Ayesha Mir

WANA: The ruins of Cadet College Wana still smell of dust and explosives.&nbsp;Seeing a school reduced to rubble is always a painful sight. But seeing an institution painstakingly built in a tribal region that fought for years to reclaim its right to education makes the devastation feel even heavier.&nbsp;Amid shattered glass, blood stains, and walls pocked with bullets at Cadet College Wana, one thought offered relief: all 535 students and staff survived a coordinated terrorist assault on November 10. An outcome made possible by a swift three-phase operation by the Pakistan Army.&nbsp;The attack also reopened old wounds. For many, the chaos of the night evoked memories of the December 16, 2014 Army Public School Peshawar massacre, when seven Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan [TTP] militants stormed the school and killed 150 people, including 134 children. The specter of that tragedy loomed heavily over Wana.&nbsp;College built to heal regionFounded in 2011, Cadet College Wana was envisioned as a pathway out of conflict for South Waziristan&rsquo;s youth. Since then, 645 students have graduated, more than half becoming engineers, doctors, civil servants, or officers in Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces.&nbsp;&ldquo;These kids are our pride,&rdquo; Principal Usman said during a briefing. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve won international competitions, seven gold medalists, one civil award holder. Yet on November 10, terrorists tried to attack these same children. The same Afghan khawarij who claim Pathans are their brothers came to kill the children of those very Pathans.&rdquo;&nbsp;His voice trembled, not with fear, but disbelief at the cruelty that came for his students.&nbsp;Night of the attackThe violence at the college entrance speaks for itself: a four-foot-wide crater gouges the ground where a vehicle carrying 500&ndash;600 kilograms of explosives rammed the gate. The iron gate was blown dozens of meters away. Watch posts on both sides collapsed instantly. The remains of the terrorists&rsquo; vehicle lie twisted and charred, evidence of a plan meant for mass casualties.&nbsp;Beyond the gate, the auditorium dedicated to Abdul Wali Wazir Shaheed, a former cadet who embraced martyrdom while leading an anti-terror operation in 2022, now lies in ruins. Its destruction felt deeply symbolic to many on campus.&nbsp;Inside the administrative block, the terrorists&rsquo; entry point, bullet holes stitch the walls. Blood from the three civilian staff targeted by the attackers stains the staircase. Boots and slippers lie abandoned on the rooftop. The devastation stretches across the campus; even distant structures bear scars from the explosion.&nbsp;&lsquo;We kept the cadets safe&rsquo;Walking through the destroyed building, Colonel Muhammad Tahir recounted the sequence of events:&nbsp;&ldquo;They hit the car at the gate and entered. Five khawarij came toward the main building. They wanted to reach the hostels&hellip; because that&rsquo;s where the innocent cadets were. But we quashed their plans. We contained them here and kept the cadets safe there.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said the terrorists carried sophisticated weapons and maintained communication with handlers in Afghanistan. A blood-stained bandana reading &ldquo;Special Istikhadiis Force &ndash; Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan&rdquo; was recovered. In the lawn outside, investigators found the severed foot of one suicide bomber.&nbsp;&ldquo;These were istikhadiis. Do or die,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Three-phase operationThe Army&rsquo;s response unfolded in three phases: containment, evacuation, and elimination.&nbsp;Containment was swift. Snipers and Quick Response Force units surrounded the militants within minutes of the initial blast.&nbsp;The evacuation, however, was slower and far more delicate. With hostels exposed to the militants&rsquo; line of sight, soldiers improvised a back-route escape, breaking windows and using ladders to lower students from upper floors.&nbsp;&ldquo;We created a firewall between the enemy and the children,&rdquo; said Colonel Shahid Masood, who led the evacuation. &ldquo;We moved building to building, room to room. The instruction from the Army Chief was clear: not a single child should be harmed.&rdquo;&nbsp;The process lasted nearly six hours. Some cadets were moved under tarpaulins, others in armoured vehicles through improvised exits. By late afternoon, all had been accounted for.&nbsp;Only then did the final phase begin. Snipers killed the attackers as they attempted to flee the administrative block.&nbsp;&ldquo;We not only killed them,&rdquo; Colonel Tahir said. &ldquo;We killed their intent.&rdquo;&nbsp;Inside the storeroomsThe students&rsquo; accounts reveal the fear, but also the unwavering composure, that defined the night.&nbsp;&ldquo;We were doing drill rehearsal when the blast happened,&rdquo; said 18-year-old Cadet Abdullah. &ldquo;We ran to our houses and waited two hours until the Army arrived. They stood like walls for us. We were in a storeroom for 25 hours with no food or water.&rdquo;&nbsp;Another student, Binyamin Ahmed, recalled 23 boys crammed into a room meant for five.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our principal rescued us from the back door. We are proud of our army.&rdquo;&nbsp;English lecturer Anamullah Khan said the cadets &ldquo;showed bravery beyond their years&rdquo; even as explosions shook the campus.&nbsp;South Waziristan has endured years of conflict, mass displacement, and repeated attacks on schools. Cadet College Wana, established in 2011, was meant to symbolize a turning point. A place to rebuild futures after years of militancy.&nbsp;Its principal, standing amid the rubble of his office, insisted the mission will continue.&nbsp;&ldquo;My staff, my cadets, all of them showed courage,&rdquo; said Principal Usman. &ldquo;This college will not close. Not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow.&rdquo;&nbsp;A local elder put it more simply:&nbsp;&ldquo;They attacked this place because it is our children&rsquo;s future.&rdquo;&nbsp;The attack comes as Pakistan faces a renewed wave of violence, growing political uncertainty, and strained relations with Kabul. But in Wana, amid collapsed roofs and broken walls, the most enduring image remains the students, many hungry, exhausted and cold after nearly 19 hours in hiding, stepping out smiling.&nbsp;In a region long held hostage by militancy, their survival felt like an act of defiance.

Security

In South Waziristan, cadets survived a major terrorist attack near the Afghan border, showing remarkable courage, as Pakistan’s security forces foiled the assault and rescued all safely.

Cadets defy terrorists as Pakistan thwarts major attack near Afghan border

When the US military withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, it left behind more than just a broken nation &mdash; it left behind an arsenal. Now, those same US-supplied weapons are showing up in the hands of terrorist groups attacking Pakistan.&nbsp; Find out how Pakistan has fallen victim to a war it didn&rsquo;t start in today&rsquo;s Dossier with Ayesha.

Dossier with Ayesha

When the US military withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, it left behind more than just a broken nation — it left behind an arsenal. Now, those same US-supplied weapons are showing up in the hands of terrorist groups attacking Pakistan. 

Terrorists using US weapons to target Pakistan

Pakistan&rsquo;s climate emergency isn&rsquo;t just a national crisis &mdash; it&rsquo;s a regional reckoning. From floods that drown villages to smog that knows no borders, the forces reshaping Pakistan are the same ones choking Delhi, burning forests in Nepal, and melting glaciers in the Himalayas. But here&rsquo;s the truth: No country in South Asia can survive this alone, and the demand for climate justice has never been more important.&nbsp; In this episode of the Dossier, we explore what a real solution looks like &mdash; one built not on blame, but on cooperation, data, and shared responsibility.

A real solution needs to be built on cooperation, data, and shared responsibility.

Pollution from neighboring countries damaging Pakistan

How did decades-old child grooming scandals in the UK get weaponized by far-right figures like Tommy Robinson to push an anti-Muslim narrative? What role did Elon Musk play in amplifying this narrative by tweeting about &lsquo;Pakistani grooming gangs&rsquo;? And how does all of this align with Hindu nationalist rhetoric from India&rsquo;s Modi government? Ayesha Mir breaks it down in Dossier with Ayesha.

Weaponization of scandals by far-right figures, Elon Musk’s role, and how all of it aligns with Hindu nationalist rhetoric.

Truth about Pakistanis and grooming gangs in the UK

<div class="fr-embed"> </div> In May 2025, India&rsquo;s strike on a civilian area in Pakistan pushed the region to the edge of nuclear war but as tensions soared, Pakistan emerged not just with strategic wins on the battlefield, but with unexpected diplomatic momentum.&nbsp; As Indian media spiraled into exaggerated claims and aggressive narratives, Pakistan projected calm, restraint, and a willingness to engage in dialogue.&nbsp;This measured posture earned Islamabad U.S. mediation, brought renewed global attention to the Kashmir issue, and reset its relationship with Washington.&nbsp; Seizing the moment, Pakistan deepened ties with China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia &mdash; and even made diplomatic inroads with unlikely partners like Afghanistan and Bangladesh.&nbsp; From deft crisis management to a stronger voice at the UN, how did Pakistan shift its global image from isolated and unstable to poised and influential? Ayesha Mir breaks it down in Dossier With Ayesha. <div class="fr-embed"> </div>

After India’s strike in May 2025, Pakistan not only avoided escalation but emerged with newfound diplomatic strength, earning U.S. mediation, global attention on Kashmir, and strategic alliances across Asia.

From brink to breakthrough: How Pakistan turned crisis into diplomatic clout

IRBIL: A drone strike on Wednesday targeted an Emirati-owned gas complex in Iraq&rsquo;s autonomous Kurdistan region, disrupting the gas supply to the region&rsquo;s power plants, local authorities said. &ldquo;At 11:30 p.m. (2030 GMT), a drone attacked the Khor Mor gas field facility, cutting off all gas supplies to power plants,&rdquo; the regional natural resources and electricity authorities said in a statement. AFP correspondents in Kurdistan reported power cuts across the region, including in the city of Sulaimaniyah. The Khor Mor gas field lies between the cities of Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah, and supplies most of the Kurdistan region&rsquo;s power. Omed Ahmed, the regional electricity authority spokesperson, said the attack resulted in the loss of 2,600 megawatts of electricity, disrupting 80% of the region&rsquo;s power grid. Authorities said they were coordinating with the United Arab Emirates company Dana Gas to investigate the attack and restore operations. A local security source told AFP that the attack &ldquo;targeted gas storage tanks, causing a major explosion and large fire.&rdquo; It was unclear whether the attack resulted in any casualties, he added. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Long plagued by conflict, Iraq frequently suffers such attacks. Unclaimed Katyusha rocket and drone attacks have targeted the Khor Mor complex several times in recent years. In April 2024, four Yemeni workers were killed in a drone attack on the facility. Earlier this year, the Kurdistan region saw a spate of unclaimed drone attacks mostly against oilfields.

Middle East

A drone strike hits the Emirati-owned Khor Mor gas field in Iraqi Kurdistan, cutting power to the region and disrupting 80 percent of its electricity supply.

Drone strike hits Iraq gas complex, cuts supply: official

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;Two US National Guard soldiers were shot Wednesday near the White House, officials said, and police said a suspect was detained in an extraordinary security drama likely to fuel controversy over President Donald Trump&#39;s crime crackdown, as the Pentagon deployed additional troops in Washington, DC. Initial reports were that the two soldiers &mdash; part of a militarized anti-crime deployment around the United States ordered by Trump &mdash; had been badly wounded. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said the soldiers, both deployed to the capital from his state, had &quot;passed away from their injuries,&quot; but then said there were &quot;conflicting reports.&quot; It was the most serious incident involving the National Guard since Trump began ordering troops onto the streets of several Democratic-run cities shortly after starting his second term this January. The Republican, who was at his Florida golf club, described the shooter as an &quot;animal.&quot; He said the two soldiers were &quot;critically wounded.&quot; The suspect &quot;is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price,&quot; Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. An AFP reporter near the scene heard several loud pops and saw people running. Dozens of bystanders were caught up in the chaos. &quot;We heard gunshots. We were waiting at the traffic light, and there were several shots,&quot; said Angela Perry, 42, who was driving home with her two children. &quot;You could see National Guard running toward the metro with their weapons drawn.&quot; Soon after the shootings, security agents flooded the area around the Farragut West metro station, two blocks from the White House. Officers carrying rifles stood guard behind yellow tape at the perimeter of the area, and a helicopter circled over the busy downtown. An AFP reporter saw emergency crews running toward the metro with a wheeled stretcher and shortly after emerging with a casualty wearing camouflage, whom they loaded into an ambulance. The government buildings of downtown Washington are heavily guarded, but much of the city has suffered from years of sometimes serious street crime. Trump made Washington a showcase for his decision to order National Guard soldiers, in camouflage and occasionally carrying rifles, to patrol the streets of cities run by Democratic mayors, also including Los Angeles and Memphis. The policy has prompted bitter complaints from local officials who accuse Trump of stoking tensions, while the deployments are the subject of numerous court challenges. Last Thursday, a federal judge ruled that Trump&#39;s deployment of thousands of National Guard troops in the US capital is unlawful.

Americas

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey says soldiers, deployed to the capital, had "passed away from their injuries," but then said there are "conflicting reports;" Pentagon says an extra 500 troops deployed in Washington after shooting. 




Two National Guard soldiers shot near White House, suspect in custody

Hong Kong: A huge fire engulfed a crowded Hong Kong high-rise complex, killing at least 36 people and leaving more than 200 unaccounted for in the city&#39;s worst blaze in decades. The fire, which started on Wednesday afternoon and was still burning in the early hours of Thursday, shocked the Chinese financial hub, which has some of the world&#39;s most densely populated and tallest apartment blocks. Huge flames first took hold on bamboo scaffolding on several apartment blocks of Wang Fuk Court, which contains nearly 2,000 flats in eight towers in the northern district of Tai Po and was reportedly undergoing estate-wide maintenance. City leader John Lee early on Thursday gave the death toll as 36, including a firefighter, with 279 people unaccounted for. Twenty-nine people were hospitalized, with seven in critical condition. Lee said the fire was &quot;gradually getting under control,&quot; with flames still spotted at four out of the eight buildings in the complex. He was speaking almost 12 hours after the fire broke out. The cause was still not known. At the scene of the fire, an AFP reporter heard loud cracking sounds, possibly from the burning bamboo, and saw thick plumes of smoke billowing from the buildings as flames and ash reached high into the sky. A 65-year-old resident surnamed Yuen said he had lived in the complex for more than four decades and that many of his neighbors were elderly and might not be mobile. &quot;The windows were closed because of the maintenance, (some people) didn&#39;t know there was a fire and had to be told to evacuate via phone calls by neighbors,&quot; Yuen told AFP. &quot;I&#39;m devastated. There is loss of property and loss of life, and even a firefighter has died.&quot; More than 900 people sought refuge at temporary shelters, Lee said. &#39;Unable to reach people who requested help&#39;&nbsp;Authorities said they will launch a probe into the fire as well as into the materials on the buildings&#39; exterior that may have caused the blaze to spread faster than usual. A police officer at a temporary shelter told AFP it was unclear how many people were unaccounted for because residents were still trickling in late into the night to report missing family members. Sections of charred scaffolding fell from the burning blocks, and flames could be seen inside apartments, sometimes belching out through windows into the night sky, casting an eerie orange glow on surrounding buildings. &quot;The temperature at the scene is very high, and there are some floors where we have been unable to reach people who requested help, but we will keep trying,&quot; said Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of fire service operations. He said the fire likely spread from one building to another due to the wind and drifting debris, although he added that authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the victims, including &quot;the firefighter who died in the line of duty,&quot; according to state media. &quot;He offered sympathies to the families of the victims and those affected by the disaster, and called for making every effort to extinguish the fire and minimize casualties and losses,&quot; state broadcaster CCTV said. Lee, the city leader, said he was &quot;deeply saddened&quot; and that all government departments were assisting residents affected by the fire. &#39;Dare not leave&#39;&nbsp;A Tai Po resident surnamed So, 57, said the fire was &quot;heartbreaking.&quot; &quot;There&#39;s nothing that can be done about the property. We can only hope that everyone, no matter old or young, can return safely,&quot; So told AFP. An apartment owner in his 40s who did not want to give his name told AFP that the government needed to help those made homeless by the blaze. &quot;The fire is not yet under control, and I dare not leave, and I don&#39;t know what I can do,&quot; he said. Residents were seen being evacuated via large coaches, with local media reporting that adjacent blocks were also being cleared. Sections of a nearby highway were also closed by the firefighting operation. Deadly fires were once a regular scourge in densely populated Hong Kong, especially in poorer neighborhoods. However, safety measures have been ramped up in recent decades, and such fires have become much less commonplace.

Asia

City leader John says 279 people are unaccounted for; 29 people are hospitalized, seven in critical condition.

Hong Kong high-rise fire kills at least 36, 200-plus missing

BERLIN: NASA has confirmed that it will contribute to Europe&#39;s Martian rover Rosalind Franklin, which is scheduled to launch in 2028 after repeated delays, the European Space Agency said on Wednesday.&nbsp;The rover aims to be the first on the red planet capable of drilling up to two metres (6.5 feet) below the surface to search for extraterrestrial life.&nbsp;However, the mission relies on several elements from NASA, which US President Donald Trump has targeted with steep budget cuts since returning to the White House in January.&nbsp;ESA director general Josef Aschbacher said he had received &quot;a letter from the NASA administration to confirm the contributions&quot; of the US space agency to the mission.&nbsp;&quot;That is good news,&quot; Aschbacher said on the sidelines of the ESA&#39;s ministerial council meeting being held this week in the German city of Bremen.&nbsp;The mission was originally intended to launch in 2020, but suffered several setbacks.&nbsp;In 2022, it was suspended after the ESA ended cooperation with Russia -- the agency&#39;s main partner for the mission -- following Moscow&#39;s invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;The ESA then turned to the United States for help.&nbsp;Aschbacher said NASA was contributing to three of the mission&#39;s elements: the launcher, radioisotope heater unit and braking engine.&nbsp;The braking engine had been confirmed some time ago, but the other two elements will be a relief for the ESA.&nbsp;NASA is also providing &quot;one instrument to analyse traces of possible life on Mars,&quot; Aschbacher added.&nbsp;The rover, which is named after British scientist Rosalind Franklin, is planned to touch down on the Martian surface in 2030.

Artificial Intelligence

NASA will contribute key elements to Europe's Martian rover, Rosalind Franklin, launching in 2028. The rover aims to search for life by drilling 2 meters below Mars' surface. It suffered delays, including suspension in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine.

NASA confirms support for delayed European Mars rover: ESA

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Iran has expressed its readiness to play a supportive role in addressing ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, offering a &ldquo;blank cheque&rdquo; to help resolve these issues, while also emphasizing the strengthening of trade and economic relations between Tehran and Islamabad. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Ali Ardeshir Larijani, Secretary of Iran&rsquo;s Supreme National Security Council, highlighted Tehran&rsquo;s willingness to assist if Pakistan seeks Iran&rsquo;s involvement in resolving regional issues. &ldquo;Pakistan is very dear and honourable to the Iranian people,&quot; Larijani said, adding we can help ease regional tensions. Earlier, addressing a press conference, the senior Iranian official said: &ldquo;We are prepared to give the Pakistanis a &lsquo;blank cheque&rsquo; to help resolve the regional issues, to be used whenever they deem necessary.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4FfT1CCdgvQ?si=_GiRA_uvmnUEmz-l" title="YouTube video player" 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 this is the blank cheque for peace, and Pakistan can encash it whenever it wants. In the interview with Pakistan TV, Ali Larijani said: &ldquo;We have left this matter to our Pakistani brothers and are ready to move forward if they see a role for us. Our goal is to support the solution for the people of Pakistan.&rdquo; Larijani also noted that Iran has shown &ldquo;expressive readiness&rdquo; to help facilitate dialogue and cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, following discussions with Pakistani leadership. Pakistan and Iran share historically friendly ties, with cooperation spanning trade, energy and regional security. Over the past decade, both countries have worked on multiple initiatives, including energy pipelines, cross-border trade agreements and joint efforts to maintain stability in Afghanistan. Iran has previously too shown its interest in fostering peace and stability in the region. Pakistan also emphasised the importance of regional collaboration in trade, transport and energy infrastructure, seeking to strengthen bilateral ties through tangible projects. Larijani also touched upon bilateral trade and investment initiatives. He noted that following the recent visit of Iran&rsquo;s president, both countries have intensified efforts to enhance economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, railway networks and pipeline projects. &ldquo;Work has begun on promoting trade and economic ties between our countries, especially in agriculture, as per the directives of our leaders. We are exploring various avenues to elevate trade volume,&rdquo; Larijani stated. He added that both sides have discussed multiple strategies to expand and strengthen these relations, with optimism for tangible outcomes in the near future.

The Newsroom

Iran offers a “blank cheque” to help Pakistan ease tensions with Afghanistan, while urging stronger trade, energy and investment cooperation following recent high-level engagements and economic discussions.

Iran offers ‘blank cheque’ to support Pakistan-Afghanistan peace, eyes stronger bilateral ties

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday unveiled a proposal for a Regional Maritime Dialogue, a multicontinental framework aimed at bringing together countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council, Central Asia and Africa to address shared maritime challenges and strengthen cooperation, according to an official statement.&nbsp;The initiative was introduced by Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry during a breakfast reception hosted by Pakistan at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London.&nbsp;Delegations from more than 173 countries, including over 100 maritime ministers, attended what officials described as one of the most widely participated events of the IMO Assembly week.&nbsp;Calling the IMO &ldquo;the pinnacle of maritime diplomacy,&rdquo; Junaid told delegates that Pakistan was &ldquo;ready to play a proactive role in shaping regulations that reflect the needs of our region.&rdquo;&nbsp;Junaid and IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez also jointly inaugurated a model of the PNSC ship Karachi, one of three new vessels the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation intends to acquire.&nbsp;The minister said the rapidly evolving maritime environment required new regional mechanisms capable of addressing &ldquo;operational, environmental, regulatory and technological needs.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added, &ldquo;Our maritime policies must reflect our vulnerabilities and our priorities.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to the proposal, the Regional Maritime Dialogue would prioritize emissions reduction, maritime safety, coordinated search-and-rescue operations and navigational safety.&nbsp;Junaid highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s current role as coordinator of NAVAREA IX, one of 21 global navigational zones under the World-Wide Navigational Warning Service, responsible for ensuring ships receive timely and reliable safety alerts.&nbsp;To support long-term capacity building, the minister also proposed the establishment of a Regional Maritime University and a Regional Maritime Training Institute, arguing that new IMO regulations, autonomous shipping and digitalization demand updated skills.&nbsp;&ldquo;We want to prepare our workforce for the future of shipping, where technology, environmental compliance and digital skills will be essential,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s ambition to emerge as a regional maritime leader, Junaid said the country remained committed to working closely with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and partners across Central Asia and Africa to shape global maritime policy and advance shared development priorities.

Climate & Environment

Economy

At IMO headquarters in London, Islamabad proposes a multicontinental maritime dialogue linking Gulf, Central Asian and African states to strengthen cooperation on safety, emissions, regulation and future shipping technologies.

Pakistan seeks multicontinental alliance to shape future of global shipping

ISLAMABAD: Bahrain has conferred its highest state award on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as both countries move to deepen political, economic and defense cooperation, according to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO).&nbsp;In a meeting in Manama, King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa presented Pakistani PM with the Order of Bahrain (First Class), described by the PMO as &ldquo;the highest award Bahrain confers on heads of state and government.&rdquo;&nbsp;The PMO said PM Sharif thanked the King for the warm reception and for what he called Bahrain&rsquo;s &ldquo;longstanding goodwill and friendship toward Pakistan.&rdquo; He also commended &ldquo;His Majesty&rsquo;s leadership in promoting peace, tolerance and coexistence.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to the PMO, King Hamad told Sharif that Bahrain had &ldquo;the privilege of being represented at a legal forum by none other than Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,&rdquo; adding that Pakistan&rsquo;s founding father &ldquo;remained Bahrain&rsquo;s lawyer for a long time.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both sides reviewed the &ldquo;encouraging momentum&rdquo; in bilateral ties and agreed to strengthen cooperation in political, economic, defense and cultural fields.&nbsp;The PMO quoted PM Sharif as reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to deepening relations &ldquo;based on shared faith and mutual respect.&rdquo;&nbsp;The prime minister thanked the King for Bahrain&rsquo;s continued support, including the establishment of the King Hamad University for Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences in Islamabad, inaugurated in September 2025.&nbsp;He also expressed gratitude for Bahrain&rsquo;s solidarity following recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan.&nbsp;On economic ties, the PMO said the prime minister highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s desire to expand trade and investment, noting that bilateral commerce is expected to grow with the upcoming Pakistan&ndash;GCC Free Trade Agreement, now in its final stages.&nbsp;He invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), particularly in food security, IT, construction, mining, tourism and healthcare.&nbsp;The PMO added that PM Sharif expressed appreciation for Bahrain&rsquo;s support to the more than 150,000 Pakistanis living in the Kingdom and thanked King Hamad for pardoning Pakistani prisoners.&nbsp;Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the defense partnership and agreed to continue cooperation in training, logistics, manpower and defense production.&nbsp;They also discussed developments in Gaza, agreeing that peace and stability are &ldquo;long overdue for the people of Gaza,&rdquo; the PMO said.&nbsp;At the end of the meeting, the PMO noted that both sides expressed confidence that the visit would &ldquo;further consolidate the enduring friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and Bahrain.

Foreign Affairs

In Manama, PM Shehbaz Sharif receives Bahrain’s highest honor, strengthens Pakistan-Bahrain ties, discusses trade, defence, regional issues, and affirms commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, says PMO.

 Bahrain awards top honor as leaders deepen strategic Pakistan ties

GAZA CITY: The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday under the US-brokered ceasefire exchange deal.&nbsp;&quot;The Ministry of Health announces the receipt of 15 bodies of martyrs released today by the Israeli occupation via the International Committee of the Red Cross, bringing the total number of bodies received to 345,&quot; the ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;A medical source at Gaza&#39;s Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis confirmed it had received 15 bodies via the Red Cross.&nbsp;Under the ceasefire deal, which came into effect on October 10, Israel was required to turn over the bodies of 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli returned.&nbsp;The 15 bodies returned on Wednesday were in exchange for the remains of Dror Or, one of the last three deceased hostages held in the Palestinian territory, whose body was handed over to Israel on Tuesday by militants, via the ICRC.&nbsp;Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement that the handover &quot;reflects Hamas&#39;s steadfast commitment to fully complete the exchange process and its ongoing efforts to finalize it despite significant difficulties.&quot;&nbsp;The last two hostages&#39; bodies still in Gaza are those of Israeli Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak.&nbsp;At the start of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, militants were holding 20 living hostages and 28 bodies of deceased captives.&nbsp;Hamas has since released all the living hostages and returned the remains of 26 dead hostages.&nbsp;In exchange, Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in its custody and returned the bodies of hundreds of dead Palestinians

Israel returned 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza under a US-brokered ceasefire deal, exchanging them for the remains of Israeli hostage Dror Or, Hamas says it remains committed to completing the process, with two hostage bodies still in Gaza.

Israel returns 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza under US-brokered ceasefire deal

ISLAMABAD: In a significant endorsement of its role in global arms control, Pakistan has been re-elected to the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for the term 2026-28. The vote was held during the 30th Session of the Conference of States Parties in The Hague, Netherlands, from Nov. 24 to 28. The 41-member Executive Council serves as the organization&#39;s principal policy-making body, overseeing implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and ensuring member-state compliance. It also advances scientific and economic cooperation for peaceful chemical use. With 193 states as parties, the convention is widely regarded as one of the most successful international disarmament treaties, having verified the destruction of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. Pakistan, which ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention&nbsp;in 1997, has remained an active contributor to the OPCW mandate and has been part of the executive council multiple times.&nbsp; The Pakistan Foreign Office said the country continues to host routine OPCW inspections at relevant national facilities and participates in capacity-building and technical cooperation initiatives.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" 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=1993554767017353469&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=3ba96c4b85199724f9f942c96144bb1d2a408154&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 922px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The foreign office described the re-election as an endorsement of Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;constructive contributions&rdquo; and a reflection of member states&rsquo; confidence in Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening global chemical security. &ldquo;Pakistan will continue to provide effective leadership and support to the work of the OPCW,&rdquo; the statement added. According to its website, the OPCW oversees the global endeavor to permanently and verifiably eliminate the use of chemical weapons.

File: Entrance of the OPCW headquarters in The Hague - Wikimedia Commons 

Pakistan was re-elected to the 41-member Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for 2026-28. Islamabad’s active participation and hosting of routine inspections highlight its ongoing role in promoting chemical weapons disarmament and compliance.

Pakistan retains seat at chemical weapons elimination body

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said a truly futuristic approach is essential to move forward. Speaking at PTV Home&rsquo;s programme &lsquo;Rising Pakistan&rsquo; on the occasion of the channel&rsquo;s 61st anniversary, Attaullah Tarar said new platforms are being created to connect Gen Z with PTV. The minister said during Pakistan-India war, it was realized that there was a need to start channels as a stratcom tool. &ldquo;We are encouraging private sector channels as well,&rdquo; he said. Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan TV Satellite has a fresh and new look and &ldquo;our stories are being quoted by international media outlets like BBC and Reuters&rdquo;. He said our strategic and geopolitical situation is such that exclusive stories from here have international significance.&ldquo;We brought new vigour in English media, whether it be digital or satellite,&rdquo; he said. Attaullah Tarar said very capable women were heading most departments in PTV, adding that it is a women-led initiative in the information domain.He said in sports, we got exclusive rights of many series through which we generated revenue. The minister said a sustainable model is needed.&nbsp; He went on to say that we are trying to do collaboration with the private sector for PTV Home. &ldquo;We can make good dramas and do collaborations with the private sector under profit-cost sharing basis,&rdquo; he said, adding that public-private partnership is a way forward. He said those who are leaders in entertainment in private sector should be invited to collaborate with PTV. The minister said today all those who are leading the entertainment industry say they started from PTV. He added that PTV has given birth to the entertainment, sports and news industries. Attaullah Tarar said he does not believe in criticism for the sake of criticism, adding that there should be constructive criticism to bring reforms. He said the private sector will be strongly encouraged in media projects, adding that Pakistan Idol was launched as private sector collaboration at a minimum cost. The information minister said the government aims to expand youth involvement through private sector programmes.

Speaking at PTV Home’s programme ‘Rising Pakistan’ on the occasion of the channel’s 61st anniversary, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said new platforms are being created to connect Gen Z with PTV. (Photo: Pakistan TV Satellite)

SAT News Desk

Speaking at an event marking PTV's 61st anniversary, the information minister said new platforms are being created to connect Gen Z with PTV.

Articles by Ayesha Mir