the Afghan Taliban regime, but stressed that Pakistan&rsquo;s responsibility is limited to protecting its own citizens and territory.&nbsp;&ldquo;If we know that there&rsquo;s a terrorist at point A and there&rsquo;s a terrorist enabler at point A,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-says-us-will-not-intervene-in-pakistanafghan-situation" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">we will find a weapon to land at point A and eliminate the threat</a>,&rdquo; Zaidi said, underscoring that Pakistan has already outlined both its actions and the conditions required for de-escalation.&nbsp;Zaidi added that responsibility for reducing instability rests not only with the Afghan Taliban &ldquo;regime in question&rdquo; but also with the wider international community, which he said must ensure Afghan soil is not used for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ttptaliban-nexus-exposed-as-attacks-and-retaliation-mirror-each-other" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">cross-border terrorism</a>.&nbsp;In a separate interview, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar echoed the hardline stance, saying Pakistan&rsquo;s objective is to neutralize threats and ensure national security.&nbsp;Earlier, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said military operations would continue &ldquo;until the desired end.&rdquo; Asked to clarify that objective, Tarar said it meant eliminating terrorist threats and making Pakistan safe.&nbsp;&ldquo;For us, we&rsquo;ve been good neighbors, very friendly and very generous neighbors,&rdquo; Tarar said. &ldquo;Our generosity has often been seen as weakness.&rdquo;&nbsp;On the possibility of a ceasefire, Tarar said it was &ldquo;too early to comment,&rdquo; citing a fluid security situation. He also dismissed the prospect of Afghanistan gaining meaningful external backing.&nbsp;&ldquo;They have been trying to make alliances, but whatever they stand for is not acceptable anywhere,&rdquo; he said, adding that expectations of outside support were &ldquo;wishful thinking.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both officials stressed that Pakistan&rsquo;s policy remains focused on countering militancy and restoring stability, with no immediate shift in approach under consideration.

Security

Talking to Pakistan TV Digital, Pakistani officials say there will be no dialogue with the Afghan Taliban until terrorism from Afghan soil ends, stressing Pakistan will act decisively to eliminate threats and protect national security.

‘No dialogue’: Pakistan says terrorism from Afghanistan must end

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.

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.

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

PARIS: The Ballon d&#39;Or ceremony for 2026 will take place for the first time in London on October 26 to mark the 70th anniversary of the trophy being awarded to England&#39;s Stanley Matthews in 1956, organizers announced on Thursday.&nbsp;The most prestigious individual prize in football is an award that for many years had been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.&nbsp;Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele won last year, in a ceremony held in Paris by Groupe L&#39;Equipe, owners of the France Football magazine.&nbsp;The London venue for the 2026 ceremony was not revealed.

Football

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London on October 26 for the first time, marking 70 years since Stanley Matthews won it in 1956. Ousmane Dembélé was last year’s winner in Paris, and the venue has not yet been announced.

London to host 2026 Ballon d'Or in October 

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will depart for an official visit to Washington, DC on May 29 to meet US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, to review bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, the Foreign Office (FO) said.&nbsp;The visit comes as Islamabad is attempting to negotiate a peace pact to permanently end the US-Israeli war with Iran.&nbsp;&ldquo;The discussions will also focus on strengthening cooperation in key priority sectors, as well as Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy,&rdquo; the statement added. <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=2059968087022252182&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=015939253156fb33cbe5b67e24ec984483c80e46&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 874px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;FM Dar visit reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to further deepening its longstanding and broad-based partnership with the United States.&nbsp;Earlier, FM Dar held a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations Security Council Open Debate in New York, discussing regional stability, multilateral cooperation and expansion of Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic and economic partnerships. <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=2059484008589980120&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=015939253156fb33cbe5b67e24ec984483c80e46&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;During a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Dar discussed developments in the Middle East and Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy for &ldquo;lasting peace and stability&rdquo; in the region.&nbsp;Following the completion of his official engagements in Washington DC, the deputy prime minister will depart for Islamabad later the same day.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Washington on May 29 to meet Marco Rubio to discuss bilateral ties, regional developments, and Pakistan’s efforts for Middle East peace and stability.

Pakistan foreign minister, Marco Rubio to discuss Islamabad peace efforts in Washington tomorrow: FO

KATHMANDU: US climber Tyler Andrews set a new speed record using supplementary oxygen on Mount Everest on Thursday, his team told AFP, summiting the world&#39;s highest peak an hour quicker than anyone before.&nbsp;Andrews, 36, climbed the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak in just 9 hours and 55 minutes, smashing the record of 10 hours and 56 minutes held since 2003 by Nepali climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa.&nbsp;The time requires formal verification by Nepal&#39;s mountain authorities.&nbsp;Andrews summited Everest just before dawn on Thursday, according to posts on his Instagram, which included live GPS tracking of his route.&nbsp;&quot;He reached Everest&#39;s peak in just 9 hours 55 minutes,&quot; team leader Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking told AFP.&nbsp;The Asian Trekking team said that Andrews completed a solo climb, during which guides provided supplementary oxygen, food and water while tracking his ascent.&nbsp;He had initially tried to break the 22 hours and 29 minutes speed record to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen earlier in May, but had to turn back.&nbsp;Andrews, who said he is a cancer survivor, is raising funds to support youth athletes who lack access to coaching and equipment in Ecuador and Nepal.&nbsp;More than 950 climbers have reached the top of Everest this season, with the weather window rapidly coming to a close.&nbsp;Five people have died this season -- two Indians and three Nepali climbers involved in Everest preparations.&nbsp;That compares to the 18 people who died in 2023, the deadliest season on the mountain.

Climate

US climber Tyler Andrews set a new Mount Everest speed record using supplementary oxygen, reaching the 8,849-metre summit in 9 hours and 55 minutes, beating the previous record held since 2003 by Nepali climber Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa.

US climber smashes Everest speed record

GENEVA:&nbsp;The United Nations rights chief warned Thursday against a &quot;dangerous escalation&quot; in Ukraine, and Russia&#39;s threats to ramp up attacks, urging both sides to return to the negotiating table. &quot;I strongly urge restraint. Resume negotiations and end the suffering,&quot; Volker Turk said in a statement. His appeal comes days after one of the worst combined missile and drone attacks on Kyiv since <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/russia-threatens-more-strikes-on-kyiv-urges-foreigners-to-leave-city" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Russia</a> launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago. It was the latest in a string of large-scale attacks by Russia in recent weeks. The <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/russia-kills-4-in-massive-ukraine-attack-after-vowing-retaliation" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">UN rights office</a> said 815 civilians had been killed and 4,174 injured in Ukraine in the first four months of 2026 -- a 21% increase in civilian casualties over the same period last year. &quot;As if all these casualty figures weren&#39;t horrifying enough on their own, following these attacks, Russian officials have publicly threatened to increase attacks across Kyiv,&quot; Turk said.&nbsp;Call for avoiding civilian harm&quot;International humanitarian law demands that parties to a conflict take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm,&quot; he said. &quot;These are not simply suggestions or recommendations, but binding obligations carrying legal responsibility for those involved.&quot; His office also pointed to an attack by Ukrainian armed forces on an educational complex in the occupied city of Starobilsk on May 21-22, in which Russian authorities say 21 people were killed and 44 injured. &quot;The UN Human Rights Office has conducted a thorough review of publicly-available information, which indicates that the educational facilities were operational at the time of the attack and that civilians -- many of them students -- were killed or injured,&quot; it said. Eighteen of those killed were women, it said, adding that attacks by Ukrainian armed forces had also killed and injured civilians within Russia itself. Turk called on both Russian and Ukrainian authorities to conduct &quot;prompt, independent, and effective investigations and hold those responsible accountable&quot;.

Europe

The UN rights office said 815 civilians had been killed and 4,174 injured in Ukraine in the first four months of 2026 -- a 21% increase in civilian casualties over the same period last year.

UN condemns 'dangerous escalation' in Ukraine war

Simran Siraj

On Eid Al-Adha, Karachi&#39;s streets transform as blacksmiths work relentlessly, market stalls spring up across neighborhoods, and a seasonal economy worth nearly $3 billion takes shape across Pakistan. From knives for sacrifice to decorative accessories for animals, stalls cater to the needs of the local communities preparing for one of the holiest days of the year.

On Eid Al-Adha, Karachi's streets transform as blacksmiths work relentlessly, market stalls spring up across neighborhoods, and a seasonal economy worth nearly $3 billion takes shape across Pakistan.

Animal accessories, blades, feed sales surge as Pakistan's $3 billion Eid Al-Adha economy kicks in

TEHRAN: Iran&#39;s football federation expects FIFA to facilitate multiple-entry visas for the United States for the Iranian national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, its president said in a video broadcast by Iranian media Thursday. &quot;FIFA is expected to deliver a multiple-entry visa so that the players can enter (the United States) and return (to Mexico),&quot; federation president <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/mexico-accepts-to-host-iran-during-the-world-cup-president" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mehdi Taj</a> said.&nbsp;&lsquo;Team Melli&rsquo;Known as &quot;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/fifa-reveals-48-world-cup-team-base-training-sites" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Team Melli</a>&quot;, the Iranian squad had initially planned to base itself in Tucson in Arizona during the tournament, but later moved its training camp to Tijuana in Mexico, which will co-host the World Cup alongside the US and Canada. Taj previously said the move was intended to avoid complications related to US visas and to allow the squad to travel directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights. Iran are scheduled to play all three of their Group G matches in the United States. &quot;It is certain now that we will go to Mexico. The team is preparing,&quot; Taj said. Iran&#39;s participation in the World Cup had been uncertain for months, with a backdrop of the Middle East war triggered by the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran on Feb. 28. The team will open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and Egypt in Seattle later in the group stage.

 Iranian squad had initially planned to base itself in Tucson in Arizona during the tournament, but later moved its training camp to Tijuana in Mexico, which will co-host the World Cup alongside the US and Canada.

Iran expects FIFA to facilitate multi-entry visa to US for team

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;The United States has arrested a former senior CIA official after a search found $40 million worth of gold bars at his home. FBI officers also seized $2 million in cash and around 35 luxury watches this month from the home of David Rush in the US state of Virginia, according to court documents. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that he was a former senior CIA official, quoting people familiar with the investigation. An FBI probe found that Rush had provided false information about his education and military background in his job application, including lying about obtaining university degrees and serving as a pilot in the navy. He also filled out fraudulent time sheets and obtained $77,000 in military leave pay by falsely claiming he was a member of the navy reserves, according to the affidavit. The document describes Rush as a former senior employee at a US government agency with top secret clearance and access to classified information. Over $40 millionHe was arrested on May 19 and charged with theft of government money.&nbsp;A lawyer for Rush declined to comment to the Times. From last November to this March, Rush made several requests to his employer for &quot;a significant quantity of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses.&quot; The affidavit says that Rush received the cash and gold, without giving further information on why he needed them. The gold and most of the cash were later found to be missing from a storage space at the official&#39;s workplace, triggering a search of his home which discovered around 303 gold bars -- worth over $40 million.&nbsp;

Americas

FBI officers also seize $2 million in cash and around 35 luxury watches this month from the home of David Rush in the US state of Virginia, according to court documents.

US arrests ex-CIA official with $40M in gold at home

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Youm-e-Takbeer (28 May) remains a powerful symbol of national unity, unwavering resolve, and collective strength. He emphasized that it reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to safeguarding its independence while ensuring peace and strategic stability in the region. Youm-i-Takbeer commemorates May 28, 1998, when Pakistan became a nuclear power following atomic tests conducted in the Chagai Hills of Balochistan. Sharif, in his message shared on X on the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer, said, &ldquo;28 May 1998 was a defining moment in our national history - a day when Pakistan demonstrated to the world that it would never compromise on its sovereignty, security, dignity, or right to self-defence.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2059882929031880861&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=9cfb5131b4917d6a01888e54fe609d9c3fc3c6d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;As we commemorate Youm-e-Takbeer today, we pay glowing tribute to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who laid the foundation of Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear programme, and to Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, whose bold, courageous, and resolute leadership in May 1998 transformed that vision into reality despite immense international pressure.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Symbol of national unity&rsquo;&nbsp;Sharif said, &ldquo;We also honour Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, Dr. Samar Mubarakmand and the countless brilliant scientists, engineers, valiant armed forces personnel, and all those associated with the nuclear programme, whose dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment made Pakistan&rsquo;s defence invincible.&rdquo; The prime minister said, &ldquo;Youm-e-Takbeer remains a symbol of national unity, unwavering resolve, and the collective strength of all elements of national power in safeguarding Pakistan&rsquo;s independence while ensuring peace and strategic stability in the region.&rdquo; &ldquo;On this historic day, let us renew our pledge to build a strong, prosperous, united, and self-reliant Pakistan founded on faith, unity, and discipline,&rdquo; he said. Effective deterrence doctrine&nbsp;In a separate message shared on X, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said, &ldquo;Youm-e-Takbeer revalidates our effective deterrence doctrine, which is indispensable to maintain regional peace and stability.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2059711831988654371&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=9cfb5131b4917d6a01888e54fe609d9c3fc3c6d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2059711831988654371"></iframe></div></div>He said, &ldquo;The wars of present age, and future, are likely to consist of multi-domain operations, where, alongside nuclear deterrence, cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, drones and modern technologies are deemed to play a decisive role.&rdquo; The president said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces have Al Hamd-o-Lillah equipped themselves with such expertise and professionalism related to all fields of battle and they have demonstrated their skills and capabilities during the Marka-e-Haq last year.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Responsible and peace loving&rsquo;He said, &ldquo;Pakistan harbours no aggressive designs against anyone. We are a responsible and peace-loving nation as we respect international norms and laws.&rdquo; President Zardari said, &ldquo;We reserve the right of self defence under Article 50 of UN charter.&rdquo; &ldquo;Exercising this right Pakistan last year gave a crushing blow to the Indian aggression during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos.&rdquo; &ldquo;Our victory in Marka-e-Haq was the result of national unity, courage and professional excellence of our armed forces,&rdquo; he said. &#39;Unwavering resolve&#39;On the 28th anniversary of Youm-e-Takbeer, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, COAS and CDF, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, on behalf of Armed Forces of Pakistan, extended heartfelt felicitations to the people of Pakistan, said a statement released by Pakistan military&#39;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday. Youm-e-Takbeer, &quot;symbolizes the nation&rsquo;s unity, resilience and unwavering commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national honour,&quot; the statement said. &quot;The Armed Forces of Pakistan reaffirm their unwavering resolve to defend the motherland against all threats and remain committed to ensuring the security, stability and prosperity of the nation,&quot; the press release said.

Says, ‘We honor Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Dr Samar Mubarakmand and the countless brilliant scientists, engineers, valiant armed forces personnel, and all those associated with the nuclear programme.’

Youm-e-Takbeer symbolizes unity, resolve and strategic stability, says Pakistan PM

ISLAMABAD: Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has condemned the Indian authorities&rsquo; denial of Eid prayers at Eidgah and Jamia Masjid for the eighth consecutive year in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The Kashmiri leader, in a post on X on Wednesday, stated: &ldquo;For the 8th consecutive year, Muslims of <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/former-occupied-kashmir-cm-abdullah-survives-attempt-on-life-man-arrested" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kashmiris</a> have been denied the right to offer Eid prayers at the historic&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/bjp-targeting-islamic-institutions-to-erase-iiojk-identity-says-former-cm" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eidgah/Jama Masjid</a>, and I have been placed under house arrest.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2059492307200868521&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=9cfb5131b4917d6a01888e54fe609d9c3fc3c6d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2059492307200868521"></iframe></div></div>&lsquo;Assault on religious identity&rsquo;&nbsp;He said, &ldquo;On the revered and celebratory occasion of Eid, Muslims of Kashmir are greeted with barricades, restrictions, locked gates and intimidation.&rdquo; Farooq further said, &ldquo;This is not governance; it is a systematic assault on our religious identity, dignity and fundamental rights which deeply hurts us.&rdquo;&nbsp;A generation deprived&nbsp;The Kashmiri leader lamented, &ldquo;It is very unfortunate that children in Kashmir are growing up without witnessing the spiritually uplifting Eid prayers at Eidgah and the festivities thereof.&rdquo; &ldquo;An entire generation is being deprived of knowing their traditions and making memories that have shaped our collective life for centuries.&rdquo; Farooq said, &ldquo;But let those in power know that no power on earth can erase the deep spiritual bond people of Kashmir share with Eidgah, Jama Masjid and their religious institutions.&rdquo; &ldquo;Faith cannot be imprisoned or suppressed through force,&rdquo; he said in his social media post.

India

The Kashmiri leader, in a post on X on Wednesday, stated, 'For the 8th consecutive year, Muslims of Kashmiris have been denied the right to offer Eid prayers at the historic Eidgah/Jama Masjid, and I have been placed under house arrest.'

Mirwaiz condemns continued Eid prayer ban at Jamia Masjid in occupied Kashmir

HONG KONG:&nbsp;Oil prices bounced higher on Thursday while Asian stocks mostly fell, as new US strikes on Iran marked the latest test of a shaky ceasefire in the Middle East war. The price jumps erased much of Wednesday&#39;s declines on the hopes of an imminent deal to end the conflict that has all but halted shipping through the crucial <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/asia-stocks-oil-prices-mixed-on-usiran-deal-uncertainty" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strait of Hormuz</a> for months. An American official said the military had shot down four Iranian drones and struck a control center in the southern city of Bandar Abbas. The official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, described the latest actions as &quot;measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire&quot;. Tehran&#39;s state media said Iranian forces had fired at four ships in the strait, while Kuwait said its air defenses were responding to missile and drone attacks. The developments came despite an Iranian official saying renewed hostilities with the United States were unlikely, and a threat from US President Donald Trump to &quot;finish the job&quot; if a peace deal was not reached.&nbsp;Mixed signals&nbsp;The mixed signals underscored the fragile state of talks aimed at ending the Middle East war, which has profoundly shaken <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/oil-falls-asian-stocks-climb-on-hopes-of-usiran-hormuz-deal" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">global energy markets</a>. Brent North Sea crude, the main international benchmark, rose by 1.8% in Thursday morning trade to $95.95 a barrel, while the main US contract, WTI, increased by 1.7% to $90.17. Stock markets across Asia were mostly down, with Hong Kong&#39;s Hang Seng index dipping more than 1.5%. Seoul was down nearly one percent, while Shanghai ticked 0.3% lower. Taipei&#39;s main index gained more than one percent, while Tokyo was flat at the midday break. The declines came after a strong day for global stocks on Wednesday, as investors, bullish on artificial intelligence, looked past the conflicting headlines on Iran. In Asia, South Korean chipmaker SK hynix hit a $1 trillion market capitalization, placing it alongside regional tech heavyweights Samsung Electronics and TSMC, as well as US chipmaker Micron. The tech surge has coincided with a persistent spike in energy prices, which has threatened several major Asian economies that rely on oil shipments from the Middle East. Economists warn that central banks may have to raise interest rates if inflation worsens as a result of the war, increasing borrowing costs and potentially weighing on economic growth. On Wednesday, &quot;every headline pulled the market in a different direction, leaving traders with the same conclusion they have been wrestling with for weeks&quot;, said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. &quot;The Strait may eventually reopen fully, but until there is something more concrete than draft frameworks and political theatre, every barrel remains hostage to headline volatility, even if sub-$100,&quot; he said. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Key figures at around 0230 GMT&nbsp;</h2>Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.8% at $95.95 a barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.7% at $90.17 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 64,980.63 points Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.5% at&nbsp;24,943.99 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.3% at&nbsp;4,082.86 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1614 from $1.1629 on Wednesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3405 from $1.3434 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.54 from 159.53 yen Euro/pound: UP at 86.64 from 86.59 pence New York - DOW: UP 0.4% at 50,644.28 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1% at 10,505.01 (close)

Business

The mixed signals underscored the fragile state of talks aimed at ending the Middle East war, which has profoundly shaken global energy markets.

Articles by Ayesha Mir