Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has officially launched the Insaf Female Education Card, a financial safety net aimed at ensuring higher education is free for female students and orphans in public sector institutions.&nbsp;The initiative, announced last week by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at Frontier College for Women, Peshawar, is being actively rolled out under his administration.&nbsp;Secretary Higher Education KP Kamran Ahmed Afridi told Pakistan TV Digital that &ldquo;the groundwork for this scheme was laid during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, highlighting a sustained commitment to education reform across political transitions.&rdquo;&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Muzzammil Aslam, Advisor Finance &amp; Inter-Provincial Coordination to the Chief Minister KP, said the provincial government had declared an &ldquo;education emergency&rdquo; to prioritize female education.&nbsp;&ldquo;Even when girls manage to attend school, many parents still do not allow them to study further. To encourage parents to send their daughters for higher education, an endowment-based scholarship fund has been created,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The program targets financial barriers that often prevent girls from continuing education in rural areas. &ldquo;In many families, sons are prioritized for college if funds are limited. This scheme will help girls avail higher education along with boys,&rdquo; Afridi said.&nbsp;The scheme specifically targets female students and orphans, aiming to improve retention and ensure state guardianship for vulnerable students.&nbsp;The card functions as a complete tuition waiver. According to the Higher Education Department, it covers all admission, examination, and tuition fees, ensuring financial constraints do not force students to abandon their studies after matriculation.&nbsp;Aslam added that the Chief Minister had approved a two-billion-rupee scholarship endowment fund, from which nearly 14,000 girls, including 1,731 orphaned students, will benefit.&nbsp;&ldquo;Until the endowment fund becomes fully operational, the provincial government will issue Rs325 million [$1.15 million] from the provincial finance department for the first phase,&rdquo; he explained.&nbsp;He said that as of 11 November 2025, Rs118 million ($418,050) have already been released for 54,354 girls, including 1,730 orphans, a figure that also includes 3,442 girls and 207 orphans from the merged districts.&nbsp;&ldquo;In the future, the endowment fund will make the program sustainable. If more girls qualify, the fund will be expanded,&rdquo; he noted, adding that scholarships will eventually be financed through the fund&rsquo;s own income to avoid repeated budget requests.&nbsp;Social activist Spogmay Masood praised the initiative, telling Pakistan TV Digital: &ldquo;This is an excellent initiative by the Government, as long as it&#39;s sustainable and can be scalable in the future so more and more girls and orphans can be incentivised to go for higher education.&rdquo;&nbsp;The rollout will initially benefit 54,085 students across KP, including 52,354 female students and 1,731 orphans. To support the program, the provincial cabinet approved an Endowment Fund of Rs2 billion ($7.09 million) last year.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Finance Department provided an interim allocation of Rs325 million, of which Rs118.367 million ($419,500) has already been reimbursed to institutions as of November 11, 2025.&nbsp;The initiative emphasizes inclusivity, with particular focus on the Merged Districts (formerly FATA) and underprivileged areas with low female literacy. Initial data shows 3,472 female students and 207 orphans from these regions are enrolled.&nbsp;Operationally, the secretary clarified that students must be enrolled in government institutes. Once eligibility is confirmed, the government reimburses the institution directly, &ldquo;bypassing the red tape often associated with cash-transfer scholarships,&rdquo; the department said.&nbsp;According to social activist Rabia Qayyum, &ldquo;The launch of the Insaf Female Education Card by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government marks an important and commendable step toward gender equality and social inclusion.&rdquo;&nbsp;She said by providing free intermediate-level education to nearly 55,000 female students and orphaned children in public colleges, the initiative aims to remove one of the most significant obstacles young women encounter, the financial burden of pursuing further studies.&nbsp;&ldquo;So it&#39;s a marvelous step by the government,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;The Insaf Female Education Card represents a strategic shift in KP&rsquo;s education policy, moving from infrastructure development to direct student investment, and aims to institutionalize the right to education for the province&rsquo;s daughters.

Education

The Insaf Female Education Card represents a strategic shift in KP’s education policy, moving from infrastructure development to direct student investment, and aims to institutionalize the right to education for the province’s daughters.

Pakistan rolls out free education card for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s young women

ISLAMABAD: Germany Federal Ministry of the Interior Spokesperson Elena Singer stated on Wednesday, in an exclusive comment to Pakistan TV Digital, that it has held talks with Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to establish a formal process for deporting Afghan nationals.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, the ministry spokesperson confirmed that discussions were held at a technical level with Kabul&rsquo;s de facto authorities to create a structured mechanism for deporting Afghan migrants from Germany.&nbsp;This development follows recent reports that Germany had offered certain Afghan individuals in Pakistan, who had been shortlisted for asylum in Germany. This includes a sum of &euro;1,500 to forgo relocation to Germany and remain in Pakistan, or &euro;5,000 to return to Afghanistan, a move that has caused dismay among asylum hopefuls.&nbsp;In an official statement to Pakistan TV Digital, the spokesperson confirmed the new government&rsquo;s policy to repatriate Afghan citizens, a move signaling a controversial engagement with the Taliban.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Federal Government is currently holding talks with the Afghan de facto authorities in order to establish a return mechanism that will allow the regular repatriation of Afghan citizens,&rdquo; said Singer.&nbsp;The ministry stated that this policy is part of the government&rsquo;s &ldquo;coalition agreement.&rdquo;&nbsp;The incumbent Friedrich Merz-led government in Germany, a coalition between the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, signed an agreement during their campaign pledging to take a tougher stance on migration and to resume deportations of Afghans and Syrians. This marks a departure from the previous administration, which had promised not to carry out such deportations.&nbsp;The statement further noted that deportations &ldquo;will be resumed, starting with criminals and persons considered a potential threat.&rdquo;&nbsp;This new diplomatic engagement follows a precedent set in July 2025, when &ldquo;a first return operation under the current government took place, during which 81 Afghan citizens who had committed serious crimes in Germany were repatriated.&rdquo;&nbsp;Previously, deportations had been conducted with Qatar acting as an intermediary. However, this time Germany is engaging directly with the Afghan authorities.&nbsp;The goal of the new talks is to move beyond one-off operations and establish a regularized process.&nbsp;The spokesperson noted that the &ldquo;return mechanism&rdquo; is intended for Afghan citizens who &ldquo;have no legal right to stay in Germany and are required to leave the country.&rdquo;&nbsp;This could potentially mean that deportations will be expanded to include Afghans whose asylum applications have been rejected and who are therefore residing illegally in Germany.&nbsp;Moreover, the ministry&rsquo;s use of the term &ldquo;de facto authorities,&rdquo; instead of &ldquo;the Afghan government,&rdquo; when referring to the Taliban, clearly indicates that Berlin is dealing with the group in power without recognizing it as the legitimate government.&nbsp;The ministry acknowledged the sensitive nature of the negotiations, concluding that &ldquo;no further information can be provided at this stage of the talks.&rdquo;

Afghanistan

Germany’s Interior Ministry confirms holding talks with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities; purpose is to establish a formal deportation process for Afghan nationals; marking direct engagement with the Taliban after previous indirect repatriations via Qatar

Germany negotiates with Taliban over refugees but denies 'legitimacy' 

Nearly a month of political and security issues has halted trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stopping bilateral commerce and causing over $100 million in losses for traders in both countries.&nbsp; As of Nov. 10, major border crossings, including Torkham and Chaman, remain closed to commercial traffic. The recent collapse of talks in Istanbul has dashed hopes for a quick resolution, potentially shifting regional trade. The crisis, which began in early October following deadly border clashes, has escalated into an economic standoff. The recent third round of negotiations in Istanbul, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, also ended without any agreement. Islamabad maintains that Kabul must first address its concerns regarding militant groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and rein in terrorist elements operating against Pakistan on Afghan soil. With diplomacy on pause, the economic fallout is on full display. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Investment has confirmed that combined losses have exceeded $100 million. For reference, annual trade between the two countries is estimated at $2.3 billion.&nbsp; Junaid Altaf, President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, said, &ldquo;Containers are still stranded at the Torkham border. Many perishable items had to be returned, resulting in significant financial losses. Nearby warehouses are filled to capacity; there is no space left.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Containers are also stuck on the Afghan side, unable to enter Pakistan. These containers are loaded with stone, coal, and fresh fruit. Traders estimate that these blockades are impacting more than just trade; they are affecting employment, supply chains, and people-to-people relations between the two countries,&rdquo; he added. For Pakistan, the closure has affected certain imports, leading to temporary domestic price increases. Prices for essentials like tomatoes had soared to many times the usual rate, but the recent harvest in Pakistan&#39;s Sindh has brought prices back down.&nbsp; Coal, another major import from Afghanistan, is in short supply. Pakistan has substantial coal reserves in the Thar region, but the quality does not meet the required standards, and it needs to import higher-quality coal from South Africa and other countries. &nbsp; In Afghanistan, on the other hand, the impact is quite severe. The crucial dried fruit market, a mainstay of its export economy, has come to a near standstill, with traders in provinces like Zabul and Kandahar reporting devastating price drops as their goods cannot reach Pakistani markets. The suspension of Afghan imports of grapes, apples, and pomegranates has raised prices in Pakistan. In Afghanistan, however, orchard owners are lamenting that prices need to be slashed by almost 50% compared to last year, as the fruit is piling up with no buyers in sight.&nbsp; Pakistan is also the largest exporter of cement to Afghanistan. The construction industry is one of the country&#39;s biggest employers, especially in a nation ravaged by decades of war. However, the border closure has brought construction to a halt and impacted the lives of millions of laborers. Afghanistan can turn to Iran for cement, as it is already the second-largest importer, but this transition will require time, resources, and infrastructure.&nbsp; According to the Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority, 95% of the pharmaceuticals in Afghanistan are imported, with the majority being from Pakistan and India (imported via Pakistan). The border closure has put a significant strain on Afghanistan&#39;s fledgling healthcare sector.&nbsp; Khanjan Alokozay, Chairman of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber&mdash;Kabul Chapter, commenting on the ties between the two countries, said, &ldquo;Unless trade and social matters are separated from intelligence and security issues and addressed seriously, resolving this problem is impossible.&rdquo; Faced with a blocked eastern border, Afghanistan is actively seeking alternatives, but the necessary infrastructure isn&#39;t available, and the costs are significantly higher. The lack of easy access to a port makes Kabul&#39;s task even more difficult. Pakistan remains firm, linking trade to its security needs. The approach is part of a nationwide effort to repatriate undocumented foreigners, mostly Afghans. The belief is that the long-term security gains outweigh the short-term economic difficulties. For a landlocked and unrecognized government, the Taliban must now treat border diplomacy as an absolute necessity, not a political afterthought. Although Pakistan benefits from trade with its western neighbor, its overall reliance on it is limited. However, for Kabul, it could serve as a critical choke point with long-term economic consequences.

Asia

Political and security issues has halted trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stopping bilateral commerce and causing over $100 million in losses for traders in both countries

Pakistan, Afghanistan border closure costs surpass $100M as talks remain stalled

PESHAWAR: Afghanistan is now facing what observers are calling a &ldquo;great return,&rdquo; as large numbers of Afghan nationals are being sent back from multiple directions, including Pakistan, Iran, and increasingly, Europe. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 2.3 million Afghans have returned since April 1, 2025, with 1.5 million arriving from Iran and almost 600,000 from Pakistan. Pakistan&rsquo;s Illegal Foreigners&rsquo; Repatriation Plan (IFRP), initiated in late 2023, remains underway. Initially focused on undocumented Afghans, it has since widened in scope, with some Proof of Residence (PoR) cardholders also returning. The government announced in October that only Afghans with valid visas will be allowed to stay. Meanwhile, deportations from Iran have surged at an even faster pace. According to UNHCR figures referenced in the draft, more than 1.7 million Afghans have been expelled or returned from Iran in 2025 alone. Tajikistan has also begun small-scale deportations. However, a major new direction is emerging from Europe. Germany&rsquo;s new government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz is holding direct talks with Afghan authorities to establish a formal deportation framework. These meetings were confirmed by the German media consortium ARD to have taken place in Kabul on October 1. Germany&rsquo;s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has publicly stated: &ldquo;We want to facilitate regular and routine deportations to Afghanistan. To this end, discussions are taking place at a technical level with Afghan representatives.&rdquo; The initial phase focuses on Afghan nationals convicted of crimes, but the policy is expected to eventually address all Afghans residing illegally in Germany, aligning with the coalition government&rsquo;s campaign commitments. Germany has deported Afghan convicts before, but those removals were carried out via Qatar as a mediator. This time, Germany is negotiating directly with the Taliban government, marking a significant policy shift. A broader European move is also underway. In mid-October, 19 EU countries and non-EU Norway jointly called for the resumption of both voluntary and forced expulsions to Afghanistan, particularly focusing on individuals convicted of serious offenses. This initiative, led by Belgium, signals growing coordination among European states. These developments highlight that Afghan return is now a global issue, not one limited to Pakistan or its neighbors. Yet, the returnees face immense challenges. Many have not lived in Afghanistan for decades and now enter a country struggling with economic collapse, food shortages, unemployment, and the approach of a harsh winter. As conditions tighten, the question remains whether Afghanistan has the capacity to absorb the scale and speed of these return movements, and what the humanitarian consequences may be in the months ahead.

Europe

Afghans are returning from Iran, Pakistan and now Europe as governments accelerate deportations, creating a multi-front influx into an economically strained Afghanistan facing winter hardship.

Europe joins regional push to deport undocumented Afghans in 2025 shift

PESHAWAR: In Peshawar, a city in northwestern Pakistan renowned for its food, one restaurant stands out not only for its taste but for its unapologetic celebration of meat. Situated on the main University Road, directly under the flight path of the airplanes landing and taking off from the airport runway right across the road, Shinwari Pulao has become a legendary destination for meat-lovers since its inception in 1994. The restaurant&#39;s fame rests on its namesake dish, Shinwari Pulao. It is not just a plate of rice with meat but rather a mountain of meat with a bit of rice. Carnivorous cravings &nbsp;This is the main reason for its appeal in a region that takes its carnivorous cravings very seriously. The meat, tender mutton, is cooked to perfection. It is succulent, juicy, and richly marbled, with soft bone marrow served alongside. The creator of this phenomenon is Yar Muhammad, who started with a small shop and a unique vision. Kabuli Pulao is the main rice dish famous in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and he deliberately wanted to depart from the standard. Instead of cooking components separately like Kabuli Pulao, his method involves simmering the meat and rice together in the meat&#39;s own flavorful broth, removing the meat and cooking it a second time separately to render the fat, and adding it to the rice again, but without using any heavy spices in the dish. Good rice and rich meat&nbsp;&quot;The reason for the rice&#39;s flavor is that for every one kilo of rice we cook, we add at least 17 to 18 kilos of meat,&quot; he reveals. This huge ratio is the secret to the dish&#39;s rich umami flavor that satisfies even the most intense cravings. The result is a very simple dish &mdash; just good rice and rich meat. The natural flavor of the high-quality mutton flows through, creating a rich, gelatinous broth that the rice cooks in for hours. The dish is finished with a generous sprinkle of julienned carrots and raisins, lightly fried in sugar, adding a touch of sweetness that cuts through the richness. &lsquo;Unique taste&rsquo;&nbsp;This focus on quality and quantity has turned Shinwari Pulao from a small shop into a large establishment occupying an entire plaza.&nbsp; During lunch and dinner, hundreds of customers throng the place, from locals to travelers who have heard of its legendary status. &quot;I have eaten at other restaurants, but the taste of this place&#39;s rice is unique,&quot; says Muhammad Salim, a regular customer from Kurram District currently working in Peshawar, who came along with his friends. &quot;The meat is tender, soft, and delicious. That&#39;s the main reason we come here.&quot; For anyone visiting Peshawar, a meal at Shinwari Pulao is more than just dinner: it is an experience that speaks to the heart of Pashtun hospitality and its profound love for meat.

Culture

For anyone visiting Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar,  a meal at Shinwari Pulao is more than just dinner: it is an experience that speaks to the heart of Pashtun hospitality and its profound love for meat.

More meat than rice: How one Peshawar restaurant became a carnivore's paradise

PESHAWAR: In a small workshop tucked inside the narrow streets near Peshawar&rsquo;s old city, 78-year-old Riaz Ahmad sat cross-legged on the floor, shaping thread-like lines of soft, off-white paste into swirling floral patterns. His hands were steady, his posture fixed, his expression one of practiced calm. He has been doing this work for more than 60 years, long enough to know that with him, an entire art form might disappear. &ldquo;This work used to be everywhere,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital, his voice steady but thoughtful. &ldquo;They would make these patterns and paste them on the wooden ceilings of houses. First, they would apply sand, then mica, so that the design shimmered under the light.&rdquo; He paused, remembering a piece he once treasured. A ceiling panel he had kept for decades. &ldquo;I did not want to sell it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But an Englishman insisted, at Lok Virsa [cultural festival in Pakistani capital of Islamabad]. I quoted Rs2,000 [$7.12]. He gave me Rs20,000 [$71.20] instead.&rdquo; The piece left his hands, but the memory never did. Art passed down generationsRiaz traced the origins of this craft through his family line, a lineage older than the border that now divided Pakistan and India. &ldquo;My great-grandfather, Mian Muhammad, used to do this work before partition,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;After partition, my grandfather came here. He had money then, around Rs20,000 to Rs25,000. He bought five or six houses. One of those is the house we still live in.&rdquo; His grandfather worked at Kabuli Gate. His father later moved to Saddar. And Riaz? He joined as soon as he finished his matriculation. &ldquo;The first design I made was the Taj Mahal,&rdquo; he recalled, smiling softly. What began as an apprenticeship turned into a life. Through his art, he raised his children and built his home. &ldquo;I got my children married and settled through this work,&rdquo; he said. Craft built by hand, heart, and painThe process behind each piece was slow, physical, and unforgiving. Riaz explained how the paste, the foundation of the design, came from flax seeds heated and stirred in large cauldrons in Bara and Jamrud. Once cooled and kneaded, it turned into a workable dough. &ldquo;We take a little in the hand,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We roll it into a thin string&hellip; and we create the design, line by line.&rdquo; Then came the brushwork. Then the sun. Only after drying under open sky would the piece be ready. &ldquo;It looks easy,&rdquo; he said quietly, &ldquo;but it is very hard work. Every single joint in your body aches. Your head spins. Your back hurts. You sit in one position and just keep making, keep making.&rdquo; Yet he continued, not out of obligation but devotion. &ldquo;I could never make such beautiful designs in my youth as I could now,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Because skill and knowledge are learned with the passion of the heart.&rdquo; Recognition, honor, and silenceRiaz&rsquo;s talent did not go unnoticed. In 2004, he represented Pakistan in New Delhi under the theme &ldquo;Dost-Kari.&rdquo; There, he received the Seal of Excellence. Later, in 2012, he was awarded the &ldquo;Tamgha-e-Imtiaz&rdquo; by the President of Pakistan. &ldquo;It was a tremendous honour,&rdquo; he said simply. Once, in 1997, he recalled meeting the daughter of US President Bill Clinton. &ldquo;She said I should not be sitting there,&rdquo; he recalled. &ldquo;She said I should be placed on a pedestal.&rdquo; Her words stayed longer than the moment itself. But acclaim did not mean survival. Not for the craft, not for the craftsmen. The last two practitionersToday, only Riaz and his eldest son remain. &ldquo;My eldest son and I &mdash; that&rsquo;s it. No one else in the world,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;The others in the family left the work. Some got sick. Some just left it. The art was too difficult.&rdquo; His son, now in his 50s, received orders from Japan and France, yet even he struggled to find time to create the older, traditional pieces. Demand was small. The labor was immense. Riaz sold small works for Rs500 [$1.78]. Larger peacock designs sometimes for Rs3,000 [$10.68] to Rs5,000 [$17.80]. Each piece could take days. Sometimes weeks. Always, the price seemed too little for the time. Riaz did not speak in regret. He spoke in hope, even if fragile. &ldquo;This art has been good for me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But people should learn it, so this ancient art of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lives on&hellip; even after me.&rdquo;

78-year-old Riaz Ahmad has been doing this work for more than 60 years, long enough to know that with him, an entire art form might disappear.



Last pattern keeper: In Peshawar, one artist preserves a fading craft

PESHAWAR: Lal Chapoor stood at his raised platform as he had for forty years, a metal ladle in his hand, steam rising in soft clouds around him. His movements were measured and unhurried: dip, scoop, pour, filling bowl after bowl of slow-cooked mutton and potatoes. The bustle around him was constant, but he remained steady, the quiet center of a noisy, crowded world. Inside his shop, the sounds blended into a rhythm of their own: dishes clattering, tandoor flames roaring, and servers shouting orders as they navigated the tight space with trays lifted over customers&rsquo; heads. Outside, Karkhano Market churned with heat, bargaining voices, and the dust of Peshawar&rsquo;s old trade routes. Yet it was the savory aroma drifting from the shop&rsquo;s modest five-foot entrance that drew people in from nearby streets and faraway cities. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Lal Chapoor said the secret to his famous Rosh was not in hidden spices or complicated recipes. &ldquo;It requires honesty,&rdquo; he explained, his tone calm. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t cook it with dishonesty&hellip; the taste won&rsquo;t be there.&rdquo; His day began at sunrise. He supervised the butcher himself, inspecting every cut of meat. The ingredients were simple&mdash;mutton, potatoes, onions, and salt. The daig, a giant pot, was sealed with wet flour and left to cook slowly for hours, the steam locked inside until the meat fell apart at the touch. &ldquo;The magic is in how you make it,&rdquo; he said. Over the past few years, his shop had gone from a local secret to a nationwide destination. Food bloggers, vloggers, travelers, and families came after seeing his stew on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Men like Muhammad Jaleel traveled seven hours from Upper Dir just to taste what they had seen online, and many nodded in quiet approval after their first bite. There were no reserved tables or restaurant d&eacute;cor. Customers sat shoulder to shoulder on mats spread across the floor. Students, traders, drivers, and businessmen all eating together. Hot naan arrived fresh from the tandoor next door, torn into pieces and dipped into the broth. In a city of fleeting trends and new eateries opening every month, Lal Chapoor had remained unchanged. The daig, the ingredients, the pace, the flavor: all the same as when he started. As he handed another steaming bowl to a server, he told Pakistan TV Digital, &ldquo;The work must stay the same. The taste must stay the same. If the taste changes, it is finished.&rdquo; Outside, the line continued to grow. Inside, the ladle kept moving. And the aroma continued to guide people through the crowd, just as it always had.

Food

In Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lal Chapoor has spent four decades serving his famous Rosh in Peshawar’s Karkhano Market. He told Pakistan TV Digital the dish’s enduring flavor comes from “honesty,” drawing visitors from across the country


Lal Chapoor: The quiet master behind Peshawar’s famous Rosh

PESHAWAR: With militant groups in northwestern Pakistan increasingly deploying drone technology to strike security forces and state installations, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorities have begun rolling out advanced anti-drone guns as part of a revised counter-terror response, senior police officials said.&nbsp;Militant outfits operating in KP have steadily expanded their use of quadcopter drones to launch attacks, shifting the conflict &ldquo;from a horizontal to a vertical level.&rdquo;&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Bannu Police Sajjad Khan said the drones being used are &ldquo;acquired through the black market and smuggled across the border from Afghanistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to internal estimates, 57 drone-assisted attacks were reported between July and August alone.&nbsp;Earlier this month, militants targeted the Khadi Fort of paramilitary forces in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. Before using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), militants deployed drones to strike the compound and divert security personnel.&nbsp;In another incident in Bannu district, officials reported at least eight drone attacks over recent months, including one where an explosive drone missed its intended target and hit a nearby house, killing a woman and injuring three children.&nbsp;The drones, often commercially available quadcopters modified to carry explosives or mortar shells, have prompted a new defensive strategy.&nbsp;The KP police have begun equipping personnel with anti-drone guns designed to disrupt the communication link between a drone and its operator. These devices emit electromagnetic pulses that jam the drone&rsquo;s control, navigation, and video feed, forcing it to land safely and allowing for intelligence extraction.&nbsp;Sajjad Khan said the technology can disable suspicious drones from up to three kilometers away, providing protection for public gatherings, security convoys, and sensitive locations.&nbsp;The first operational deployment took place in July during the Ashura procession in Peshawar, where officials say the technology helped prevent attacks during an event historically vulnerable to violence.&nbsp;Initially, anti-drone systems are being deployed in Peshawar, Bannu, and Bajaur, districts that have seen a spike in militant activity.&nbsp;The Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) KP, Riaz Khan, told Pakistan TV Digital that the technology &ldquo;is now being used in many areas,&rdquo; and that its introduction has &ldquo;successfully reduced drone attacks to zero in the areas where it has been implemented.&rdquo;&nbsp;This early success has encouraged a broader rollout. IGP KP Zulfiquar Hameed recently announced that 70 drones will be deployed across the province, including to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), alongside the acquisition of additional anti-drone guns. The objective, he said, is to build a &ldquo;comprehensive security umbrella&rdquo; across KP.&nbsp;The KP police say they remain committed to &ldquo;making the citizens of KP and Pakistan safer by equipping their forces with the latest technologies.&rdquo;

Security

In Pakistan’s northwestern province, authorities have deployed anti-drone guns to counter militants increasingly using quadcopter drones for attacks, disrupting their communication signals and reducing drone strikes in key high-risk districts.

Pakistan deploys anti-drone tech to counter militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR: Pakistani officials and analysts say the Afghan Taliban allowed militants to cross into Pakistan and carry out attacks, including suicide bombings, while delegations from both countries were meeting in Doha and Istanbul, Pakistan TV Digital has learned.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is Taliban&#39;s classic modus operandi. During their talks with the United States in Doha in 2021, the Taliban kept attacking the US forces to build leverage,&rdquo; Professor Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, an international relations expert at the University of Peshawar, told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;He added that the interim Afghan government showed an &ldquo;overtly [a] ceasefire but covertly... allow[ing] the TTP to continue or escalate the attacks.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistani and Afghan delegations met in Doha on October 19 and again in Istanbul from October 25&ndash;29 after a series of cross-border clashes. Islamabad says the Afghan side gave no commitments to prevent militants from operating on its soil.&nbsp;Security agencies and military sources say violence continued even as talks were underway. According to the military&rsquo;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least 36 militants were killed during infiltrations from Afghan territory and subsequent intelligence-based operations.&nbsp;The ISPR also reported that five security personnel were martyred during the Istanbul talks.&nbsp;Chronology of attacks and interdictions&nbsp;<ul><li>On October 24, security forces in Tank and North Waziristan say they neutralized 11 terrorists and destroyed a vehicle-borne suicide bomb.</li><li>That same day in Swabi, security personnel engaged militants in a firefight as talks commenced.</li><li>On the day the Istanbul dialogue opened, a targeted double-bombing in Hangu killed Superintendent of Police Operations Asad Zubair.</li><li>In subsequent days, authorities defused a 20kg IED in Bannu, and police in Hangu repelled two more attacks, killing two assailants.</li><li>On October 25, security forces intercepted two large groups attempting to infiltrate Pakistan while the Istanbul talks were in progress. Forces say they repelled the incursions, killing 15 terrorists, including four suicide bombers, in North Waziristan, and another 10 in Kurram District.</li></ul>&nbsp;Analysts say the timing of the infiltration attempts, coinciding with active diplomatic engagement, raises questions about the Afghan interim administration&rsquo;s intentions.&nbsp;&ldquo;They are doing the same with Pakistan,&rdquo; Professor Suhrawardy told Pakistan TV Digital, drawing a direct parallel with Taliban tactics during earlier negotiations.&nbsp;Political and strategic falloutInformation Minister Attaullah Tarar described the Istanbul talks as &ldquo;fruitless,&rdquo; saying Kabul refused to impose controls on militants operating from Afghan soil despite Pakistan&rsquo;s demands.&nbsp;In response to the failed diplomacy and the sustained cross-border threat, some defense analysts are urging a shift in Pakistan&rsquo;s approach. Brig. (R) Haris Nawaz, a defense analyst, told Pakistan TV Digital that Islamabad should adopt a dual &ldquo;stick and carrot&rdquo; policy.&nbsp;&ldquo;We must now pursue kinetic options, such as striking terrorist bases, neutralizing commanders, and destroying militant infrastructure near the border,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Brig. Nawaz also advocated a complementary diplomatic push that would: involve regional stakeholders like China and Iran; seek US engagement to pressure India over alleged proxy activity in Afghanistan; and raise the matter at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to leverage influence over Kabul.&nbsp;Longstanding Pakistani concernsFor years, Islamabad has pressed the Afghan Taliban to stop militants using Afghan territory to attack Pakistan. Officials in Islamabad also allege that the Afghan authorities have deepened ties with New Delhi, an accusation Pakistan says is corroborated by evidence that India funds militant groups in Afghanistan, a charge India denies.&nbsp;The failure of the Istanbul talks, alongside brazen infiltration attempts and targeted killings, appears to have shifted Pakistan&rsquo;s posture from patient diplomacy toward a dual-track policy combining limited kinetic operations and intensified international pressure.&nbsp;Islamabad is simultaneously continuing its domestic counterterrorism campaign, &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam,&rdquo; while signaling it may expand operations to neutralize cross-border threats.

Pakistani analysts say the Afghan Taliban allowed militants to cross the border and launch attacks even as delegations met for talks in Doha and Istanbul. Security forces repelled infiltrations, prompting calls for a shift toward kinetic and diplomatic pressure.

Kabul looked away as terrorists attacked Pakistan during talks

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PESHAWAR: Muhammad Sakhi leans over a steaming counter, lifting fresh plates of Mantu as customers line up shoulder to shoulder in the narrow basement restaurant. The air is warm with the scent of yogurt, spices, and rising steam.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outside, the busy market of Peshawar, in Pakistan&rsquo;s northwestern frontier near the border with Afghanistan, roars with traffic, fruit vendors and old tea stalls but inside Sakhi&rsquo;s shop, the world slows to the rhythm of his hands &mdash; steady, graceful, familiar.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He has been doing this almost his entire life.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now in his late 40s, Sakhi began working at the age of nine. &ldquo;I started this business in 1992,&rdquo; he tells Pakistan TV Digital, remembering the early days. &ldquo;I worked with someone else first and learned the craft from him.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lessons stayed with him &mdash; how to knead dough the right way, how to balance spices, how to make food that feels like home. Today, his small kitchen is one of Peshawar&rsquo;s most well-known destinations for Afghani Mantu and the Afghani Burger, dishes tied to Afghan identity, memory and migration.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mantu steamer sits tall and gleaming, each tier filled with dumplings carefully stuffed with minced meat, onions and warm Afghan spices. When cooked, Sakhi plates them with a wide, practiced motion: first the &ldquo;chaka,&rdquo; a thick Afghan yogurt; then a spoonful of warm lentils; a sprinkle of fresh salad; and finally, French fries, which melt slightly into the yogurt and sauce below. The dish is soft, rich and comforting &mdash; more than a meal, it is memory on a plate.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Arshad Khan, a regular customer, it is the reason he keeps returning. &ldquo;Their specialty is the Afghani Burger and the Afghani Mantu,&rdquo; he says, watching Sakhi work.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;I personally love the Mantu because of the &lsquo;chaka&rsquo; they use. The taste... it&rsquo;s truly authentic Afghan flavor.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He explains that nothing about the dish is rushed. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s made very simply, steamed. We&rsquo;ve seen how they make it since we&rsquo;ve been coming here for a long time. The taste is excellent. It&rsquo;s really good. I love it!&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But if the Mantu is gentle, the Afghani Burger is bold. On the other side of the kitchen, naan warms on a hot griddle. Sakhi spreads it with fries, sliced meatloaf, sausages, smoked chicken, cheese, salad and a bright house-made tomato chutney.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;The Afghani Burger is the kind of food that... once someone tries it, they get hooked,&rdquo; he says with a smile. &ldquo;But only if the quality is good.&rdquo; Customization is part of the experience. &ldquo;We add sausages, meatloaf, smoked chicken, cheese... many items, brother.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If a customer asks for a special version, he adds more meat, more flavor, more heart.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People travel for this flavor.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naeem Ullah, holding a freshly wrapped burger, says, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve traveled here from District Khyber. I&rsquo;ve been coming here for about three to four years. Their specialty, and what they&rsquo;re known for, is the Afghani Burger. I just had one, and it&rsquo;s incredibly tasty.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He glances around the room. &ldquo;Their staff and the whole place are very clean and very high quality.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Afghan families who crossed into Pakistan during difficult years, these dishes carry the taste of home. For Pakistanis, they have become beloved local favorites. For Sakhi, they are a life&rsquo;s work, served one plate at a time in the warmth of steam, spice and steady hands.

Afghan burgers from a shop in Peshawar (Muhammad Usman)

A crowded basement eatery fills with steam, spices, and conversation as customers line up for Mantu and Afghani burgers, foods carrying nostalgia, Afghan culinary tradition, and a devoted following built on flavor, memory, and generous hospitality.

In Peshawar, Afghani burger and Mantu keep refugee traditions alive

PARIS: President Emmanuel Macron is to announce on Thursday that France is restoring military service on a voluntary basis in the face of the growing threat posed by Russia and the risk of a new conflict breaking out in Europe. Almost three decades after France scrapped conscription, the head of state is due to lay out the change in a speech from 1000 GMT on a visit to an infantry brigade stationed in the Alps in southeastern France, said a presidential official, asking not to be named. The announcement will come more than three and a half years into Russia&#39;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Macron and other French officials warning that Moscow risks not stopping at Ukraine&#39;s borders. France&#39;s top general, armed forces chief of staff Fabien Mandon, sparked uproar at home last week by warning that France must be ready &quot;to lose its children,&quot; adding that Russia is &quot;preparing for a confrontation by 2030 with our countries.&quot; Macron told the RTL broadcaster he would be announcing a &quot;transformation of national service into a new form&quot; on Thursday but did not provide further details. A source with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named, told AFP that the plan is for 2,000 to 3,000 people to be trained up in the first year, aiming to increase those signing up over time to 50,000 per year. &quot;It will start slowly,&quot; said the source. This &quot;new form of national service&quot; will be &quot;on a voluntary basis,&quot; said a presidential official. An adviser to Macron, also requesting anonymity, emphasized it would be launched at a time of tight budget constraints. Its implementation will therefore be &quot;phased in over time,&quot; said the adviser, promising a &quot;realistic&quot; project that &quot;takes into account our current resources.&quot; Not going to &#39;send our young&#39; While around a dozen states have some form of conscription, the use of military service is uneven across Europe. But France would join European countries like Baltic states Latvia and Lithuania which have brought it back in recent years, while others such as Denmark have toughened its terms. There is so far no suggestion that the military service in France would be compulsory, as it was before then-president Jacques Chirac abolished conscription in 1997 as part of the reform of the army. Military service is seen as a way of bolstering armies with recruits, but also of providing a large pool of potential reservists, who could be called up in the case of a future war. The French armed forces have approximately 200,000 active military personnel and 47,000 reservists, numbers expected to increase to 210,000 and 80,000 respectively by 2030. Accused of warmongering by the left, General Mandon has expressed no regret over his comments last week, saying the aim was to &quot;alert and prepare&quot; amid a &quot;rapidly deteriorating&quot; context. Mandon argued on Saturday that the reactions to his comments &quot;show that this is something that was perhaps not sufficiently perceived in our population.&quot; But ahead of Thursday&#39;s announcement, Macron and other officials have been at pains to douse the outcry caused by the general&#39;s forthright comments and fears that French youth were heading for the front lines. The president on Tuesday said he needed to dispel any notion &quot;we are going to send our young people to Ukraine.&quot;

Announcement will come more than three and a half years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Macron and other French officials warning that Moscow risks not stopping at Ukraine's borders.

Macron to announce France restoring voluntary military service

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday bade farewell to Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza at a ceremony held at Joint Staff Headquarters in Rawalpindi, marking the completion of his 40 years of service, the military&rsquo;s media wing said in a statement. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the event was attended by former CJCSCs and senior officers from all three services. A &ldquo;Guard of Honor&rdquo; was presented to the outgoing chairman by a smartly turned-out tri-services contingent, ISPR said. In his farewell remarks, General Mirza expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for granting him the &ldquo;strength to perform his duties with dedication, professionalism, and selfless devotion.&rdquo; He also paid tribute to Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces, honoring &ldquo;the martyrs and their families whose sacrifices safeguard our nation,&rdquo; the statement added. A day earlier, General Mirza paid a farewell call on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ). ISPR said the army chief commended the CJCSC for his &ldquo;exemplary leadership, strategic foresight, and dedicated service to the armed forces.&rdquo; The field marshal praised General Mirza&rsquo;s &ldquo;pivotal role in enhancing tri-services synergy, strengthening joint operational preparedness, and advancing Pakistan&rsquo;s national security objectives at the strategic level.&rdquo; He also highlighted the outgoing chairman&rsquo;s contributions to regional stability, military diplomacy, and Pakistan&rsquo;s defense partnerships with friendly states. ISPR said General Mirza expressed appreciation to the COAS and the armed forces for their &ldquo;unwavering support throughout his career.&rdquo; Upon his arrival at GHQ, the CJCSC laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada and was presented another Guard of Honor by a Pakistan Army contingent, the statement added.

General Mirza pays homage to the martyrs and their families; COAS Munir lauds CJCSC’s pivotal role in enhancing tri-services synergy, strengthening joint operational preparedness, and advancing country’s national security objectives at the strategic level


Pakistan honors outgoing top military official after four decades’ service

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

Middle East

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

Drone strike hits Iraq gas complex, cuts supply: official

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that an Afghan man who fled the Taliban was the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House, calling it an &quot;act of terror.&quot; The announcement in a brief video message signaled the intertwining of three politically explosive issues &mdash; Trump&#39;s controversial use of the military at home, immigration, and the legacy of the US war in Afghanistan. The incident, which left two Guard members critically wounded, was &quot;an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror,&quot; Trump said. &quot;It was a crime against our entire nation.&quot; He confirmed that the man taken into custody after the daylight shooting two blocks from the White House was &quot;a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan.&quot; The suspect had arrived in the United States in 2021 &quot;on those infamous flights,&quot; Trump said, referring to the evacuations of Afghans fleeing as the Taliban took over the country in the wake of the US retreat after 20 years of war. The shocking attack, carried out next to a metro station at a time when the streets and offices of downtown Washington were bustling, also puts a new focus on Trump&#39;s controversial militarization of an anti-crime push around the country. Trump has deployed troops to several cities, all run by Democrats, including Washington, Los Angeles, and Memphis. The deployments have prompted multiple lawsuits and protests from local officials who accuse the Republicans of seeking authoritarian powers. Trump&#39;s statement also indicated that his equally controversial drive to root out migrants in the country illegally &mdash; the core of his domestic agenda &mdash; will get new impetus. &quot;We must now reexamine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan&quot; under former president Joe Biden, said Trump. &quot;We must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country if they can&#39;t love our country, we don&#39;t want them.&quot; &#39;Ambushed&#39;&nbsp;Jeffery Carroll, assistant chief of the Washington police, said the gunman &quot;ambushed&quot; his victims. He &quot;came around the corner, raised his arm with a firearm and discharged at the National Guard members.&quot; FBI Director Kash Patel said the two Guard members were in &quot;critical condition.&quot; Trump earlier said on social media that the suspect was &quot;also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price.&quot; An AFP reporter near the scene heard several loud pops and saw people running. Dozens of bystanders were caught up in the chaos. &quot;We heard gunshots. We were waiting at the traffic light, and there were several shots,&quot; said Angela Perry, 42, who was driving home with her two children. &quot;You could see National Guard running toward the metro with their weapons drawn.&quot; Soon after the shootings, security agents flooded the area. Officers carrying rifles stood guard behind yellow tape at the perimeter, and a helicopter circled overhead. An AFP reporter saw emergency crews running toward the metro with a wheeled stretcher and shortly after emerging with a casualty wearing camouflage, whom they loaded into an ambulance. Troops controversy&nbsp;Washington&#39;s government buildings are heavily guarded, but much of the city has suffered from years of sometimes serious street crime. Trump made Washington a showcase for his decision to order National Guard soldiers &mdash; in camouflage and occasionally carrying rifles&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;to do law enforcement in Democratic-run cities. In the wake of Wednesday&#39;s shooting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that 500 more troops would deploy to Washington, bringing the total to 2,500. Last Thursday, a federal judge ruled that Trump&#39;s deployment of thousands of National Guard troops in the US capital was unlawful.

Americas

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




Trump says Afghan man shot two soldiers near White House

HONG KONG: Firefighters were still dousing a devastating fire on Thursday, which ripped through a Hong Kong high-rise complex, killing at least 44 people and leaving hundreds missing according to authorities. The inferno &mdash; the financial hub&#39;s worst in decades &mdash; took hold on Wednesday afternoon in an eight-building housing estate with 2,000 apartments and sent shockwaves through the city, which has some of the world&#39;s most densely populated and tallest residential blocks. Police said early on Thursday they arrested three men in connection with the fire, after flammable materials left during maintenance work caused the blaze &quot;to spread rapidly beyond control.&quot; Officers searched premises in a separate neighborhood on Thursday morning, taking away documents in binders in relation to the three people arrested, who police suspect &quot;acted with gross negligence&quot; by leaving foam packaging at the site of the fire. AFP journalists at the scene just after daybreak on Thursday saw some flats still burning, although the blaze had noticeably dimmed during the early hours of the morning. Intense flames first took hold on bamboo scaffolding on several 31-storey apartment blocks of Wang Fuk Court on Wednesday in the northern district of Tai Po, which was undergoing estate-wide repairs. An AFP reporter heard loud cracking sounds, possibly from the burning bamboo, and saw thick plumes of smoke billowing from the buildings as flames and ash reached high into the sky. A 65-year-old resident surnamed Yuen said he had lived in the complex for more than four decades and that many of his neighbours were elderly and might not be mobile. &quot;The windows were closed because of the maintenance, (some people) didn&#39;t know there was a fire and had to be told to evacuate via phone calls by neighbours,&quot; Yuen told AFP. &quot;I&#39;m devastated.&quot; Hong Kong&#39;s fire department raised the death toll to 44 on Thursday morning. Among the dead was a 37-year-old firefighter, who was found with burns on his face half an hour after losing contact with colleagues, according to the fire service director Andy Yeung. A government spokesman told AFP that 56 people were being treated in hospital. Sixteen were in a critical condition, 24 were in a serious condition, and 16 were stable. City leader John Lee said in the early hours of Thursday that 279 were unaccounted for, though firefighters said later that they had established contact with some of those people. Lee said more than 900 people sought refuge at temporary shelters. &#39;Unable to reach people who requested help&#39;&nbsp;Authorities said they will launch a probe into the fire as well as into the materials on the buildings&#39; exterior that may have caused the blaze to spread faster than usual. A police officer at a temporary shelter told AFP it was unclear how many people were unaccounted for because residents were still trickling in late into the night to report missing family members. Sections of charred scaffolding fell from the burning blocks, and flames could be seen inside apartments, sometimes belching out through windows into the night sky, casting an eerie orange glow on surrounding buildings. &quot;The temperature at the scene is very high, and there are some floors where we have been unable to reach people who requested help, but we will keep trying,&quot; said Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of fire service operations. He said the fire likely spread from one building to another due to the wind and drifting debris, although he added that authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze. Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the victims, including &quot;the firefighter who died in the line of duty,&quot; according to state media. &quot;He offered sympathies to the families of the victims and those affected by the disaster, and called for making every effort to extinguish the fire and minimise casualties and losses,&quot; state broadcaster CCTV said. Lee, the city leader, said he was &quot;deeply saddened&quot; and that all government departments were assisting residents affected by the fire. &#39;Dare not leave&#39;&nbsp;A Tai Po resident surnamed So, 57, said the fire was &quot;heartbreaking.&quot; &quot;There&#39;s nothing that can be done about the property. We can only hope that everyone, no matter old or young, can return safely,&quot; So told AFP. An apartment owner in his 40s who did not want to give his name told AFP that the government needed to help those made homeless by the blaze. &quot;The fire is not yet under control, and I dare not leave, and I don&#39;t know what I can do,&quot; he said. Residents were seen being evacuated via large coaches, with local media reporting that adjacent blocks were also being cleared. Sections of a nearby highway were also closed by the firefighting operation. Deadly fires were once a regular scourge in densely populated Hong Kong, especially in poorer neighborhoods. However, safety measures have been ramped up in recent decades, and such fires have become much less commonplace.

Police say three men arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire; they give no details about what specifically they are accused of doing.



Hong Kong high-rise fire kills at least 44, still burning

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

Artificial Intelligence

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

NASA confirms support for delayed European Mars rover: ESA

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Iran has expressed its readiness to play a supportive role in addressing ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, offering a &ldquo;blank cheque&rdquo; to help resolve these issues, while also emphasizing the strengthening of trade and economic relations between Tehran and Islamabad. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Ali Ardeshir Larijani, Secretary of Iran&rsquo;s Supreme National Security Council, highlighted Tehran&rsquo;s willingness to assist if Pakistan seeks Iran&rsquo;s involvement in resolving regional issues. &ldquo;Pakistan is very dear and honourable to the Iranian people,&quot; Larijani said, adding we can help ease regional tensions. Earlier, addressing a press conference, the senior Iranian official said: &ldquo;We are prepared to give the Pakistanis a &lsquo;blank cheque&rsquo; to help resolve the regional issues, to be used whenever they deem necessary.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4FfT1CCdgvQ?si=_GiRA_uvmnUEmz-l" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div> He said this is the blank cheque for peace, and Pakistan can encash it whenever it wants. In the interview with Pakistan TV, Ali Larijani said: &ldquo;We have left this matter to our Pakistani brothers and are ready to move forward if they see a role for us. Our goal is to support the solution for the people of Pakistan.&rdquo; Larijani also noted that Iran has shown &ldquo;expressive readiness&rdquo; to help facilitate dialogue and cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, following discussions with Pakistani leadership. Pakistan and Iran share historically friendly ties, with cooperation spanning trade, energy and regional security. Over the past decade, both countries have worked on multiple initiatives, including energy pipelines, cross-border trade agreements and joint efforts to maintain stability in Afghanistan. Iran has previously too shown its interest in fostering peace and stability in the region. Pakistan also emphasised the importance of regional collaboration in trade, transport and energy infrastructure, seeking to strengthen bilateral ties through tangible projects. Larijani also touched upon bilateral trade and investment initiatives. He noted that following the recent visit of Iran&rsquo;s president, both countries have intensified efforts to enhance economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, railway networks and pipeline projects. &ldquo;Work has begun on promoting trade and economic ties between our countries, especially in agriculture, as per the directives of our leaders. We are exploring various avenues to elevate trade volume,&rdquo; Larijani stated. He added that both sides have discussed multiple strategies to expand and strengthen these relations, with optimism for tangible outcomes in the near future.

The Newsroom

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

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

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

Climate & Environment

Economy

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

Pakistan seeks multicontinental alliance to shape future of global shipping

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

Foreign Affairs

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

 Bahrain awards top honor as leaders deepen strategic Pakistan ties

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

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

Articles by Muhammad Usman Amin