Ibrahim Babakhel

ISLAMABAD: India Ministry of Communications has ordered all phone manufacturers to preload the state-run &ldquo;Sanchar Saathi&rdquo; application on new devices, local media reported Monday, with companies given 90 days to comply and no option for users to delete the app. In a press release issued last week, India&rsquo;s Information Bureau urged citizens to adopt the platform, stating: &ldquo;The government has also implemented the Sanchar Saathi initiative, providing digital tools for citizens to verify and secure their mobile connections.&rdquo; Although Indian media assert the application will help curb crime and support law enforcement, digital rights and cybersecurity experts warn the measure poses serious risks to user privacy. Digital Rights Expert Haroon Baloch told Pakistan TV that the app&rsquo;s surveillance reach is &ldquo;unconstitutional and breaches rights to safety and security.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;a very big question of privacy arises,&rdquo; calling the mechanism &ldquo;spying on the users, thereby limiting the users&rsquo; privacy.&rdquo; Baloch explained that while tracking traffic data, such as IMEI numbers, SIMs, and tower signals, can reveal location, the app demands significantly broader access. &ldquo;This means the state can access information stored inside your mobile phone, including access to the gallery, phone book, and messages,&rdquo; he said. Pakistan TV Digital reviewed the extensive permissions sought by the application. Cybersecurity Analyst Anees Qureshi stressed that the undeletable nature of the app heightens the threat. &ldquo;You cannot uninstall this app, allowing it to tap your phone 24/7, and it can also download other apps without the permission of the user,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The concerning part is that they are making this app part of the Operating System, thus making these permissions mandatory.&rdquo; Experts also questioned whether the tool would meaningfully bolster national security. &ldquo;Terror groups and other non-state actors use more sophisticated communications and phones,&rdquo; Baloch noted, adding that such measures may only assist in addressing low-level crimes rather than serious threats.

Gadgets

India has mandated its “Sanchar Saathi” app on all new phones, making it undeletable. Experts warn it threatens privacy, granting the state extensive access to personal data and device functions

India imposes undeletable surveillance app, drawing sharp privacy backlash

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, in his opening address at the 6th Margalla Dialogue on Tuesday, warned of escalating geopolitical instability and the weakening of international institutions. &ldquo;In my recent statements on multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council, I have repeatedly warned that humanity is facing unprecedented challenges that threaten to disrupt global peace, security, and development,&rdquo; Dar told diplomats, policy experts, and academics attending the conference. This year&rsquo;s dialogue, organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, focused on the theme &ldquo;The Future of Global Order: Cooperation or Confrontation.&rdquo; Dar described the forum as &ldquo;timely and essential,&rdquo; acknowledging the organizers for convening a strategic policy conversation at a critical moment. He said the erosion of global governance mechanisms had become increasingly visible. &ldquo;There is a strong perception, backed by the examples of Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, that the Security Council is failing to fulfill its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security,&rdquo; he said. Dar reaffirmed that Pakistan would prioritize geoeconomics, regional connectivity, and international partnerships to unlock growth. He urged participants to &ldquo;explore practical pathways toward a more peaceful and equitable global order.&rdquo; Senator Mushahid Hussain said at the conference that the world was &ldquo;witnessing the birth of a new global order,&rdquo; arguing that &ldquo;the old Western-led system is no longer credible.&rdquo; He added that recent conflicts had demonstrated that &ldquo;size no longer equals strength,&rdquo; referencing geopolitical shifts in South Asia and the Middle East. Victor Z. Gao, chairman of the Energy Security Institute, reiterated China&rsquo;s strategic partnership with Pakistan, saying, &ldquo;China and Pakistan are iron-clad friends,&rdquo; while noting that &ldquo;China and the United States should remain ever grateful to Pakistan for bringing them together in 1971.&rdquo; Danial Dunde, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US-based think-tank, told Pakistan TV Digital that Pakistan and the US were now &ldquo;the closest they have been in 15 years.&rdquo; He added that Washington was increasingly viewing Pakistan &ldquo;not from an Indian or Chinese lens, but from Pakistan&rsquo;s own image.&rdquo; The Gaza crisis featured prominently throughout the dialogue, with several speakers calling it &ldquo;a genocide unfolding in real time,&rdquo; warning that global inaction had further eroded the credibility of multilateral institutions. Sessions on Pakistan&rsquo;s copper and lithium reserves highlighted these resources as &ldquo;strategic assets&rdquo; capable of boosting Pakistan&rsquo;s economic position in the emerging global market for critical minerals.

Security

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar says the international system is under severe strain, citing failures of multilateral institutions on Palestine and Kashmir, as Margalla Dialogue 2025 speakers urged renewed cooperation, geoeconomic priorities, and regional connectivity


At Margalla Dialogue 2025, Pakistan warns of global order facing historic reckoning

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s ruling party released a music video, &ldquo;Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai,&rdquo; earlier this month, to promote and celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi; instead, it&rsquo;s become one of the most-rejected videos in recent Indian internet history.&nbsp;The track, produced by the heavyweight label T-Series, has garnered an estimated 90 percent dislikes, with approximately 440,222 of these by Wednesday, according to independent tracking tools. On YouTube, where dislike counts are hidden, such a ratio is almost unheard of. Even the notorious YouTube Rewind 2018, the most disliked video and long held as the internet&rsquo;s ultimate cringe event, didn&rsquo;t cross the 90 percent mark.&nbsp;In the video, Bollywood regulars such as Rajkummar Rao, Varun Dhawan, and Arshad Warsi, among others, featured singing along.&nbsp;Percent-wise, the rejection is extremely rare but not unprecedented. In 2020, Mahesh Bhatt&rsquo;s Sadak 2 trailer suffered a similar digital mutiny, with roughly 95% dislikes after calls to boycott &ldquo;nepotism cinema.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;BJP IT-cell head Amit Malviya dismissed screenshots as fake, arguing that dislike counts are hidden. Yet, multiple third-party audit tools confirm the ratio, revealing one of the largest online disapprovals for any state-endorsed media project. <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; line-height: 2;"><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=1978875505450586259&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=43b92c7a450fb8983d3be099a4d14e04c98508bd&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Ironically, a parody uploaded just days later: &ldquo;Godi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai&rdquo; by the YouTuber Khota Sikka amassed more likes than the original, turning satire into social commentary. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed" style="line-height: 2;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d1Jv1Cv3Cv8?si=ImlUCGA_ZOyZhl0u" 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;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe>&nbsp;</div>&nbsp;The episode fits neatly into a decade-long pattern of image-driven politics: hologram rallies, Modi photobooths, seaplane photo-ops, peacock-feeding videos, and the cosmetic &ldquo;city makeovers&rdquo; ahead of global summits. Each spectacle markets Modi as a brand; critics argue that each backlash suggests that brand fatigue has set in.&nbsp;What the BJP framed as a rousing anthem of hope now reads, to many, as a political remix no one asked for. The government&rsquo;s billion-dollar PR machine may still hum, but the audience seems to be reaching for the skip button.

India

India’s ruling BJP’s new promotional music video, “Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai,” has backfired spectacularly, drawing nearly 90% dislikes online. Despite official denials, third-party tools confirm massive public rejection, signaling growing fatigue with Modi’s image politics.

From melody to mockery: Modi’s anthem drowns in dislikes

Maryam Shah

ISLAMABAD: In a city better known for its politics than its cinema, a dark, slow-burning thriller is quietly rewriting Pakistan&rsquo;s film narrative.&nbsp;Jujji, a true-crime drama born out of Rawalpindi&rsquo;s narrow streets and indie grit, has captured international attention, earning a global distribution deal with US company Buffalo 8 and a feature on Variety, the Hollywood trade publication.&nbsp;Directed by Habib Shahzad and written by Ahmad Umar Ayaz, the film follows two police officers, one idealistic, one cynical, as they hunt a serial killer terrorizing Rawalpindi. What begins as a gripping manhunt unfolds into a reflection on morality, guilt, and the blurred line between justice and vengeance.&nbsp;Developed over two years and filmed entirely on location, Jujji will debut on Amazon Prime Video and Verizon Fios/Vubiquity in the US and UK on November 21, before its theatrical release in Pakistan.&nbsp;The trailer premiered on Variety, where critics hailed it as a bold, genre-defying work that &ldquo;merges authentic South Asian storytelling with the universal appeal of true-crime cinema.&rdquo;&nbsp;What began as a modest collaboration between BHM Films and Yūgen Studios has evolved into a statement on Pakistan&rsquo;s growing ability to tell globally resonant stories.&nbsp;The film swept multiple awards at the Gandhara Independent Film Festival and the Punjab Police Film Festival, where it was praised for its realism and emotional depth.&nbsp;&ldquo;Jujji is not just a film; it&rsquo;s a reflection of Pakistan&rsquo;s streets, fears, and resilience,&rdquo; said director Habib Shahzad. &ldquo;We wanted to tell a story that is rooted in our soil yet universal in its emotion.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hashim Zafar Wadhen, head of research and development at Yūgen Studios, told Pakistan TV Digital that the film&rsquo;s success demonstrates the global potential of locally grounded stories.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistani films can travel across borders when grounded in local realities but crafted with global sensibilities,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Beyond its crime and suspense, Jujji is also a cinematic love letter to Rawalpindi. Its flickering streetlights, crowded alleys, and flawed heroes.&nbsp;What started as a self-funded indie project now stands shoulder to shoulder with international releases. As its shadowy world prepares to stream worldwide, Jujji signals a confident new era for Pakistani cinema, one where local storytelling meets global ambition.&nbsp;Jujji will be available On Demand internationally from November 21, with its Pakistan release to follow. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed" style="line-height: 2;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CAjSMv3Kj-I?si=K5RlaWp_G7NTfyUf" 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> </div>

Film & TV

Jujji, a true-crime thriller set in Rawalpindi, follows two police officers hunting a serial killer. It has earned global acclaim and will stream internationally from November 21.

Rawalpindi’s crime drama ‘Jujji’ takes Pakistani cinema to world stage

ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom (UK) may suspend visa access for countries that refuse to take back deported nationals, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said after hosting a key meeting of the &ldquo;Five Eyes&rdquo; security alliance in London. &ldquo;If countries don&rsquo;t play ball, we will take action, including possibly cutting visas in the future,&rdquo; Mahmood told reporters at a press conference. The Five Eyes summit brought together security ministers from the UK, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The talks focused on joint efforts to dismantle people-smuggling networks, tackle online child sexual abuse, and curb the spread of synthetic opioids. Mahmood emphasized that securing the UK&rsquo;s borders is her &ldquo;top priority.&rdquo; The UK already has migrant return agreements in place with countries including Albania, India, Vietnam, and Nigeria. Nations that fail to cooperate on deportations now risk visa restrictions for their citizens. So far this year, more than 30,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats. A figure Mahmood described as &ldquo;utterly unacceptable.&rdquo; Critics warn of diplomatic falloutOpposition politicians and migrant rights groups have warned that imposing visa sanctions could damage diplomatic relations and complicate forced removals. Still, Mahmood defended the approach, citing the scale of the migration crisis: &ldquo;I will do whatever it takes.&rdquo; Historic appointment, high stakesMahmood&rsquo;s appointment as Home Secretary is historic: she is the first Muslim woman and first British-Pakistani to hold the role. The milestone has drawn both praise and heightened scrutiny. As she moves to reshape UK immigration policy, Mahmood faces the dual challenges of delivering swift, visible results while managing the diplomatic and public pressures that come with one of Britain&rsquo;s most politically charged portfolios.

United Kingdom

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that countries refusing to accept deported nationals could face visa suspensions

UK mulls visa restrictions for countries that refuse migrant returns

WASHINGTON: US forces have launched an operation against the Islamic State group in Syria in response to an attack in Palmyra that left three Americans dead, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said Friday. &quot;US forces commenced OPERATION HAWKEYE STRIKE in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on US forces that occurred on December 13th,&quot; Hegseth wrote on X, using an acronym for the jihadist group

Americas

The US launched Operation Hawkeye Strike in Syria targeting ISIS in retaliation for a December 13 attack that killed three American troops, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth confirmed

Pentagon announces Syria operation in response to attack on US troops

WASHINGTON: The US Justice Department on Friday began releasing the long-awaited records from the investigation into the politically explosive case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files are expected to shed light on the disgraced financier&#39;s connections with high-profile business executives, celebrities, academics and politicians, including President Donald Trump. However it is unclear how much Trump&#39;s department -- which has total control over the release -- will allow to see the light of day or even how it is selecting documents. The huge trove of documents included seven pages listing the names of 254 masseuses are entirely blacked out, alongside the explanation &quot;redacted to protect potential victim information.&quot; The release also included numerous photographs not previously made public -- including one depicting a younger-looking former president Bill Clinton reclining in a hot tub, with part of the image obscured by a black rectangle. Another image depicts Clinton swimming with a dark-haired woman who appears to be Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Trump&#39;s name appears in a contact book found in the files, although it is not clear whom the book belonged to. Trump, once a close friend of Epstein, fought for months to prevent the release of the records related to the investigation of Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The Republican president eventually caved to pressure from Congress, including from his own party, and signed a law last month compelling publication of the materials. Friday was the deadline set by Congress for release of the records. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in an interview with &quot;Fox and Friends,&quot; said several hundred thousand documents would be released on Friday and several hundred thousand more in the coming weeks. Prosecutors have the latitude to withhold material related to active investigations and Blanche said the files will also be painstakingly redacted to protect the identities of Epstein&#39;s hundreds of victims. He said &quot;no new charges&quot; were imminent in a scandal that continues to convulse America. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the partial release. &quot;This is nothing more than a cover up to protect Donald Trump from his ugly past,&quot; &nbsp;Schumer said in a statement. - &#39;Democrat hoax&#39; -For Trump, the moment carries enormous personal and political sensitivity. The president was once a close friend of Epstein moving in the same Palm Beach and New York social circles in the 1990s and appearing together at parties for years. Trump severed ties with Epstein years before the 2019 arrest and is not accused of wrongdoing in the case. But his right-wing base has long been obsessed by the Epstein saga and conspiracy theories that the financier oversaw a sex trafficking ring for the world&#39;s elite. Running for the White House, Trump promised to release all the files. However, after returning to office, Trump dismissed the push for transparency as a &quot;Democrat hoax.&quot; Trump&#39;s FBI and Justice Department triggered a political furor in July with a memo stating that there would be no further disclosures of evidence from the Epstein probe. The memo said there was &quot;no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions&quot; or had a &quot;client list.&quot; Trump then fought Congress over its drive to get the records out in public, only relenting in the face of a populist revolt. - Ghislaine Maxwell -Epstein&#39;s former girlfriend Maxwell is the only person convicted in connection with Epstein, even if Trump&#39;s MAGA supporters have for years believed that &quot;deep state&quot; elites are protecting a Who&#39;s Who of Democratic politicians and Hollywood figures. Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting underage girls for Epstein, whose death was ruled a suicide. For the public and victims, the release of the files marks the clearest opportunity yet to shed light on the scandal. The newly released records could clarify how Epstein operated, who assisted him and why prosecutors stalled for years before bringing charges against him.&nbsp;

The US Justice Department began releasing Jeffrey Epstein investigation files, potentially revealing connections to high-profile figures, including Trump and Clinton. Many documents are heavily redacted, with no new charges expected

Trump administration begins release of Epstein files

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The United States is &ldquo;very grateful&rdquo; for Pakistan&rsquo;s offer to be part of a Gaza stabilization force, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. Rubio made the remarks during an end-of-year news conference at the State Department Press Briefing Room in Washington, DC, while responding to questions from journalists.&nbsp;When asked whether Washington had received Pakistan&rsquo;s consent to deploy troops for peacebuilding efforts in Gaza, Rubio said the US appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s willingness to participate, or at least consider participation, in the proposed force. The proposed stabilization initiative is part of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s 20-point Gaza plan, which calls for the deployment of troops from Muslim-majority countries during a transitional phase to support security and governance as the conflict-affected Palestinian territory moves toward reconstruction and a long-term political settlement. Rubio noted that further clarity was still needed before any country could be asked to make a formal commitment. A day earlier, Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed that discussions were ongoing in &ldquo;certain capitals&rdquo; and that Islamabad had not yet made a sovereign decision. &ldquo;I am not aware of any specific request made to Pakistan. We will inform you about any development if it takes place,&rdquo; he said.

US Secretary of State says additional clarity is needed before any country, including Pakistan, can be formally asked to commit troops to the Gaza stabilization force

Grateful for Pakistan’s offer to be part of Gaza stabilization force: Rubio

Washington: Officials in the US state of Rhode Island have denounced misinformation that they said complicated their multiday search for the gunman who killed two students and wounded others at Brown University.&nbsp;Law enforcement identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a Portuguese national who attended the Ivy League institution decades ago. They said he acted alone and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a New Hampshire storage unit.&nbsp;But throughout the week, anonymous and right-wing accounts on X flooded the platform with unfounded posts claiming the shooter was a Palestinian enrolled at the school, a narrative that exploded further as university webpages mentioning the student were seemingly removed.&nbsp;&quot;Criminal investigations are grounded in evidence, not speculation or online commentary,&quot; Colonel Darnell Weaver, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, said at the briefing announcing Neves Valente&#39;s identification late Thursday.&nbsp;&quot;The endless barrage of misinformation, disinformation, rumors, leaks and clickbait were not helpful in this investigation. Distractions and unfounded criticisms do not support this work. They complicate it and threaten to undermine the justice we seek.&quot;&nbsp;The claims began when an anonymous X account posted photos and videos Monday of the student, Mustapha Kharbouch, beside footage police had released of the person of interest.&nbsp;Within hours, Kharbouch&#39;s image and email were plastered across social media, prompting death and deportation threats as internet sleuths homed in on the individual&#39;s pro-Palestinian activism and compared their body and gait to the suspect.&nbsp;Right-wing podcaster Tim Pool, billionaire Bill Ackman and US Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon were among those who amplified the narrative.&nbsp;&quot;Bring him to swift American justice,&quot; said one widespread post Ackman shared, which alleged a cover-up and declared a &quot;war with Islam.&quot;&nbsp;Prior to Neves Valente&#39;s identification, a member of a local law enforcement agency involved in the investigation told AFP that Kharbouch had never been a person of interest.

Rhode Island officials condemned online misinformation that hindered the Brown University shooting investigation, falsely blaming a Palestinian student. Police identified the real suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, who acted alone and was found dead.

Misinformation complicated Brown University shooting probe: police

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund said Friday that its board has approved $206 million in emergency financing for Sri Lanka, to help in the country&#39;s recovery from the devastating Cyclone Ditwah.&nbsp;The natural disaster killed more than 640 people, and affected more than 10 percent of Sri Lanka&#39;s population. Floods and landslides caused by the cyclone left extensive damage throughout the South Asian island nation.&nbsp;&quot;The disaster has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, generating significant fiscal pressures and balance-of-payments needs,&quot; IMF deputy managing director Kenji Okamura said in a statement.&nbsp;The IMF&#39;s emergency aid -- which comes under the Washington-based lender&#39;s rapid financing instrument -- is meant to help address these pressures, he added.&nbsp;The announcement comes a day after Sri Lanka&#39;s government unveiled plans for $1.6 billion in additional spending next year to fund cyclone recovery.&nbsp;While it is still early for a firm assessment, the fund&#39;s mission chief for Sri Lanka, Evan Papageorgiou, flagged a likely hit to economic activity in the short-term.&nbsp;&quot;Agriculture and tourism are key sectors in Sri Lanka&#39;s growth and are being hit the hardest,&quot; he told reporters in a briefing.&nbsp;&quot;Inflation is likely to rise due to supply disruptions, and the current account deficit will likely widen over the next year,&quot; he added.&nbsp;The government had also secured a World Bank agreement to repurpose $120 million from an ongoing project for disaster recovery spending.&nbsp;Separately, it got a $200 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to finance water management, the first such funding since the cyclone.&nbsp;The IMF said Friday that Sri Lankan authorities are still committed to their economic reform program aided by support of around $3 billion.&nbsp;A further tranche of this rescue package known as the Extended Fund Facility was coming up when the cyclone hit.&nbsp;The IMF said it has deferred the fifth review of the package, with a team set to visit Sri Lanka in early 2026 to resume discussions.&nbsp;It noted this deferment took place due to the time needed to assess the cyclone&#39;s economic impact and examine how an IMF-supported program can best support Sri Lanka&#39;s recovery and reconstruction efforts -- while preserving policy priorities

Asia

The IMF approved $206 million in emergency financing for Sri Lanka to aid recovery from Cyclone Ditwah, which killed over 640 people. The funds will address humanitarian needs, economic disruptions, and support ongoing reform programs.

IMF approves $206M aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Friday marked a new milestone in academic cooperation with the inauguration of the Pakistan Study Centre at Shandong University, aimed at strengthening research collaboration, policy dialogue and student exchanges, particularly in agriculture and fisheries.&nbsp;The center was inaugurated by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi alongside Shandong University Executive Vice President Wu Zhen, according to an official statement issued by Islamabad&rsquo;s diplomatic mission in Beijing.&nbsp;Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Hashmi thanked the university leadership for backing the initiative, saying it reflected the growing depth of Pakistan-China cooperation in higher education and research.&nbsp;&ldquo;Ambassador Hashmi thanked the university leadership for their strong support in realizing this initiative,&rdquo; the embassy said in its statement.&nbsp;Highlighting the broader bilateral context, Hashmi noted the increasing momentum in Pakistan-China relations, with education and research emerging as key pillars of engagement.&nbsp;He described Shandong University, internationally recognized for innovation in agriculture and fisheries, as an ideal host for the center.&nbsp;&ldquo;He emphasized the importance of academic platforms in building long-term people-to-people linkages,&rdquo; the statement added.&nbsp;The Pakistan Study Centre is intended to function as a hub for Pakistan-focused studies, joint research projects, business-to-business engagement, and enhanced student interaction between the two countries.&nbsp;Ahead of the inauguration, Ambassador Hashmi and Vice President Wu Zhen held discussions on leveraging the center for mutually beneficial academic and research initiatives, with a particular focus on agriculture and fisheries.&nbsp;As part of his visit, Hashmi was also given a tour of the Shandong University Museum, the embassy said.&nbsp;The establishment of the center underscores Islamabad and Beijing&rsquo;s efforts to institutionalize academic collaboration as a foundation for sustained bilateral engagement.

Pakistan inaugurated a Study Centre at Shandong University to enhance academic cooperation, research, and student exchanges, particularly in agriculture and fisheries, strengthening Pakistan-China bilateral relations.

Pakistan Study Centre opens at China’s Shandong University, deepening bilateral academic ties

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday summoned Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim Deputy Head of Mission to Foreign Office following a suicide terrorist attack in North Waziristan that martyred four security personnel, as Islamabad slammed Afghanistan-based militants and demanded decisive action.&nbsp;In an official statement, the Foreign Office condemned the attack in the &ldquo;strongest possible terms,&rdquo; saying it was carried out by &ldquo;Khwarij belonging to the Kharji Gul Bahadur Group&rdquo; against a military camp in the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.&nbsp;Islamabad uses the term &ldquo;Khawarij&rdquo; for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), invoking a historical label for an extremist sect in early Islam that rejected legitimate authority and declared other Muslims apostates.&nbsp;&ldquo;To convey our strong demarche, the Afghan Deputy Head of Mission was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Pakistan demanded a thorough investigation and concrete measures against those responsible for planning, facilitating and executing terrorist attacks from Afghan soil.&nbsp;Earlier, four terrorists were killed and four Pakistani soldiers were martyred when security forces foiled the major attack on December 19 in the Boya area of North Waziristan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).&nbsp;&ldquo;In a heinous and cowardly terrorist act, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij attacked a security forces camp,&rdquo; the ISPR said, adding that the attackers attempted to breach the camp&rsquo;s perimeter.&nbsp;The military said troops responded swiftly, preventing the militants from entering the facility.&nbsp;After failing to penetrate the defenses, the terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the outer wall, causing its collapse and damaging nearby civilian infrastructure, including a mosque.&nbsp;&ldquo;This blatant act of barbarism inflicted severe injuries on 15 local civilians, including women and children,&rdquo; the ISPR said, adding that several homes were also damaged.&nbsp;Security forces engaged the attackers and killed all four terrorists. &ldquo;Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, own troops engaged the intruders with precision,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;During the intense exchange of fire, four soldiers embraced martyrdom. The ISPR identified them as Havildar Muhammad Waqas, 42, from Kotli; Naik Khanwaiz, 38, from Mansehra; Sepoy Sufyan Haider, 25, from Vehari; and Sepoy Riffat, 32, from Layyah.&nbsp;&ldquo;Having fought gallantly, these brave sons of the soil paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,&rdquo; the military said.&nbsp;The ISPR said the attack was planned and orchestrated by Afghanistan-based Khwarij, contradicting claims by the Afghan interim authorities that no militant groups are operating from their territory.&nbsp;Pakistan urged the interim Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan reserves the right to hunt these Khwarij down and eliminate their facilitators and affiliates to ensure the safety of its people,&rdquo; the ISPR said.&nbsp;The Foreign Office added that Afghan interim authorities have been categorically informed that Pakistan reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens amid rising cross-border militancy.&nbsp;Militant activity in KP has surged since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, with armed groups frequently targeting security convoys, checkpoints, and government officials through attacks, kidnappings, and assassinations.&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly warned that militant groups, including Fitna al Khwarij, are operating from safe havens across the Afghan border and receiving foreign support to conduct terrorist operations within Pakistan.&nbsp;Islamabad has consistently raised these concerns with Afghan interim authorities, calling for decisive action. Despite Pakistan&rsquo;s continued diplomatic engagement and restraint, repeated cross-border attacks have escalated tensions between the two countries.&nbsp;

Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s interim envoy after a suicide attack in North Waziristan martyred four soldiers. Islamabad blamed Afghanistan-based militants, demanded action against perpetrators, and reaffirmed its right to defend sovereignty amid rising cross-border militancy

Pakistan issues demarche to Kabul following deadly North Waziristan attack

POISSY: Matvei Safonov probably saved two penalties with a broken hand to win Paris Saint-Germain the Intercontinental Cup win, his coach Luis Enrique said Friday.&nbsp;The Russian stopped four spot kicks in the shootout in Qatar on Wednesday as PSG edged Brazilians Flamengo to lift another trophy.&nbsp;&quot;The player himself doesn&#39;t know how it happened,&quot; said Luis Enrique.&nbsp;&quot;We think it was on the third penalty kick. He made a strange movement and fractured it. He saved the last two shots with the fracture. The adrenaline was so powerful that the player was able to do it without pain. It&#39;s incredible.&quot;&nbsp;The club released a statement saying that &nbsp;&quot;a further update will be provided in three to four weeks&quot;.&nbsp;Luis Enrique, who has had to deal with a string of injuries this season, said he had not spoken to Safonov.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s karma,&quot; Luis Enrique added. &quot;Life is telling him he needs to rest, recover, and accept it. With his mentality, he&#39;ll come back stronger.&quot;&nbsp;Luis Enrique was speaking on the eve of the trip to face fifth-tier Vendee Fontenay in the French Cup.&nbsp;The coach could continue his habit of using backups in the domestic cups and pick third-choice Renato Marin will be in goal, but he could also take the opportunity to hand Lucas Chevalier a first game since recovering from an ankle injury.&nbsp;Safonov&#39;s exploits appeared to fuel a bubbling debate over who should start in goal for the European champions.&nbsp;The 26-year-old Russian began the season as the number two, but his match-winning exploits in Qatar followed several impressive displays standing in for the injured Chevalier, who made a shaky start to the season.&nbsp;Chevalier, who turned 24 in November, was acquired in the summer because coach Luis Enrique liked his footwork with the ball but he has sometimes looked less reliable stopping shots.

Football

Matvei Safonov saved four penalties, including two with a broken hand, to give PSG the Intercontinental Cup over Flamengo. Coach Luis Enrique praised his heroics, noting Safonov’s resilience and potential return stronger after recovery.

PSG penalty hero Safonov ended Intercontinental win with broken hand

ROME: A famine declared in Gaza in August is now over thanks to improved access for humanitarian aid, the United Nations said on Friday, but warned the food situation in the Palestinian territory remained &quot;critical&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;No areas are classified in Famine,&quot; said the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC), a coalition of monitors tasked by the UN to warn of impending crises.&nbsp;But it warned &quot;the situation remains critical: the entire Gaza Strip is classified in Emergency&quot;.&nbsp;A US-sponsored ceasefire has halted the fighting in Gaza that began after Hamas&#39;s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.&nbsp;But the deal, in effect since October 10, remains fragile as Israel and Hamas accuse each other almost daily of violations.&nbsp;

Middle East

The UN says famine declared in Gaza in August has ended due to increased aid access, but food conditions remain critical, with all areas in emergency status, amid a US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

UN declares famine over in Gaza, says 'situation remains critical'

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Bangladeshi activists and journalists have accused India of providing safe havens to terrorists involved in killings as Bangladesh once again erupts in protests after leader of 2024 student-led uprising Sharif Osman Bin Hadi succumbed to his injuries in Singapore. Hadi, who was expected to contest the February elections, was shot in the head on December 12 in Dhaka. He was evacuated to Singapore but could not survive. Pakistan TV talked to a number of journalists and civil society activists who agreed that anti-India sentiments had risen sharply in Bangladesh. Civil society activist and entrepreneur Fahim Mashroor told Pakistan TV that following Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s ouster and the installation of Dr Muhammad Yunus&rsquo;s interim administration, relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have deteriorated sharply. &ldquo;For the last 15 months, right after Sheikh Hasina was ousted and the new administration under Dr Yunus took over, diplomatic relations have been extremely thorny. The key issue has been Sheikh Hasina being sheltered in India,&rdquo; Fahim Mashroor said. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sharif Osman bin Hadi was a very strong voice against Indian hegemony; the person who shot Hadi was a leader of the student union of Awami League and is now in India; anti-India sentiment is rising in Bangladesh. - Journalist from Dhaka Kamaruzzaman<a href="https://twitter.com/mkbablu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mkbablu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MoIB_Official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIB_Official</a>&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/GjZu7lAIoK">pic.twitter.com/GjZu7lAIoK</a>&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakTVGlobal/status/2001933630294364180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote></div> He said public anger escalated after the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent youth and cultural activist, who was reportedly targeted for his vocal opposition to Indian influence and the Awami League. &ldquo;His cultural activism strongly opposed Indian cultural hegemony, leading many to believe he was targeted because of his views, and that Indian active support cannot be ruled out. This is why public sentiment has taken a strongly anti-Indian turn,&rdquo; he said. Fahim Mashroor further said the assassin&rsquo;s known links to Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s party and subsequent flight to India, confirmed through CCTV footage, have intensified anti-India sentiment. &ldquo;People in Bangladesh remain extremely angry and firmly believe there is support for such activities through the Awami League and its operatives. There is a widespread perception that not only was the planning done on Indian soil, but that India is also providing safe haven to terrorists after such heinous acts,&rdquo; the civil society activist said. He said this perception of the Bangladeshi society is drawn from India&rsquo;s history of patronage toward Sheikh Hasina during her 15-year rule, when New Delhi was seen as supporting her authoritarian governance for strategic gain. Talking to Pakistan TV, senior journalist from Dhaka MD Kamruzzaman said protests have intensified across Dhaka following the death of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, particularly among students and young activists. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sheikh Hasina and her political associates, hiding in India, have threatened to kill people, especially youth, who are opposed to Awami League. - Civil society activist from Dhaka Fahim Mashroor<a href="https://twitter.com/fahimmashroor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fahimmashroor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MoIB_Official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIB_Official</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MoIBBdoffical?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIBBdoffical</a><a href="https://twitter.com/PakinBangladesh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PakinBangladesh</a><a href="https://twitter.com/bdhcpk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bdhcpk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a>&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/KW2ltsp65k">pic.twitter.com/KW2ltsp65k</a>&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakTVGlobal/status/2001943390834077924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote></div> He said Hadi had been a prominent figure in the movement that challenged nearly 16 years of authoritarian rule of Sheikh Hasina, adding that protesters claim that Hadi had been receiving multiple death threats. &ldquo;His popularity was rising rapidly, and people from all walks of life viewed Hadi as an icon of protest. Unfortunately, he had earlier warned that he had received multiple threats from different unknown numbers,&rdquo; the senior journalist said. He said a key source of public anger stems from reports that the gunman had fled to India. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The assassins were traced through CCTV footage; police say they fled to India which has made people extremely angry as they believe India is harbouring those responsible. - Civil society activist from Dhaka Fahim Mashroor<a href="https://twitter.com/fahimmashroor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fahimmashroor</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MoIB_Official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIB_Official</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MoIBBdoffical?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoIBBdoffical</a>&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/0X0VYv2Yme">pic.twitter.com/0X0VYv2Yme</a>&mdash; Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakTVGlobal/status/2001944238800703585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote></div> Kamruzzaman said this has fuelled growing anti-India sentiment, with demonstrators accusing New Delhi of sheltering individuals responsible for political violence in Bangladesh. &ldquo;According to protesters, he [Hadi] was targeted primarily because of his stance against the ousted regime and neighbouring India,&rdquo; the Bangladeshi journalist said. He further added that the unrest highlights deepening frustration over external interference and the country&rsquo;s ongoing struggle for democratic sovereignty. Another journalist from Bangladesh Muktadir Rashid told Pakistan TV that the demonstrators accuse India of involvement in Hadi&rsquo;s assassination and harbouring suspects linked to unrest in Bangladesh. He said anti-India sentiment is not new, fuelled over the years by public anger toward Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s government, which was backed by New Delhi. &ldquo;Anti-Indian sentiment is not new in Bangladesh at all, especially due to Sheikh Hasina&#39;s misrule, which was backed by the Indian government starting from 2014,&rdquo; he said. He said Hadi, a former teacher known for his calls for justice and youth empowerment, enjoyed strong grassroots popularity and was preparing to contest the upcoming elections. Muktadir Rashid said Hadi was shot last Friday, and reports suggest the prime suspect fled across the border into India, an area long associated with organised crime. His death has further ignited resentment against perceived Indian interference in Bangladesh&rsquo;s domestic politics, he added.

SAT News Desk

Bangladeshi activists state that India is sheltering terrorists after protest leader Sharif Osman Bin Hadi died from gunshot wounds, with the suspect fleeing to India.

Articles by Ibrahim Babakhel