Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: A mortar shell fired from the Afghan territory struck a residential area in the southwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province early in the morning, injuring three people, including a female police constable, police authorities confirmed to Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;According to district police, the shell landed in a house near the border in South Waziristan district , wounding two women, one of them a police constable, and a male resident.&nbsp;Officials said the women sustained minor injuries, while the man was reported to be in serious condition.&nbsp;The incident occurred during the early hours, when the mortar was reportedly launched from across the Afghan border into Pakistani territory, hitting the civilian neighborhood.

Security

A mortar shell fired from the Afghan territory struck a residential area in the southwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province early in the morning, injuring three people, including a female police constable, police authorities confirms

Mortar shell from Afghan side hits residential area, woman constable among three injured 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will participate in upcoming talks between Iran and the United States aimed at easing escalating tensions, the Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday.&nbsp;In a statement to Pakistan TV Digital, a Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan has been invited to take part in the Iran-US engagement and will be &ldquo;taken on board during the talks.&rdquo;&nbsp;Relations between Tehran and Washington have sharply deteriorated in recent weeks, following anti-government protests in Iran and a subsequent security crackdown. US President Donald Trump has warned of possible military action if tensions continue to escalate.&nbsp;The United States has also reinforced its military presence in the Middle East, including the deployment of an aircraft carrier group, amid growing concerns over regional stability.&nbsp;Publicly addressing the situation, Trump said he remained open to diplomacy but issued a warning if talks fail. &ldquo;I hope we&rsquo;re going to work something out,&rdquo; he said, adding that &ldquo;bad things would happen&rdquo; if no agreement is reached.&nbsp;Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran supports negotiations under clear conditions. &ldquo;I have instructed my Minister of Foreign Affairs, provided that a suitable environment exists, one free from threats and unreasonable expectations, to pursue fair and equitable negotiations,&rdquo; he said in a post on X.&nbsp;He added that the diplomatic effort was initiated following requests &ldquo;from friendly governments,&rdquo; underscoring Iran&rsquo;s stated preference for dialogue while maintaining it would respond decisively to any aggression.&nbsp;Pakistan has traditionally positioned itself as a proponent of regional diplomacy and de-escalation, particularly in matters affecting Middle East stability.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan will participate in upcoming talks between Iran and the United States aimed at easing escalating tensions, the Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday

Pakistan joins Iran-US talks as tensions rise: Foreign Office

ISLAMABAD: The United States committed more funds to rebuilding Afghanistan than it did to reconstructing 16 European nations under the post-World War II Marshall Plan, according to a report released Wednesday by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).&nbsp;Created by Congress in 2008 to provide independent oversight of US reconstruction efforts, SIGAR compiled its findings from original research, including interviews with US and NATO military and civilian officials, contractors, nongovernmental organizations, and Afghan government personnel.&nbsp;The report found that between 2002 and mid-2021, Congress appropriated approximately $144.7 billion for Afghanistan&rsquo;s reconstruction, far exceeding inflation-adjusted Marshall Plan spending.&nbsp;&ldquo;The mission promised to bring stability and democracy to Afghanistan, yet ultimately delivered neither,&rdquo; the report said.&nbsp;Despite nearly $90 billion allocated for security-sector assistance, Afghan security forces collapsed rapidly after the US military withdrawal in 2021.&nbsp;&ldquo;Costs were immense. Tens of thousands of people, including more than 2,450 US servicemembers, were killed. Many more were injured, among them more than 20,700 US servicemembers,&rdquo; the report added.&nbsp;SIGAR cited numerous interviews with former US and NATO officials, contractors, NGOs, and Afghan government staff, concluding that &ldquo;the seeds of failure in Afghanistan had been sown long before the final withdrawal.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Success, when measured against the ambitious goals set by the United States, may never have been achievable, regardless of the strategies adopted or the resources invested,&rdquo; the report said.&nbsp;&ldquo;The outcome in Afghanistan should serve as a cautionary tale for policymakers contemplating similar reconstruction efforts.&rdquo;&nbsp;Funding overviewThe report provided a detailed breakdown of how the funds were allocated. Of the total appropriations, 60% went to security, 24% to development projects, 5% to humanitarian assistance, and 11% to agency operations.&nbsp;Reconstruction funding peaked between 2009 and 2012, coinciding with surges in US troop deployments and civilian personnel in Afghanistan. During this period, SIGAR noted that almost 40% of total reconstruction funding was disbursed, with security-related projects consuming the majority of resources.&nbsp;Even after the US military withdrawal, assistance continued. Between October 2021 and June 2025, nearly $3.5 billion was appropriated for Afghanistan, with more than 72% earmarked for humanitarian aid to address urgent needs among Afghan civilians.&nbsp;Waste, fraud, and abandoned equipmentSIGAR&rsquo;s report highlighted significant instances of mismanagement, identifying 1,327 cases of waste, fraud, and abuse that resulted in at least $26 billion in lost funds and over $4.6 billion in potential savings.&nbsp;&ldquo;Criminal investigations resulting from SIGAR oversight led to 171 convictions, including some of the largest tax evasion and conspiracy cases in US history,&rdquo; the report stated.&nbsp;These investigations also recovered $1.7 billion through criminal fines, restitution, forfeitures, and civil settlements.&nbsp;The report further revealed that the United States left behind more than $38 billion in military equipment and civilian infrastructure during its withdrawal, much of it rendered unusable or vulnerable to insurgent takeover.&nbsp;Factors behind the mission&rsquo;s failureAccording to SIGAR, multiple strategic and operational shortcomings contributed to the collapse of the US reconstruction effort.&nbsp;The report criticized US alliances with corrupt Afghan powerbrokers, noting that such partnerships undermined efforts to promote democracy, good governance, and human rights. Flawed institution-building, unrealistic timelines, and rapid spending also increased opportunities for corruption and weakened program effectiveness.&nbsp;&ldquo;The gap between ambition and reality was vast,&rdquo; the report said.&nbsp;Other challenges included a persistent lack of understanding of Afghanistan&rsquo;s complex social, economic, and political dynamics, insufficient monitoring and evaluation of reconstruction programs, and the compounding effects of a prolonged conflict on development efforts.&nbsp;SIGAR noted that these issues created &ldquo;fundamental flaws&rdquo; in America&rsquo;s two-decade-long mission.&nbsp;&ldquo;If there is one overarching lesson to be learned from a tragedy that unfolded over 20 years, it is that any US mission similar in context, scale, and ambition must confront the real possibility of failure,&rdquo; the report said.&nbsp;Oversight challengesThe report also highlighted difficulties in overseeing US assistance programs.&nbsp;SIGAR was the only office of inspector general dedicated exclusively to Afghanistan reconstruction, facing hurdles such as limited agency cooperation, poor record-keeping, difficulty accessing program sites amid ongoing conflict, and high staff turnover at implementing agencies.&nbsp;&ldquo;A robust, in-country presence is critical to establishing a network of local sources to overcome the difficulty of conducting on-site investigations amid an ongoing war,&rdquo; the report added.&nbsp;Legacy and lessonsDespite the massive financial and human investment, SIGAR concluded that US reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan fell short of their stated objectives, leaving a complex legacy of fiscal cost, human suffering, and strategic lessons for future policymakers.&nbsp;&ldquo;The outcome in Afghanistan should serve as a cautionary tale for policymakers contemplating similar reconstruction efforts,&rdquo; the report said.&nbsp;The findings underscore that while US aid and military engagement were unprecedented in scale, structural challenges and misaligned strategies ultimately prevented the establishment of a stable, self-sufficient Afghan state.

Afghanistan

According to a SIGAR report, US Afghanistan reconstruction spending exceeded $144 billion, yet widespread corruption, strategic failures, and weak Afghan forces led to mission collapse and lasting instability.

US spent more on Afghanistan reconstruction than Marshall Plan: report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan responded with counter-fire after Afghan border forces launched unprovoked artillery shelling into Kurram district on Saturday night, a local police official told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;The official said the incident occurred at around 8:00 p.m., when Afghan forces &ldquo;fired 6&ndash;7 artillery rounds&rdquo; into Upper Kurram in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.&nbsp;Pakistani forces &ldquo;responded with heavy weaponry,&rdquo; he said, adding that &ldquo;relative calm had returned&rdquo; by the time authorities assessed the area. &ldquo;It was initiated from the Afghan side,&rdquo; the official confirmed.&nbsp;The exchange comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan frontier. Earlier this week, Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office said the security understanding reached in Qatar last month, meant to halt cross-border attacks, was no longer <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-not-to-hold-any-dialogue-with-terrorist-groups-foreign-office" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">functioning</a>.&nbsp;Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters during his Friday press briefing that the arrangement &ldquo;was never a conventional ceasefire,&rdquo; but a commitment that Afghan soil would not be used for attacks inside Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;Interpreting it in that sense, the ceasefire is not holding,&rdquo; he said, citing recent assaults involving Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK), and Afghan nationals. He added that continued incidents, including an attack in Islamabad, had eroded Pakistan&rsquo;s confidence in the mechanism.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s military has also raised concerns over cross-border facilitation of militants. During a November 25 briefing, military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Afghan forces &ldquo;routinely open fire on Pakistani border posts&rdquo; to <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/afghan-regime-now-a-threat-to-regional-security-says-pakistan-military" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">divert</a> attention and enable militant infiltration.&nbsp;He noted that large stretches of the Afghan side lack functional governance, allowing hostile groups to exploit gaps between border posts.&nbsp;Chaudhry said the difficult terrain, divided tribal communities, and distance between Pakistani posts and the frontier further complicate border control. Despite fencing and surveillance, he added, the porous environment and limited law-enforcement presence on the Afghan side continue to create vulnerabilities exploited by militant elements.

Afghan forces fired artillery into Upper Kurram Saturday night, prompting Pakistani retaliation, police said. Calm later returned amid ongoing concerns over cross-border attacks and militant infiltration.

Pakistan retaliates after Afghan forces fire unprovoked border shells: police

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s top intelligence official, Lieutenant General Asim Malik, has arrived in Istanbul to resume negotiations with the Afghan Taliban leadership, security sources told Pakistan TV Digital on Wednesday.&nbsp;Malik, the Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is expected to meet Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq as both sides enter the next phase of talks on the ongoing ceasefire and cross-border security arrangements.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif earlier confirmed the delegation&rsquo;s travel plans and reiterated that Islamabad expects decisive action against militant groups operating from Afghan territory, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).&nbsp;The ceasefire was initially agreed in Doha on October 18&ndash;19 and reaffirmed during last week&rsquo;s discussions in Istanbul. A principal-level meeting is scheduled for November 6 to finalize implementation details, including the establishment of a joint monitoring and verification mechanism.&nbsp;Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has said that both sides will continue talks to address remaining issues, stressing Kabul&rsquo;s desire for stable, respectful, and non-interfering bilateral relations.&nbsp;Officials describe the progress as a significant move toward regional stability, while underscoring that the ceasefire remains conditional on Afghan territory not being used for attacks in Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;This outcome reflects patience, diplomacy, and firm commitment to national interest,&rdquo; one official said.

Pakistani and Afghan Taliban delegations meet again today in Istanbul to finalize ceasefire implementation and anti-terror measures.

Pakistan intelligence chief in Türkiye for crucial Afghan talks

ISLAMABAD: Fierce clashes among rival Taliban factions in Afghanistan&rsquo;s Badakhshan province over the control of lucrative gold mines are exposing widening internal divisions within the group, according to officials and local reports. The ongoing disputes underscore how competition for valuable mineral resources continues to drive instability, corruption, and armed conflict in the region. The mines, which once served as a significant source of revenue for the Taliban during their insurgency, have now become the center of violent power struggles among different Taliban-aligned groups. On Wednesday, Afghan interim security officer Abdul Halim Hamidi was killed in a confrontation with an armed group linked to a businessman in Badakhshan, according to local media. Spokesperson for the Taliban-run Badakhshan Police Headquarters, Ehsanullah Kamgar, said the group involved was made up of &ldquo;10 to 12 armed men associated with a businessman active in the mining sector.&rdquo; Kamgar said the men had been the subject of multiple complaints before security forces were deployed. This incident followed several recent confrontations in the Shahr-e-Buzurg district. Earlier this week, at least five Taliban members were killed and three were wounded when clashes broke out between local and non-local Taliban fighters over mining control. Local reports named Shafiqullah Hafizi, the current Taliban director of mines in Badakhshan, and Abdul Rahman Ammar, the former head of the department, as key rivals in the dispute. During the fighting, Abdul Hamid, operations chief of the Taliban&rsquo;s Border Brigade, was among those killed, according to local media. Earlier this month, at least 10 Taliban members were also killed in heavy clashes in Yalor village, Yaftal district, involving Taliban members from Helmand and local Taliban fighters from Badakhshan. Local Taliban members accused fighters from Helmand of &ldquo;seizing the gold mines&rdquo; and cutting them off from revenue. Reports in Badakhshan suggest that Taliban members from the southern provinces were supported by the provincial Taliban governor and police chief, further deepening internal resentments. Strategic and economic ImportanceBadakhshan has long served as a key corridor for armed groups operating in northeastern Afghanistan. The Shahr-e-Buzurg district borders Chah Ab in Takhar, providing access to Dasht-e-Archi in Kunduz. A route historically used by insurgents. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime has noted that natural resources in Badakhshan are a major driver of conflict, stating that competition for the mines has &ldquo;created conditions of lawlessness and conflict and a hollowed-out state.&rdquo; Estimates suggest Afghanistan holds nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral reserves. Tolo News, citing a security chief in Badakhshan, reported that the Taliban earn approximately $0.4 to $0.7 million per month from the Raghistan gold mine alone. Historical precedentThe struggle for control of Badakhshan&rsquo;s gold mines predates the Taliban takeover in 2021. In 2014, a local commander named Abdul Malek seized the mines, claiming that local MP Zulmai Mujadidi had personally profited from exploiting them for over a decade. By 2016, the Taliban were reportedly receiving around 50% of mine revenue, allowing them to expand influence in the region before their return to power. Regional spilloverThe conflict has also taken on a cross-border dimension. On Aug. 24, Taliban fighters and Tajik border forces exchanged fire near the Panj River in Badakhshan, after mining activities altered the river&rsquo;s flow and threatened farmland on the Tajik side, according to reports. This was the first direct armed encounter between Tajik forces and the Taliban since 2021. While the Taliban have largely suppressed rival insurgent groups, such as the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), internal conflicts driven by competition for natural resources are emerging as a significant and escalating challenge to their authority.

Deadly clashes among Taliban factions in Badakhshan over lucrative gold mines highlight growing internal fractures within the group, with local and non-local forces competing for revenue in a region critical to Afghanistan’s mineral wealth and strategic routes

Gold mine power struggle exposes widening rifts inside Taliban ranks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan are preparing for a second round of talks in Istanbul, a follow-up to discussions held in Doha earlier this month, aimed at establishing what Islamabad calls a &ldquo;verifiable monitoring mechanism&rdquo; to address cross-border militant activity.&nbsp;The Pakistan Foreign Office confirmed on Friday that the dialogue will continue under T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s facilitation.&nbsp;The Afghan government also confirmed the talks. In a statement posted on X, Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the Acting Deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib had departed for T&uuml;rkiye &ldquo;to follow up on the agreement reached in Doha several days ago.&rdquo;&nbsp;At the time this report was filed, Pakistan had not publicly announced its delegation.&nbsp;While the agenda is expected to focus on preventing cross-border attacks, analysts caution that the core issues driving tensions remain unresolved.&nbsp;&lsquo;Elephant in the room&rsquo;Abdul Basit, senior associate fellow and head of the South Asia desk at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), told Pakistan TV Digital that progress will remain stalled unless Kabul acknowledges the presence of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Afghan soil.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Afghan side is not ready to accept the fact that the militant Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan continues to operate from its soil,&rdquo; Basit said. &ldquo;As long as Kabul continues to refute that, any breakthrough will remain but a distant dream.&rdquo;&nbsp;Basit said Pakistan wants the Taliban authorities to dismantle militant hideouts used to orchestrate attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul, meanwhile, has demanded assurances that Pakistan will respect Afghanistan&rsquo;s sovereignty following recent cross-border strikes. &ldquo;Both parties are entering the talks with different aims,&rdquo; Basit said.&nbsp;Strained public sentimentJournalist and Afghanistan-Pakistan affairs analyst Sami Yousafzai said mutual distrust is deepening, particularly after recent clashes along the border.&nbsp;&ldquo;Healing that relationship will likely require consistent diplomatic engagement, confidence-building measures, and perhaps third-party facilitation at some stage,&rdquo; Yousafzai told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;Without trust, analysts argue, discussions will remain procedural rather than transformative.&nbsp;Possible scenarios aheadBasit warned that if Kabul continues to deny the presence of TTP militants, Pakistan may see &ldquo;only one option, to target the leadership of the TTP in Afghanistan,&rdquo; a move he said would be justified by Islamabad in the name of national security.&nbsp;Analyst Inam Ul Haq described the Taliban&rsquo;s current posture as &ldquo;maneuvering the roof&rdquo; under the Doha framework, maintaining diplomatic cooperation while preserving ideological space for groups aligned with their worldview.&nbsp;T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s roleThe Istanbul round reflects T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s growing role as a mediator between the two uneasy neighbors. Ankara facilitated the Doha discussions, where both sides agreed to continue dialogue and maintain a ceasefire announced on October 19.&nbsp;Despite the challenges, analysts say continued engagement is preferable to confrontation.&nbsp;The upcoming talks, Basit said, represent &ldquo;an opportunity to begin reshaping the relationship, provided both sides are ready to speak plainly about the realities on the ground.&rdquo;

Following last week’s Doha talks, Islamabad and Kabul meet today in Istanbul to discuss a verifiable monitoring mechanism, though analysts warn progress remains uncertain amid ongoing disputes over militancy and border security.

Pakistan, Afghanistan to resume talks in Istanbul amid persistent tensions

ISLAMABAD: Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has dismissed claims that Afghanistan poses a security threat to its neighbors, even as multiple reports highlight that militant organizations continue to operate from Afghan territory, fueling instability across the region. During a recent visit to India, Muttaqi addressed concerns about militancy and regional security. Responding to questions from the Indian press, he said, &ldquo;Pakistan is not our only neighbor. China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan&mdash;why don&rsquo;t they have any complaints?&rdquo; However, a number of reports, including those by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), suggest that several armed groups maintain a presence in Afghanistan. These groups are said to threaten not only Pakistan but also other countries in the wider region. According to the UNSC&rsquo;s findings, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains the most prominent Pakistan-focused militant organization operating inside Afghanistan. The TTP, formed in 2007 and aligned with Al-Qaeda, is estimated to have around 6,000 fighters stationed across Afghanistan&rsquo;s Baghlan, Wardak, Nuristan, Kunar, Ghazni, Kabul, and Helmand provinces. The report further notes that the TTP &ldquo;continues to receive logistical and operational support&rdquo; from Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities and that its militants are &ldquo;trained in camps set up by Al-Qaeda.&rdquo; In April this year, Pakistan&rsquo;s military reported killing 54 TTP fighters attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the operation was part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts along the border. Militant groups based in Afghanistan are not limited to the TTP. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has waged an insurgency in Pakistan&rsquo;s southwestern Balochistan province, is also believed to maintain safe havens inside Afghanistan. BLA commander Aslam Baloch, also known as Achu, was killed in Kandahar in December 2018, according to Al-Jazeera.&nbsp; The UNSC report adds that the BLA has a &ldquo;non-aggression pact&rdquo; with the TTP, under which both groups refrain from targeting each other, and that TTP provides training support to Baloch militants. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), another major group, reportedly commands between 4,000 and 6,000 fighters in Afghanistan, including defectors from the Afghan Taliban, TTP, and Al-Qaeda. ISKP has expanded its reach across the region. Last year, Pakistan, in coordination with T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), arrested ISKP&rsquo;s media head, Abu Yasir al-Turki, during a joint intelligence operation near the Afghan border. Meanwhile, Al-Qaeda continues to maintain training facilities across Afghanistan, used by both its members and TTP operatives. The group&rsquo;s South Asian affiliate, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), remains ideologically aligned with the Taliban. AQIS&rsquo;s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was killed in a US drone strike in Kabul in July 2022, according to the US Department of War. Other regional outfits, including the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), which targets China, and Tehrik-e-Taliban Tajikistan, reportedly operate from Afghan soil. The TIP, led by Abdul Haq Turkistani, maintains ties with both the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, with Abdul Haq serving on Al-Qaeda&rsquo;s executive council, according to the UNSC. Similarly, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), with an estimated 500 to 800 fighters based in northern Afghanistan, continues to pose a threat to Central Asian states. Afghanistan-based outlet Amu TV has described the IMU as maintaining &ldquo;deep historical ties&rdquo; to Afghanistan&rsquo;s insurgency. Despite these documented presences, the Afghan Taliban government continues to deny harboring foreign militants. Muttaqi&rsquo;s remarks in India reflect Kabul&rsquo;s consistent position that Afghanistan is not a source of regional instability. Still, the contrast between official statements and international assessments underscores the region&rsquo;s lingering security dilemma, where assurances of peace coexist uneasily with the persistent activity of transnational militant networks.

Multiple UN and intelligence reports indicate that militant networks, including the TTP, BLA, ISKP, and Al-Qaeda affiliates, continue operating from Afghan soil despite Taliban denials, raising fresh concerns over regional stability and cross-border security threats

Militants expand footprint in Afghanistan as Taliban downplay regional threat

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is on an official seven-day visit to India, emphasizing the potential of Iran&rsquo;s Chabahar Port as a vital trade link between India and Afghanistan.&nbsp;The visit, delayed earlier due to visa clearance issues, marks the first official trip by an Afghan interim minister to India since the Taliban takeover. Previously, India&rsquo;s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Kabul in January 2021 during former president Ashraf Ghani&rsquo;s tenure.&nbsp;Addressing a press conference at the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi, Muttaqi underlined the significance of Chabahar Port, calling it a &ldquo;good option for trade.&rdquo; He urged both India and Afghanistan to &ldquo;remove obstacles&rdquo; to its full utilization, noting that &ldquo;US sanctions have complicated operations.&rdquo;&nbsp;Chabahar is not a new trade idea for Afghanistan. Successive governments have explored it as an alternative route connecting Afghanistan to global markets through Iran, bypassing Pakistan. Yet, questions remain over whether it can become a reliable trade corridor that benefits Afghan traders and strengthens regional ties.&nbsp;Why Chabahar matters for India?Located along Iran&rsquo;s southeastern coast on the Gulf of Oman, Chabahar holds strategic importance for India. It lies just 550 nautical miles from Gujarat&rsquo;s Kandla port and offers New Delhi a direct trade corridor to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Europe, circumventing Pakistan.&nbsp;Since 2016, India has invested heavily in the project, spending nearly half of its allocated 4 billion Indian rupees. A year ago, India signed a 10-year agreement with Iran&rsquo;s Ports and Maritime Organization to manage and develop the port through India Ports Global Limited (IPGL).&nbsp;The initiative is part of India&rsquo;s broader vision to integrate Chabahar into the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), linking India to Russia via Iran. Originally proposed in 2003 as a counterbalance to Pakistan&rsquo;s Gwadar Port, developed under China&rsquo;s Belt and Road Initiative, the Chabahar project has faced repeated delays due to sanctions and bureaucratic hurdles.&nbsp;Challenges facing the projectDespite India&rsquo;s commitment, challenges persist. Afghan experts say Kabul remains skeptical of India&rsquo;s reliability as a partner.&nbsp;&ldquo;Afghanistan continues not to see India as a dependable ally because New Delhi has traditionally remained distant from Kabul,&rdquo; said Zia Ur Rehman, a Pakistan-based expert on Afghan affairs, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;He added, &ldquo;India&rsquo;s renewed interest in Afghanistan is driven by geopolitical signaling aimed at maintaining influence along Pakistan&rsquo;s western border.&rdquo;&nbsp;India&rsquo;s caution stems from its fraught history with the Taliban. The hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar in 1999 and the 2008 Kabul embassy bombing, both linked by India to Taliban elements, continue to shape New Delhi&rsquo;s approach.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Afghan traders remain reluctant to abandon the shorter and cheaper trade routes through Pakistan. &ldquo;Chabahar increases transport costs, and those dealing in perishable goods cannot afford delays of several days,&rdquo; said Qudrat Ullah, a local trader speaking to Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;Sanctions and strategic setbacksComplicating matters further, the Trump administration&rsquo;s decision to revoke the US sanctions waiver on Chabahar has disrupted India&rsquo;s plans. The exemption, granted in 2018, allowed India to operate freely at Iran&rsquo;s Makran coast despite broader sanctions on Tehran.&nbsp;&ldquo;This move will disrupt New Delhi&rsquo;s strategic and economic ambitions in Iran and Central Asia,&rdquo; said Rehman, adding that the decision exposes Indian operators at Chabahar&rsquo;s Shahid Beheshti terminal to punitive action under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA).&nbsp;As Afghanistan&rsquo;s acting foreign minister pushes for renewed cooperation, India faces a delicate balancing act, navigating strained regional dynamics, economic sanctions, and a skeptical Kabul, all while striving to keep its Chabahar ambitions afloat. NOTE: $1 was equal to ₹88.72 (Indian Rupees) at the time of publishing of this article.

India

Experts warn India’s Chabahar ambitions face major setbacks after the Trump administration revoked sanctions waivers, exposing Indian operators to punitive action and disrupting New Delhi’s strategic trade and connectivity plans in Iran and Central Asia.

New Delhi’s Chabahar ambitions face hurdles amid Afghan FM’s India visit

Muhammad Usman Amin

Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI/PESHAWAR: Afghanistan has requested Pakistan to halt its &ldquo;heavy counteraction&rdquo; after the Pakistan Army launched a strong and sustained response to unprovoked cross-border firing from Afghan forces, security sources told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;According to the sources, Afghan troops carried out unprovoked firing late Saturday night across multiple points along the Pak-Afghan border, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Baramcha in Balochistan, allegedly to facilitate the infiltration of Khawarij formations, a faction Islamabad identifies as Indian-sponsored proxies of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).&nbsp;Pakistan Army positions responded with full force using artillery, tanks, and aerial assets, effectively targeting Afghan military posts and militant hideouts.&nbsp;&ldquo;A strong and decisive response from the Pakistan Army against Afghan forces is ongoing. Afghan forces are in a state of panic due to the intense retaliation,&rdquo; security sources said. &ldquo;Several Afghan posts have been abandoned as a result of heavy losses.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Afghan soldiers fled, leaving behind multiple bodies at their posts following Pakistan&rsquo;s effective and intense response.&rdquo;&nbsp;Security sources confirmed that Afghanistan has formally requested Pakistan to halt its counteraction, as Pakistani forces continue to target positions linked to Khawarij and Daesh elements operating from Afghan territory.&nbsp;The sources further revealed that Pakistani forces employed a combination of precision artillery and drone strikes to destroy multiple Afghan posts. &ldquo;The Army&rsquo;s timely and decisive action has neutralized key militant hideouts under the protection of Afghan authorities,&rdquo; one official added.&nbsp;District administration officials confirmed that several missiles were fired from the Afghan side targeting civilian areas across the border, prompting Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;measured but powerful&rdquo; military response to protect its citizens.&nbsp;Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned Afghanistan&rsquo;s unprovoked firing, calling it a &ldquo;blatant violation of international law.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s brave forces have shown, with an immediate and effective response, that any provocation will not be tolerated,&rdquo; Naqvi said.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our forces are vigilant, and Afghanistan is being answered brick for brick. The fire and blood being played out from Afghanistan have links to our perennial enemy,&rdquo; he added, referring to India.&nbsp;&ldquo;Afghanistan will be given a strong, decisive response, just as India was, so it will not dare cast a covetous eye toward Pakistan,&rdquo; the minister warned.&nbsp;Defence analyst Hassan Khan told Pakistan TV that the current Afghan behavior reflected a deep betrayal of Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing support.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan hosted millions of Afghans for decades. Now, their behavior has completely changed,&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;Afghanistan is harbouring and providing hideouts to groups like the TTP, BLA, and Majeed Brigade. Their forces are now giving cover to Fitna al-Khawarij to harm Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;Another analyst, Agha Iqrar, stressed that Pakistan must reassess its Afghan strategy.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Afghan Taliban are not only hosting, harbouring, and funding TTP and Fitna al-Khawarij, but more than 42 militant groups are operating from Afghan soil,&rdquo; he noted. &ldquo;Pakistan must take decisive action and redefine its Afghan policy.&rdquo;&nbsp;Taliban officials in Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost, and Helmand confirmed to AFP that clashes were ongoing along several points of the border.&nbsp;The escalation follows two days after a deadly terrorist attack on the Police Training School in Dera Ismail Khan, in which six policemen, including trainees, embraced martyrdom. According to ISPR, members of &ldquo;Fitna al-Khawarij&rdquo; rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the facility but were eliminated after an intense firefight.&nbsp;In the wake of the rising tensions, Saudi Arabia and Iran have both called for restraint and dialogue.&nbsp;The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in a statement by its ministry of foreign affairs, said:&nbsp;&ldquo;The Kingdom is following with concern the tensions and clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. We urge both sides to exercise self-restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritize dialogue and wisdom to preserve regional stability.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Saudi Arabia reaffirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at strengthening peace and prosperity for the two brotherly Pakistani and Afghan peoples.&rdquo;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Iran&rsquo;s ministry of foreign affairs expressed similar concern, urging both countries to resolve their differences peacefully.&nbsp;&ldquo;Iran is closely monitoring developments and calls on both sides to engage diplomatically to prevent further escalation,&rdquo; an Iranian spokesperson said in Tehran. &ldquo;Peace and cooperation must prevail over confrontation.&rdquo;&nbsp;Security officials in Islamabad reiterated that Pakistan remains resolute in defending its sovereignty.&nbsp;&ldquo;Any future aggression or attempt to aid terrorist infiltration will be met with a strong and immediate response,&rdquo; one senior source emphasized.

Islamabad’s security sources say Pakistan Army’s strong and coordinated retaliation destroyed multiple Afghan border posts, forcing Afghan troops to flee amid mounting casualties. The clashes follow recent militant attacks in Dera Ismail Khan linked to Afghanistan-based groups.

Afghanistan urges Pakistan to halt ‘heavy counteraction’: security sources

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.

Football

 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

Web Desk

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.

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.

Oil prices bounce higher after new US strikes on Iran   

Faraz Saeed

Pakistan TV Digital&#39;s Faraz Saeed marks Eid Al-Adha in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, offering prayers at the central mosque while covering the International Water Conference 2026.

Asia

Pakistan TV Digital's Faraz Saeed marks Eid Al-Adha in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, offering prayers at the central mosque while covering the International Water Conference 2026.


Eid Al-Adha in Dushanbe: Pakistan TV Digital's Faraz Saeed joins prayers at landmark central mosque

As Eid Al-Adha is celebrated across Pakistan, markets stocked up on everything from sacrificial knives and cleavers to barbecue skewers, grills, and charcoal.&nbsp; Peshawar&#39;s Reti Bazar emerged as a key hub for sacrificial tools and barbecue gear, with ironmongers and wholesalers moving 1&ndash;2 tons of skewers per shop daily to meet the national demand.

Shorts

Peshawar's Reti Bazar emerged as a key hub for sacrificial tools and barbecue gear, with ironmongers and wholesalers moving 1–2 tons of skewers per shop daily to meet the national demand.



Peshawar's Reti Bazar braces for Eid rush as demand for sacrificial tools, barbecue gear surges

Asfandyar Yahya

Eid ul-Adha goes back 4,000 years to Prophet Ibrahim&#39;s test of devotion.&nbsp; Today in Pakistan alone, over six million animals are sacrificed across three days, with 1.8 billion dollars changing hands and one-third of all meat distributed directly to those who cannot afford it.

Tell Me Why

Today in Pakistan alone, over six million animals are sacrificed across three days, with 1.8 billion dollars changing hands and one-third of all meat distributed directly to those who cannot afford it.



Tell Me Why: We celebrate Eid al-Adha

Web Desk/AFP

Middle East

The US military shot down four drones launched from Iran and struck a control center in the port city of Bandar Abbas; Iranian forces fire at four ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz; Israel's military issues evacuation warning for residents of the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon.







US strikes Iran, drawing retaliatory attack on American base

Maryam Shah

ISLAMABAD: As Eid al-Adha approaches, millions of Muslims living in conflict zones and displacement camps continue to observe the festival despite circumstances shaped by war, hunger and displacement. In the besieged and bombarded territories of Palestine, famine-hit regions of Sudan, and camps scattered across Syria and Yemen, the rituals of Eid persist even where normal life has largely collapsed. According to the Elham Fund, Gaza resident Nahidh Abu Armaneh said his family woke up to the sound of Takbeer, wore their best clothes &ldquo;even if they weren&rsquo;t new,&rdquo; and gathered for Eid prayers. &ldquo;We started by greeting everyone we met, whether we knew them or not, because people especially need kindness and peace in these times,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;After that, we visited relatives to extend our Eid wishes, ate sweets and drank coffee, though the coffee tasted as bitter as our lives.&rdquo; Nahidh and millions of others across conflict zones, displacement camps and war-damaged cities continue observing Eid al-Adha each year under conditions that would ordinarily make celebration unimaginable. In peaceful societies, Eid al-Adha is built around abundance and sharing.&nbsp; To commemorate Prophet Ibrahim&rsquo;s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah, Muslims slaughter livestock animals and traditionally divide the meat into three portions: one for the household, one for relatives and neighbors, and one for the poor. The ritual centers on generosity flowing outward from the family to the wider community. But in war zones where many families have lost homes, livelihoods and livestock, the practice increasingly depends on humanitarian aid. According to Islamic Relief Worldwide, Sudan is facing the world&rsquo;s largest displacement crisis, with nearly 14 million people uprooted by conflict and famine conditions reported in parts of Darfur. The organization said Eid al-Adha meat distributions had become the only source of meat for many displaced families, with its Qurbani program reaching 3.2 million people across 29 countries in 2025. &ldquo;Eid al-Adha means everything to me,&rdquo; displaced Sudanese resident Halima said in a statement released by the organization, adding that she did not expect to eat meat this year. In Syria and Yemen, where wars have stretched on for more than a decade, Eid al-Adha has become an annual confrontation with memory and loss. According to Al Jazeera, Umm Ghadi, a displaced Syrian mother living in an Idlib camp, gathered with neighbors to prepare sweets for children ahead of Eid despite harsh camp conditions. &ldquo;At the camp, there is no joy for the Eid, but we need to make the children happy,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Eid al-Adha in the villages is nicer.&rdquo; In Yemen, Abdul-Raqeeb al-Samey traveled through front-line areas to return to his home village in Taiz after purchasing a traditional jambiya &mdash; a ceremonial dagger worn during Eid celebrations &mdash; in Sanaa, according to Al Jazeera. Meanwhile in Syria, former residents of the remote Rukban displacement camp returned home for Eid only to find destroyed houses and devastated neighborhoods. According to Al Jazeera, Yasmine al-Salah returned home during Eid al-Adha 2025 after spending nine years in the camp. &ldquo;Even though our house is destroyed, and we have no money, and we are hungry, still, it&rsquo;s a castle in my eyes,&rdquo; she said. Across these conflict zones, Eid functions not as denial of suffering but as an insistence that interrupted lives are not extinguished lives. What unfolds during Eid al-Adha in such places reflects something central to the story of Prophet Ibrahim: the ability to move through catastrophe while refusing to surrender hope entirely. This is not simple optimism. While optimism assumes improvement, people living through war often continue their traditions fully aware of destruction around them, choosing meaning despite devastation. For many trapped in conflict, the acts of washing, dressing, praying and sharing whatever food remains become assertions of dignity and humanity against conditions designed to strip both away. None of these moments erase the catastrophes surrounding them. Hunger, displacement and violence persist. Yet the prayers are still offered, sweets are still prepared and families still gather where they can. In places shaped by siege and loss, Eid al-Adha becomes more than a religious celebration.&nbsp; For many, it is also a quiet declaration that war has not succeeded in erasing faith, memory or the will to endure.

Across conflict zones and displacement camps, Muslims observe Eid al-Adha despite war and famine, turning sacrifice and shared traditions into acts of resilience, dignity and hope amid devastation and loss.


Articles by Muhammad Imad Abbas