Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday, Pakistan has made immense sacrifices for Afghanistan, urged the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s interim government to fulfill its obligations under the Doha Agreement, and cautioned that Afghan soil must not be used against Pakistan. Iqbal expressed these views in an exclusive interview on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s program Newsroom with Sana, as the Foreign Office announced a 48-hour ceasefire with Afghanistan. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed">&nbsp;</div>The truce came after a strong retaliatory response by Pakistani forces to an unprovoked October 11 attack by the Afghan Taliban, carried out in coordination with the India-sponsored terrorist group Fitna-al-Khawarij, which targeted multiple locations along the border. &ldquo;Afghanistan must fulfill its obligations under the Doha Agreement and ensure that Afghan soil must not be used against Pakistan,&rdquo; Iqbal told Pakistan TV, adding that Pakistan has made immense sacrifices for Afghanistan, and has hosted more than four million Afghan refugees over the years. The minister also addressed the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense pact, clarifying that it symbolizes unity and cooperation rather than confrontation.&ldquo;The agreement reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding sovereignty and regional stability,&rdquo; he added. The minister further stated that Pakistan has reached a defining moment in its foreign policy, earning global recognition and respect through principled diplomacy and strategic achievements, including initiatives like Marka-e-Haq.<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1xiQl2DT_mk" title="Newsroom with Sana | Pakistan TV | 15-10-2025 |" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;">&nbsp;</iframe>&nbsp;</div>The planning minister also visited Pakistan TV, and commended the channel&rsquo;s role in countering misinformation and fostering national unity. &ldquo;Pakistan TV is a vital platform for promoting the country&rsquo;s perspective globally and underscored its importance in highlighting Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic initiatives and national security priorities,&rdquo; he added. The minister underscored the vital role of media platforms like Pakistan TV in promoting country&rsquo;s narrative of peace, development, and regional stability amid ongoing global challenges.

Security

Foreign Affairs

The minister expressed these views in an exclusive interview on Pakistan TV’s program Newsroom with Sana, as the Foreign Office announced a 48-hour ceasefire with Afghanistan.

Ahsan Iqbal urges Afghan Taliban to honor Doha agreement, warns against use of Afghan soil for attacks on Pakistan

After nearly two years of relentless violence, people in Gaza are welcoming the ceasefire with relief but also with fear that it may not last.&nbsp;Yousrah Abu Sharekh, Program Coordinator at INARA Gaza, said on Pakistan TV &#39;morning show&#39; that while the truce is &ldquo;a very positive and welcome development,&rdquo; it marks &ldquo;only the beginning of a very complex chapter ahead.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;There are more than 40,000 children who have sustained life-altering injuries &mdash; and many have lost family members, homes, and a sense of safety,&rdquo; she said, adding that the emotional toll is &ldquo;enormous.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fwAStlkrViI" title="Pakistan-IMF Deal I Gaza Crisis I Harsh Winter Ahead I World This Morning" 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>Humanitarian groups say trauma among Gaza&rsquo;s children is deep and widespread, with many showing signs of severe distress and fear of renewed fighting.&nbsp;&ldquo;People are happy, yes, but they are also anxious. There&rsquo;s a constant fear that the ceasefire might collapse,&rdquo; Abu Sharekh warned.&nbsp;Crowds celebrated the truce across Gaza, yet uncertainty remains. &ldquo;Children have lost so much, they don&rsquo;t want to lose more,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;The INARA coordinator also cautioned about the lingering dangers of unexploded ordnance and debris, calling them &ldquo;a serious threat to civilians, especially children.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about rebuilding homes; it&rsquo;s about restoring safety and hope,&rdquo; she stressed. &ldquo;The road ahead is long, but the ceasefire gives us a small window of hope.&rdquo;

Middle East

‘It’s the start of a complex chapter,’ says INARA Gaza coordinator as over 40,000 children live with life-altering injuries.

Ceasefire brings relief — and anxiety — in Gaza: INARA’s Yousrah Abu Sharekh

ISLAMABAD: Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of T&uuml;rkiye, Numan Kurtulmuş, has called for greater unity among Muslim nations and stronger cooperation between Pakistan and T&uuml;rkiye, describing their ties as &ldquo;deep-rooted, time-tested, and anchored in shared values.&rdquo; &quot;The relationship between Pakistan and T&uuml;rkiye goes beyond politics &mdash; it&rsquo;s a bond of the heart, built on mutual respect and a shared vision for the Muslim world,&quot; Kurtulmuş said. &nbsp;&lsquo;Global order is collapsing&rsquo;The Turkish Speaker warned that the post&ndash;World War II balance of power is breaking down, creating global instability. &quot;We are witnessing a systemic disorder. The institutions built after World War II can no longer deliver peace or justice,&quot; he told Pakistan TV. &quot;The United Nations has failed to protect civilians in Gaza and other conflict zones.&quot; He reiterated T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s call for comprehensive UN reform, saying &ldquo;justice and equality must replace privilege and veto power.&rdquo;<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UXyYy6rSr5Q?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> &nbsp;&lsquo;Parliaments can bridge nations&rsquo;Kurtulmuş highlighted the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a tool for dialogue and peace. &quot;Parliaments connect nations directly. Parliamentary diplomacy can build a fairer world by bringing people together beyond governments,&quot; he said. He said legislatures have a moral responsibility to advocate for justice and humanity, especially in the Muslim world.&nbsp;Trilateral cooperation &amp; regional connectivityOn the trilateral partnership among Pakistan, T&uuml;rkiye, and Azerbaijan, the Turkish Speaker said closer coordination would enhance regional stability and economic connectivity. &quot;Our cooperation is practical, not symbolic. Strengthening parliamentary relations will produce real results on the ground,&quot; he said.&nbsp;He pointed to the Development Road Project in Iraq as a model of how regional energy and trade corridors could integrate the broader region.

Asia

Numan Kurtulmuş says the world needs a fairer order as old power structures collapse.

Turkish speaker calls for Muslim unity, stronger Pakistan–Türkiye partnership

OSLO: A Norwegian court has sentenced a former US embassy security guard to three years and seven months in prison for spying for Russia and Iran. The 28-year-old Norwegian man was convicted of providing floor plans, personal details of embassy staff and their families, and information about activities at the US embassy between March and November 2024. In exchange, he was paid 10,000 euros ($11,700) from Russian intelligence and 0.17 bitcoin from Iranian intelligence, the court ruled Wednesday. US security interests&nbsp;In its judgment made public Thursday, the Oslo court said the information was &quot;of a nature that could be used for direct actions and physical attacks against the concerned individuals.&quot; &quot;The accused understood that disclosing this information could harm US security interests,&quot; the court noted. During his trial, the accused admitted to spying, which he said was in protest against the United States&#39; backing of Israel&#39;s offensive in Gaza, but denied the charge of aggravated espionage for which he was convicted. He argued that the information he transmitted was not classified. List of mail services&nbsp;In Norway, Serbia, or Turkey, he provided Russian and/or Iranian authorities with the names, addresses, phone numbers, and license plate numbers of embassy diplomats and employees, as well as their spouses and children. He also sent embassy plans, security routines, and a list of mail services used by Norwegian intelligence. The prosecution had asked for a sentence of six years and four months for the crime, which is punishable by up to 21 years in prison in Norway. Norwegian intelligence services have regularly identified Russia -- with whom the NATO member shares a border in the Arctic -- Iran, and China as the main countries conducting intelligence operations in Norway.

Europe

The 28-year-old Norwegian man was convicted of providing floor plans, personal details of embassy staff; the man was paid 10,000 euros ($11,700) from Russian intelligence and 0.17 bitcoin from Iranian intelligence, the court ruled Wednesday.

Ex-US embassy guard in Norway convicted of spying for Russia, Iran

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed 34 terrorists affiliated with the Indian proxy network Fitna Al-Khwarij during multiple operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Thursday.&nbsp;The operations were carried out from October 13 to 15, targeting reported hideouts in North and South Waziristan and Bannu districts, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.&nbsp;In Spinwam, North Waziristan, a major intelligence-based operation led to an intense exchange of fire, resulting in 18 terrorists being killed.&nbsp;In a separate operation in South Waziristan, 8 more Khwarij were eliminated, while another 8 were neutralized during a third encounter in Bannu district.&nbsp;ISPR stated that the operations were part of the ongoing national resolve to eliminate terrorism, as envisioned under Azm-e-Istehkam, the strategy endorsed by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan.&nbsp;&ldquo;Sanitization operations are underway to ensure no terrorist remains active in the area,&rdquo; ISPR added, vowing that the relentless counterterror campaign by security forces and law enforcement agencies will continue at full pace to root out all foreign-sponsored terrorist elements. PM Sharif hails forces&rsquo; successful counterterrorism operationsPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the professionalism and bravery of the troops in thwarting the nefarious designs of these militants, his office said.&nbsp;The premier affirmed that all necessary measures will be taken to protect the people of Pakistan and uphold national security. He reiterated that the counterterrorism campaign will continue with full momentum until the complete eradication of terrorism from the country.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Government of Pakistan is fully committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism from our soil,&rdquo; he added.

Says operations were carried out from October 13 to 15, targeting reported hideouts in North and South Waziristan and Bannu districts.

34 Indian-sponsored terrorists killed in counterterror operations: ISPR

ASCHAFFENBURG: An Afghan man accused of a deadly knife attack on a group of toddlers in Germany went on trial Thursday, nine months after an incident that inflamed a heated pre-election debate on immigration. Germany was shocked by the stabbing spree that killed a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man who tried to protect the children and left three others wounded in the southern city of Aschaffenburg. Five toddlers from a kindergarten class were in a public park, accompanied by two teachers, when the assailant attacked them with a kitchen knife.The suspect arrested at the scene of the January 22 attack has been only partially named, in line with usual practice by the German judiciary, as 28-year-old Enamullah O. History of mental illness&nbsp;He has a long history of mental illness and prosecutors said an expert assessment concluded his psychiatric state meant he was not criminally responsible. The public prosecutor&#39;s office has previously said there was no indication the suspect acted out of extremist or terrorist motivation, and they were seeking to have him permanently confined to a psychiatric facility. The trial is expected to stretch over several days of proceedings in October. The suspected attacker injured a two-year-old Syrian girl, one of the teachers as well as a 72-year-old man who had also tried to protect the children. He was arrested shortly afterwards and it soon emerged that the authorities had tried and failed in 2023 to deport him to Bulgaria -- the first EU country he had arrived in. In August 2024, he allegedly threatened a fellow resident at an accommodation for asylum seekers in the nearby town of Alzenau with a butcher&#39;s knife and caused her minor injuries. Political reactionsThe Aschaffenburg stabbings, which followed a string of other bloody attacks in Germany, provoked intense political reactions. Friedrich Merz, the leader of the centre-right Christian Democrats who went on to become chancellor, promised a &quot;fundamental&quot; overhaul of asylum rules and strict border controls &quot;from day one&quot; if elected. About a week later, Merz, then the opposition leader, relied on support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to pass a non-binding resolution through parliament demanding stricter immigration and refugee policies. Merz&#39;s decision to rely on far-right support broke a longstanding taboo in post-World War II German politics, prompting fierce criticism and mass street protests.

The public prosecutor's office has previously said there was no indication the suspect acted out of extremist or terrorist motivation, and they were seeking to have him permanently confined to a psychiatric facility.

Afghan man on trial in Germany over deadly knife attack on toddlers

NEW DELHI: India said Thursday that its energy priority was the interest of its citizens after US President Donald Trump said New Delhi had promised it would stop buying Russian oil. New Delhi neither confirmed nor denied that it was shifting policy toward Russia. In a recent statement from Russian state media, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia is confident its energy partnership with India will continue. Earlier, US President Donald Trump had said India&#39;s prime minister Narendra Modi had promised him that India would stop buying oil from Moscow.&nbsp; Responding to Trump&#39;s statement, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said,&nbsp;&ldquo;It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.&rdquo; &ldquo;Our import policies are guided entirely by this objective,&rdquo; he said. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 803px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=1978690629522653592&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=7c80ad9b4e0b40ca02cb968ad2ae8817c7f22a86&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &ldquo;Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy,&rdquo; Jaiswal added. &ldquo;This includes broad-basing our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions.&rdquo; Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Modi in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the prime minister was &ldquo;frightened of Trump&rdquo; and listing what he described as examples of Modi yielding to US pressure, including the reported cancellation of a finance minister&rsquo;s visit to Washington. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 418px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1978669002798055695&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=7c80ad9b4e0b40ca02cb968ad2ae8817c7f22a86&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Major oil importer&nbsp;India, one of the world&rsquo;s largest crude oil importers, relies on foreign suppliers for more than 85% of its oil needs. It&nbsp;traditionally relied on Middle Eastern nations. But since 2022, it has shifted sharply toward discounted Russian crude, taking advantage of a buyer&rsquo;s market created by Western bans on Moscow&rsquo;s exports. &ldquo;Where the US is concerned, we have for many years sought to expand our energy procurement,&rdquo; Jaiswal said. &ldquo;This has steadily progressed in the last decade. The current administration has shown interest in deepening energy cooperation with India. Discussions are ongoing.&rdquo; In August, the US raised tariffs on Indian exports to the United States to 50%, with Trump&rsquo;s aides accusing India of fueling Russia&rsquo;s war in Ukraine. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously defended buying oil from Russia, a historic partner of India, despite Moscow&rsquo;s invasion of Ukraine.

Participants speak in front of an exhibition stand of Russia's power company Rosseti at the Russian Energy Week international forum in Moscow, Russia, October 15, 2025. 

Americas

According to an Indian foreign ministry spokesman: 'It has been our consistent priority to safeguard the interests of the Indian consumer in a volatile energy scenario.'

India says consumers on priority after Trump comments on stopping Russian oil

ISLAMABAD: Taliban authorities publicly executed a man in western Afghanistan on Thursday, who had been convicted of two murders, the country&#39;s Supreme Court said, according to AFP. The man was executed in front of crowds at a sports stadium in Qala-i-Naw, the capital of Badghis province, the Supreme Court said in a statement. It brings to 11 the number of men publicly put to death since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, according to an AFP tally. India to reopen embassy in KabulThe interim Afghan government has been relatively isolated internationally due to concerns about issues such as its systematic human rights abuses, severe oppression of women and girls, suppression of dissent, and failure to combat terrorism Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in his opening remarks at his meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Interim Afghan Government, Amir Khan Mutaqqi, in New Delhi on October 10, announced, &quot;India will be upgrading its technical mission in the Afghan capital Kabul to an embassy.&quot; Jaishankar said India appreciated the interim Afghan government&rsquo;s sensitivity toward India&rsquo;s security concerns, adding, &ldquo;Your solidarity with us in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack was noteworthy.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan.&rdquo; &nbsp; New Delhi has maintained a steady contact with the Taliban after they took over power in Kabul in 2021, establishing a technical mission in the country&rsquo;s capital in 2022, the Associated Press reported. It continued engagement through backchannel diplomacy and regional forums that subsequently prompted increased engagement between the two countries this year.

It brings to 11 the number of men publicly put to death since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, according to an AFP tally; the interim Afghan government has been relatively isolated internationally due to concerns about issues such as the rights of women.

Afghan Taliban authorities publicly execute man for murder: court

Syed Ahmed Raza

ISLAMABAD: At an age when most cricketers start contemplating retirement, Pakistan&rsquo;s Noman Ali continues to redefine persistence and performance. Affectionately known as &lsquo;Chachu&rsquo; in the dressing room, Noman has quietly evolved into Pakistan&rsquo;s most dependable force in Test cricket. His relentless accuracy, unwavering fitness, and mastery of spin have not only earned him admiration but also reshaped Pakistan&rsquo;s Test fortunes in recent years. Yet, it remains baffling that a player with such influence still languishes in Category C of the Pakistan Cricket Board&rsquo;s central contracts. Why is Pakistan&rsquo;s most consistent match-winner not valued accordingly? Let&rsquo;s dig in.&nbsp;Breaking records, defying ageIn Pakistan&rsquo;s historic 93-run victory over defending World Test Champions South Africa in Lahore this week, Noman once again rose to the occasion. His 10-wicket haul (10/191) was his third in just 20 Tests, an extraordinary feat achieved by only 11 other players in cricket history within a few matches.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1978352490656526759&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F1422%2F&sessionId=d92f6f8f14ec3f8a18ae56bfb1be02fbb9a7f668&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-twitter-extracted-i1760601469914208806="true">Noman Ali grabs his career&#39;s 3rd 1️⃣0️⃣-wicket haul vs South Africa in the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvSA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenPeYaqeen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreenPeYaqeen</a> <a href="https://t.co/aNS5J4Lq9m">pic.twitter.com/aNS5J4Lq9m</a>&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1978352490656526759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote></div>He now joins an elite club alongside Fazal Mahmood, Sydney Barnes, and Australia&rsquo;s C.V. Grimmett &mdash; bowlers who defined their eras. Even legends like Muttiah Muralidaran, Shane Warne, and Ravichandran Ashwin didn&rsquo;t reach this milestone so early in their careers. Noman&rsquo;s match-turning spells against England, West Indies, and now South Africa highlight his reliability. Eleven and nine wickets against England, six and ten versus West Indies, and another ten against South Africa, these numbers speak of a spinner at the peak of his craft.&nbsp;Dominance backed by numbersSince making a late Test debut in 2021 at 35, Noman has become Pakistan&rsquo;s most trusted match-winner in the longer format, a bowler capable of altering the course of a game on his own. Over 20 Tests, he has taken 93 wickets at an impressive average of 24.15, including nine five-fors and three ten-wicket match hauls. No Pakistani bowler has claimed more wickets during this period. He leads the pack ahead of Shaheen Shah Afridi (81), Sajid Khan (64), Hasan Ali (49), and Abrar Ahmed (46). In the past year alone, Noman&rsquo;s form has been sensational, 52 wickets at a remarkable average of 15.21 since July 2023, the best by any bowler in the world over that span.&nbsp;A tireless workhorseBeyond the stats, it&rsquo;s Noman&rsquo;s work ethic that truly defines him. In the recent Lahore Test, Pakistan bowled 144.5 overs, and Noman shouldered 63 of them, a testament to his stamina and commitment. His ability to maintain accuracy, extract turn, and sustain pressure makes him indispensable in the red-ball format. At 39, his endurance and discipline remain unmatched, setting a benchmark for the next generation of Pakistani spinners.&nbsp;Recognition overdueDespite his remarkable consistency, it&rsquo;s disappointing that Noman remains in Category C of the PCB&rsquo;s central contracts, a slot that hardly does justice to his impact. For a player who has carried Pakistan&rsquo;s spin attack for nearly four years, higher recognition is long overdue.&nbsp;A case for T20 inclusionWith the T20 World Cup 2026 set to be played in spin-friendly conditions across India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan&rsquo;s lack of experienced spinners could once again be exposed. Given Noman&rsquo;s control, temperament, and ability to deceive with flight and drift, he could be a surprise yet valuable addition to Pakistan&rsquo;s T20 setup. In a format dominated by mystery and wrist-spinners, his classical left-arm orthodox style could bring control and stability, especially on turning tracks.&nbsp;An underrated legend in the makingFrom being a late bloomer to becoming Pakistan&rsquo;s most consistent Test bowler, Noman Ali&rsquo;s journey embodies resilience, patience, and quiet excellence. He may not command the spotlight like Shaheen or Naseem, but his numbers tell a story of dominance and reliability few can match. At 39, Noman continues to prove that age is just a number, not a limitation, in the story of a spinner who refuses to stop rewriting Pakistan&rsquo;s Test history.

Cricket

At 39, Noman Ali defies age and odds to become Pakistan’s most reliable Test match-winner yet remains undervalued.

Noman Ali: Pakistan’s unsung hero rewriting Test cricket history

Reuters

PATNA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s national alliance faces a tough regional election in the state of Bihar next month, due to youth unemployment and distrust over voter rolls, which could pose risks to his coalition that relies on regional partners. Bihar, in eastern India, is one of the country&#39;s poorest states and its third most populous, with over 130 million people. Its chief minister, Nitish Kumar, has previously sided with both Modi and the opposition, but is currently a key partner in Modi&#39;s National Democratic Alliance. Politically crucial heartland&nbsp;The state is part of a politically crucial heartland region, and any cracks within the NDA in November&#39;s assembly vote in Bihar could threaten Modi&#39;s coalition, with elections to follow within months in the states of Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. Modi&#39;s national alliance, which has 293 out of 543 seats in the Parliament, has a strong voter base only in Assam. The Vote Vibe agency said its opinion poll in Bihar showed the NDA had a marginal 1.6 percentage point lead over the opposition alliance, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress party, as of October 8. &lsquo;Strong voting bloc&rsquo;&nbsp;&quot;This election could swing either way,&quot; the agency said in its outlook, noting that the NDA&#39;s slight edge was due to its recent programs, such as money transfers to 12.1 million women under a self-employment subsidy that totaled more than 121 billion rupees ($1.37 billion). Nivedita Jha, an activist based in Bihar&#39;s state capital Patna, said women will form a strong voting bloc in the poll because men usually leave Bihar in search of jobs in economic hubs like Mumbai and New Delhi, and not all return to vote. &quot;Women take the decisions because the men are not here,&quot; she said. &quot;They talk about the opposition, which has promised more money if they come to power, and my understanding is that they trust the opposition more&quot;. &lsquo;They have declared me dead&rsquo;Some Bihar voters are also angry about the revision of the state voter list. In one case, 85-year-old Jitni Devi said she was removed from the list and can no longer vote or access her pension. &quot;They have declared me dead,&quot; she told Reuters. &quot;People in my village tease me as a dead woman, and bank officials shoo me away when I go there to withdraw my money.&quot; The state election commission did not respond to queries about Devi&#39;s case. The federal election body has previously said that all complaints are investigated thoroughly. Voters angry over unemploymentAnxiety among young voters in Bihar over employment is another election issue, despite a falling unemployment rate. Government data showed that 9.9% of people aged 15&ndash;29 were unemployed in Bihar in the fiscal year 2023&ndash;24, a significant drop from 30.9% in 2018&ndash;19, but concerns persist. &quot;For me, I have seen my father going out of Bihar for work, so the issue of jobs matters the most,&quot; said Babloo Kumar, 25, who plans to vote for the first time in November. A new political party, Jan Suraaj &mdash; founded by Prashant Kishor, Modi&#39;s former poll manager &mdash; said it aims to reset the political agenda in Bihar. &lsquo;Big dip in Modi&#39;s popularity&rsquo;&nbsp;&quot;Joblessness, migration, increasing debts, loss in agriculture revenue are the issues in Bihar,&quot; said the party&#39;s national president, Uday Singh. &quot;There is a big dip in Modi&#39;s popularity here&quot;. The opposition has promised a law guaranteeing at least one government job per family, if desired. Modi&#39;s Bharatiya Janata Party, however, said it remains confident of victory. &quot;The NDA alliance is in a very solid position,&quot; said Guru Prakash Paswan, a BJP spokesperson. &quot;People have strong faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s vision.&quot; Voting will be held on November 6 and 11 for 243 state assembly seats, and results will be declared on November 14.

The Bihar election is crucial for Modi's coalition stability; women voters are pivotal due to the migration of men for jobs; voters are angry over unemployment and distrust the electoral rolls.

India's Modi faces tough Bihar state election

RABAT: Morocco set a new record of 16 successive victories by a national team as they completed their World Cup qualifying campaign with 1-0 home win over Congo on Tuesday. Youssef En-Nesyri scored in the 63rd minute in Rabat to ensure Morocco finished their Group E programme with eight wins from eight matches, the only side in the African preliminaries with a 100% record. The victory saw them go past the record of 15 that Spain set over a 12-month period between June 2008 and June 2009. Morocco last failed to win an international when they drew 0-0 with Mauritania in a friendly in March 2024 but have since posted victories in seven World Cup qualifiers, six qualifiers for this year&rsquo;s Africa Cup of Nations finals and three friendlies. Morocco&rsquo;s run does not include matches played by a B team made up only of home-based players that won the African Nations Championship in Kenya in August. Morocco&rsquo;s 19-month winning run saw them score 50 goals and concede four. Spain began their run beating Russia 3-0 in the semi-final of the 2008 European Championship and their 15th consecutive win came with a 2-0 victory over hosts South Africa in their final group game in the 2009 Confederations Cup. They lost their record when the United States beat them in the Confederations Cup semi-final in Bloemfontein. During their winning streak Spain only conceded twice while scoring 39. Morocco have yet to announce plans for friendlies in the November international window but at the end of the year host the Cup of Nations finals, where they meet Comoros in the opening game on December 21.

Morocco’s Abdelhakim El Mesbahi celebrates with teammates after winning the penalty shootout against France in the FIFA U-20 World Cup semifinal at Estadio Elias Figueroa in Valparaiso, Chile, Oct. 15, 2025. (Reuters/Rodrigo Garrido)

Football

Morocco set a new record of 16 successive victories by a national team as they completed their World Cup qualifying campaign with 1-0 home win over Congo on Tuesday.

Morocco defeats Congo to break Spain’s record with 16th win

WASHINGTON: With a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal holding, President Donald Trump says he&#39;s now turning his attention to bringing Russia&#39;s war on Ukraine to an end and is weighing providing Kyiv long-range weaponry as he looks to prod Moscow to the negotiating table. Ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza was central to Trump&#39;s 2024 reelection pitch, in which he persistently pilloried President Joe Biden for his handling of the conflicts. Yet, like his predecessor, Trump also has been stymied by President Vladimir Putin as he&#39;s unsuccessfully pressed the Russian leader to hold direct talks with Ukraine&#39;s Volodymyr Zelensky to end the war that is nearing its fourth year. But fresh off the Gaza ceasefire, Trump is showing new confidence that he can finally make headway on ending the Russian invasion. He&#39;s also signaling that he&#39;s ready to step up pressure on Putin if he doesn&#39;t come to the table soon. Glitzy dinner&ldquo;Interestingly, we made progress today, because of what&#39;s happened in the Middle East,&quot; Trump said of the Russia-Ukraine war on Wednesday evening as he welcomed supporters of his White House ballroom project to a glitzy dinner. Earlier this week in Jerusalem, in a speech to the Knesset, Trump predicted the truce in Gaza would lay the groundwork for the US to help Israel and many of its Middle East neighbors normalize relations. But Trump also made clear his top foreign policy priority now is ending the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. &lsquo;We have to get Russia done&rsquo;&ldquo;First we have to get Russia done,&rdquo; Trump said, turning to his special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has also served as his administration&#39;s chief interlocutor with Putin. &ldquo;We gotta get that one done. If you don&rsquo;t mind, Steve, let&rsquo;s focus on Russia first. All right?&rdquo; Trump is set to host Zelensky for talks on Friday, their fourth face-to-face meeting this year. Tomahawks for UkraineAhead of the meeting, Trump has said he&#39;s weighing selling Kyiv long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which would allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory &mdash; if Putin doesn&#39;t settle the war soon. Zelensky, who has long sought the weapons system, said it would help Ukraine put the sort of pressure on Russia needed to get Putin to engage in peace talks. Putin has made clear that providing Ukraine with Tomahawks would cross a red line and further damage relations between Moscow and Washington. But Trump has been undeterred.&nbsp;&ldquo;He&#39;d like to have Tomahawks,&rdquo; Trump said of Zelensky on Tuesday. &ldquo;We have a lot of Tomahawks.&rdquo; &lsquo;Years to supply and train&rsquo;&nbsp;Agreeing to sell Ukraine Tomahawks would be a splashy move, said Mark Montgomery, an analyst at the conservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington. But it could take years to supply and train Kyiv on the Tomahawk system. Montgomery said Ukraine could be better served in the near term with a surge of Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles and Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS. The US already approved the sale of up to 3,350 ERAMs to Kyiv earlier this year. The Tomahawk, with a range of about 995 miles (1,600 kilometers), would allow Ukraine to strike far deeper in Russian territory than either the ERAM (about 285 miles, or 460 km) or ATACMS (about 186 miles, or 300 kilometers). &ldquo;To provide Tomahawks is as much a political decision as it is a military decision,&rdquo; Montgomery said. &ldquo;The ERAM is shorter range, but this can help them put pressure on Russia operationally, on their logistics, the command and control, and its force disbursement within several hundred kilometers of the front line. It can be very effective.&rdquo; New Russia sanctionsZelensky is expected to reiterate his plea to Trump to hit Russia&#39;s economy with further sanctions, something the Republican, to date, has appeared reluctant to do. Congress has weighed legislation that would lead to tougher sanctions on Moscow, but Trump has largely focused his attention on pressuring NATO members and other allies to cut off their purchases of Russian oil, the engine fueling Moscow&#39;s war machine. To that end, Trump said Wednesday that India, which became one of Russia&#39;s biggest crude buyers after the Ukraine invasion, had agreed to stop buying oil from Moscow. Waiting for Trump&rsquo;s blessing is legislation in the Senate that would impose steep tariffs on countries that purchase Russia&rsquo;s oil, gas, uranium, and other exports in an attempt to cripple Moscow economically. Though the president hasn&rsquo;t formally endorsed it &mdash; and Republican leaders do not plan to move forward without his support &mdash; the White House has shown, behind the scenes, more interest in the bill in recent weeks.

Trump has made clear his top foreign policy priority now is ending the largest armed conflict in Europe since WWII; Trump is set to host Zelensky for talks Friday.

Articles by Pakistan TV Satellite