Saqib Tanveer

WASHINGTON: Members of the Khalistan movement gathered Thursday outside the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, offering $1 billion to join the Board of Peace and hold a referendum on an independent Indian Punjab. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, a protester said the funds were meant to &ldquo;liberate our Punjab from Indian occupation.&rdquo; He said the group supports President Trump&rsquo;s initiative to stop wars worldwide and hopes to join the board to advance their cause. &ldquo;Since 1947, when Sikhs claimed their own independent state, the leaders of that time joined India&rsquo;s Punjab. But for the last 80 years, Sikhs have faced persecution and atrocities,&rdquo; he said. The protester added that the group seeks &ldquo;liberation through a peaceful and democratic referendum.&rdquo; He also addressed India directly, saying, &ldquo;Our message is clear. We want liberation from India through a peaceful and democratic process. Modi tried to assassinate Khalistan movement leaders, but he failed. We will not take a step back and will fight till the liberation of Punjab.&rdquo; The President of the Council of Khalistan, Dr Bakshish Singh Sandhu, said the proposal includes a $1 billion donation to fund an official referendum. &ldquo;Currently, Khalistan, under Indian control, is subjected to genocide, econocide, and transnational assassinations. We are here at the Board of Peace so the sovereignty conflict of Punjab can be resolved amicably through a referendum vote, which is legal and peaceful,&rdquo; he said. Sandhu added that joining the Board of Peace would establish geopolitical support with the US and reduce the risk of nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Protesters displayed a large check from Sikhs for Justice reading &ldquo;$1 billion for Khalistan referendum&rdquo; and &ldquo;for liberating Punjab from Indian occupation,&rdquo; with the years &ldquo;1984-2026&rdquo; printed on it. The Khalistan movement seeks an independent homeland for the Sikh community, known as Khalistan, in the Punjab region. It dates back to the 1947 partition of India and creation of Pakistan and peaked in the 1980s during the leadership of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, culminating in the 1984 Indian military operation at the Golden Temple. Recent high-profile incidents have heightened tensions between India and the West. On June 18, 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan advocate in Canada, was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was &ldquo;credible intelligence&rdquo; linking the Indian government to the killing. Several Indian nationals were later arrested in connection with the murder. In late 2023, US prosecutors revealed they had foiled a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a leader of Sikhs for Justice, in New York City. An Indian national extradited from the Czech Republic pleaded guilty in February 2026 to murder-for-hire charges. A former Indian intelligence officer was charged in October 2024 with directing the plot. Other notable cases include Satinderpal Singh Raju, who survived a drive-by shooting in California in 2024, and Avtar Singh Khanda, who died under suspicious circumstances in the UK in June 2023. The movement remains active among the Sikh diaspora in Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia. Sikhs for Justice organizes unofficial global referendums on Khalistan, non-binding votes that continue to create diplomatic tensions. Proposed boundaries of Khalistan typically include the Indian state of Punjab and, at times, parts of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh.

Members of the Khalistan movement gathered Thursday outside the Donald Trump Institute of Peace, offering $1 billion to join the Board of Peace and hold a referendum on an independent Punjab.

India

Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, a protester said the funds were meant to “liberate our Punjab from Indian occupation.” He said the group supports President Trump’s initiative to stop wars worldwide and hopes to join the board to advance their cause.

Khalistan activists offer $1 billion to join Trump’s Board of Peace for Indian Punjab referendum

VIENNA: Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will make a historic visit to Austria starting Sunday, the first by a Pakistani premier in 34 years since the last visit in 1992, the country&rsquo;s ambassador said. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Pakistan&#39;s Ambassador to Austria Mohammad Kamran Akhtar said the visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, established in 1956. &quot;There has been a sort of communication gap between Pakistan and one of the most important countries of European Union,&quot; Akhtar said. &quot;It might not be a large country, but it is very significant in terms of being the capital of international diplomacy, multilateralism and international negotiations.&quot; Bilateral meetings and economic engagement PM Sharif will meet the Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker for private talks followed by bilateral delegation-level meetings covering issues on the agenda between the two countries, according to the ambassador. The schedule includes a CEO forum co-chaired by PM Sharif and Stocker, bringing together leadership from Pakistani and Austrian companies already doing business in Pakistan. &quot;The Chancellor of Austria, since he will be co-chairing, that sends a very strong signal in Austria&#39;s interest in increasing its economic collaboration with Pakistan,&quot; the ambassador said. In the afternoon, PM Sharif will chair a larger business forum before proceeding to UN premises in Vienna, where he will deliver a keynote address at an event on sustainable development. UN agencies and development programs Vienna hosts three UN agencies critical to Pakistan: the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Kamran Akhtar said Pakistan maintains active country programs with all three agencies, benefiting from IAEA technical cooperation in peaceful nuclear power generation, cancer diagnostic and treatment, and development of climate-resistant crop varieties. He stated that UNIDO assists Pakistan with industrial development and the transition to low-carbon energy pathways, while&nbsp;UNODC provides capacity building and technical assistance for addressing drug-related challenges from Afghanistan. The ambassador revealed that during the current visit, Pakistan will sign a new country program with UNODC covering 2026 to 2030. Education opportunities for Pakistani students On education cooperation, the ambassador said approximately 400 Pakistani PhD students have completed their studies in Austria since the Higher Education Commission launched its program in 2012. Currently, around 500 Pakistani students study at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels across Austrian universities, primarily in science, technology and engineering fields. The Pak-Austria Fachhochschule in Haripur was established in collaboration with 11 Austrian tertiary institutions and five Chinese institutions. A new branch is planned for Sialkot. The ambassador said Austrian public universities charge nominal fees, making study affordable for Pakistani students who achieve C1-level proficiency in German. He added that Austria faces an acute shortage of trained manpower, and Pakistani students who perform well can secure employment in the Austrian economy.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Austria Muhammad Kamran Akhtar speaking to Pakistan TV Digital. 

Foreign Affairs

The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations established in 1956. PM Sharif will meet Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker for bilateral talks and chair business forums.

Pakistan PM to visit Austria for first time in 34 years 

DAVOS: International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Friday praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as &ldquo;a man of his word,&rdquo; endorsing Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to politically difficult economic reforms under its IMF program.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital on the final day of the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, Georgieva said Pakistan&rsquo;s government had demonstrated seriousness in implementing reforms agreed with the Fund. &nbsp;&ldquo;The Pakistani government has embraced serious reforms and the fruits of action are already there,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We are finally seeing the budget discipline bringing resources that can be deployed to improve lives of people.&rdquo;&nbsp;Georgieva said the IMF was encouraged by the pace and intent of implementation, signalling continuity in engagement with Islamabad.&nbsp;&ldquo;I very much look forward to continuing the implementation of the program that is the Pakistani program, the IMF,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;The IMF chief spoke in personal terms about her interactions with Sharif, underscoring trust between the two sides.&nbsp;&ldquo;I highly respect the Prime Minister. He is serious. When he gives his word that something would be done, it gets done,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;Describing recent meetings, Georgieva noted a focus on accountability and follow-through. &ldquo;We have been in meetings many times,&rdquo; she told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;We always use time effectively to identify where progress is made, where there is still more work to do.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;And that was exactly the case this time.&rdquo;&nbsp;She concluded by commending the government&rsquo;s resolve to press ahead with reforms despite domestic pressures. &ldquo;So, my high respect for the seriousness of the Prime Minister and his cabinet to carry forward difficult reforms for the betterment of Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;Her remarks signal continued IMF confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s reform trajectory, even as the country grapples with inflation, fiscal tightening, and the social costs of stabilization measures.

Europe

Kristalina Georgieva praises Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Davos, citing serious reforms, budget discipline, and continued confidence in Pakistan’s IMF-backed economic programme.

IMF chief calls PM Sharif ‘man of word,’ lauds Pakistan for undertaking difficult reforms

DAVOS: Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said India&rsquo;s global image has &ldquo;become so very small&rdquo; in recent months, while Pakistan is increasingly being discussed in geopolitical circles. He credited Islamabad&rsquo;s diplomatic conduct during recent international crises for strengthening the country&rsquo;s standing on the world stage. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital on the sidelines of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-to-attend-world-economic-forum-in-davos-next-week-organizers" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Economic Forum</a>&nbsp;in Davos 2026, Bilawal highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s role in the newly launched Board of Peace (BoP), an international initiative aimed at conflict resolution. The organization, whose charter was signed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/board-of-peace-to-work-with-un-for-global-peace-efforts-trump" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif</a>&nbsp;at the Davos forum, has already attracted membership from roughly 19 countries. &ldquo;The Board of Peace is a new concept,&rdquo; Bilawal said. &ldquo;From Pakistan&rsquo;s perspective, it is very important for us to be in the room while such important conversations are being had,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;This allows us to put across not only our point of view but, more importantly, the point of view of the people of Palestine, whose right to self-determination and a peaceful home Pakistan has consistently advocated for since the country&rsquo;s foundation.&rdquo; He emphasized that, while the recent Gaza ceasefire achieved the release of hostages and prisoners, the focus now should be on ensuring uninterrupted humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. &ldquo;Our number one priority must be that humanitarian aid and access are fully and completely implemented,&rdquo; he said. Bilawal also spoke about the geopolitical implications of China and other major powers joining the BoP. &ldquo;China and other countries have also been invited to be members of this Board of Peace,&rdquo; the former foreign minister said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s a positive indication, and it&rsquo;s yet to be seen what their final decision will be,&rdquo; Bilawal added, reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s strong relationship with Beijing, citing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a historic achievement. Turning to India, Bilawal offered a stark critique of New Delhi&rsquo;s global positioning. &ldquo;It is incredibly unfortunate,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;India, which presented itself as a great power and a great democracy, has really become so very small over the course of the many months that we&rsquo;ve seen post this conflict,&rdquo; Bilawal said, referring to the cross-border clashes between the two countries in May last year. The four-day conflict, triggered by a militant attack on civilians in Indian-occupied Kashmir, quickly escalated into the deadliest fighting between Pakistan and India since 2019, involving missile, drone, and artillery strikes before both sides accepted a US-brokered ceasefire. Bilawal also raised concerns about India&rsquo;s conduct on international platforms. &ldquo;Whether it&rsquo;s the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, or anywhere on the world stage, India seems to be shying away,&rdquo; he said, contrasting this with Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic performance. &ldquo;The world has recognized how Pakistan performed, not only during this conflict but as a responsible player within the region. If you compare Pakistan&rsquo;s positioning vis-&agrave;-vis India, despite India&rsquo;s larger finances and military, it is Pakistan that is now the talk of the town in geopolitical circles.&rdquo; On water issue, Bilawal highlighted the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-demands-india-explain-may-strikes-on-pakistan-indus-treaty-actions" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indus Waters Treaty</a>, accusing India of illegally suspending the agreement. &ldquo;I discussed this with the World Bank president recently. The Indus Waters Treaty has long been the gold standard for water management. India&rsquo;s violation of it exposes their narrative internationally.&rdquo; He also spoke on US relations, offering measured praise for President Donald Trump&rsquo;s engagement in multilateral forums. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad we have a US president who focuses on the positive sometimes. I&rsquo;ve been to Davos often, and a lot of the time, countries focus on the negative,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s something we should welcome.&rdquo; Concluding on digital media and international perception, Bilawal lauded Pakistan TV Digital&rsquo;s efforts in presenting a domestic perspective to the world. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad the international audience is getting a perspective from inside Pakistan.&rdquo;

Pakistan Peoples Party chairperson and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said India’s global image has “become so very small” in recent months, while Pakistan is increasingly being discussed in geopolitical circles.

India’s image shrinking, Pakistan now ‘talk of the town’ globally: Bilawal

DAVOS: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said he will visit Pakistan in the near future, reaffirming his commitment to support the country&rsquo;s football development and expressing confidence in its long-term potential.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Infantino said he had promised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that he would travel to Pakistan soon.&nbsp;He praised the leadership of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), saying it is doing &ldquo;a fantastic job&rdquo; in reviving and strengthening the game.&nbsp;Describing Pakistan as a &ldquo;great football country,&rdquo; Infantino said FIFA&rsquo;s objective is to help elevate Pakistan to the top tier of Asian football by ensuring opportunities for emerging talent across the country.&nbsp;FIFA Chief of Global Football Development and former Arsenal manager Ars&egrave;ne Wenger echoed similar views, saying Pakistan&rsquo;s population of 250 million represents a vast opportunity for football growth.&nbsp;&ldquo;There is a huge potential [in the country],&rdquo; Wenger told Pakistan TV Digital, stressing that it must be developed in partnership with FIFA.&nbsp;He stressed that establishing football academies and strengthening youth development are essential first steps in building a sustainable football structure.&nbsp;Wenger said nurturing the game at the grassroots level is critical for translating Pakistan&rsquo;s demographic strength into on-field success.&nbsp;The statements from FIFA&rsquo;s top leadership signal renewed momentum for Pakistan football, with a focus on institutional reform, youth development, and long-term growth aimed at restoring the country&rsquo;s standing in Asian football.

Football

Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, FIFA President Gianni Infantino says he will visit Pakistan soon, praising the PFF’s leadership and aiming to elevate the country’s football potential.

FIFA president to visit Pakistan ‘soon’ after ‘promise’ to PM Sharif

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Global ride-hailing platform inDrive is set to expand into Pakistan&rsquo;s foodtech and healthcare sectors, citing what it describes as &ldquo;significant injustice&rdquo; in pricing and commissions, according to the company&rsquo;s founder and CEO, Arsen Tomsky.&nbsp;Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV Digital on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, about inDrive&rsquo;s growth strategy, Tomsky said the company enters markets where policies are stable and where it can challenge what it sees as unfair practices, particularly inflated rates, high commissions, and price monopolies.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are the team who fight injustice,&rdquo; Tomsky said, adding that Pakistan has proven to be a strong fit for the company&rsquo;s model. &ldquo;We saw this in the past in Pakistan. This is good for us because we can help people reduce injustice and protect them from inflated rates, commissions, and price manipulations.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said inDrive&rsquo;s launch in Pakistan quickly gained traction, with many users switching to the platform. &ldquo;In a short period, we became the leaders in the country,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;According to Tomsky, Pakistan is now among the company&#39;s top ten markets globally.&nbsp;He explained that inDrive maintains one of the lowest commission structures in the market. The platform charges around 10% commission, compared to 25-40% charged by competitors.&nbsp;&ldquo;This helps make services more affordable,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;inDrive currently operates in more than 20 cities across Pakistan and plans to continue expanding geographically. Beyond mobility, the company is now looking at new sectors where it believes consumers and service providers face unfair pricing.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have started to think about healthcare,&rdquo; Tomsky said. He also confirmed that inDrive is expanding into foodtech this year, calling the sector another area marked by significant injustice.&nbsp;Describing Pakistan as a rapidly growing, youthful market, Tomsky noted that the country&rsquo;s population exceeds 250 million, with more than 60% under 30.&nbsp;&ldquo;The market is absolutely booming and taking off,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I believe in the fantastic future of the country.&rdquo;&nbsp;The planned expansion into food and healthcare would mark a significant broadening of inDrive&rsquo;s footprint in Pakistan, positioning the company beyond ride-hailing as it seeks to replicate its low-commission, user-driven pricing model in other sectors.

Artificial Intelligence

The ride-hailing service operates in more than 20 cities across Pakistan. Beyond mobility, the company is looking at sectors where it believes consumers and service providers face unfair pricing.

inDrive Pakistan set to expand into foodtech, healthcare: CEO

DAVOS: Pakistan&rsquo;s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the country is &ldquo;open for business&rdquo; as he held a series of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-finance-minister-highlights-120000-new-investors-boosts-confidence" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">high-level political and corporate</a> engagements on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, positioning Islamabad as a destination for investment driven by macroeconomic stability and technology-led growth.&nbsp;In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital, Aurangzeb outlined Pakistan&rsquo;s outreach strategy at the five-day WEF meeting in Davos, where nearly 3,000 global leaders from politics, business, finance and civil society are gathering to discuss pressing global challenges.&nbsp;Aurangzeb said his engagements included meetings with fellow finance ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, alongside interactions with existing and prospective investors.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great opportunity to meet your counterparts and have conversations about their economies, our economy, and mutual areas of cooperation, investment and trade,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The finance minister noted that Davos offers a rare platform where political leadership and global business converge, enabling Pakistan to simultaneously engage governments and multinational corporations.&nbsp;He said discussions were underway with major existing investors in Pakistan, including global companies active in aviation, food and beverages, to understand how they plan to expand their footprint in the country.&nbsp;Highlighting the presence of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-to-lead-pakistan-delegation-to-wef-2026-in-davos" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif</a>&nbsp;at the forum, Aurangzeb said Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership was using the platform to present a renewed national narrative anchored in economic stabilization achieved over recent years.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is to tell the Pakistan story. The macroeconomic stabilization we have achieved and, more importantly, how we want to move forward toward sustainable growth,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Aurangzeb emphasized that Pakistan is now seeking market-efficiency-driven foreign investment that can generate exportable surpluses and long-term value.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is a very big opportunity for us to showcase Pakistan, the opportunity in Pakistan, and the message that Pakistan is open for business,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Turning to the digital economy, the finance minister said Pakistan is positioning itself to capitalize on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain and Web3. Key themes at this year&rsquo;s WEF meeting.&nbsp;He said regulatory progress through the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and engagement with global technology leaders signal Pakistan&rsquo;s intent to compete in the knowledge economy.&nbsp;Aurangzeb underlined Pakistan&rsquo;s strength as one of the world&rsquo;s top freelance markets, saying targeted investment in blockchain and AI centers of excellence could significantly raise earnings and productivity.&nbsp;He said such initiatives would not only benefit individual professionals but also strengthen the national economy through higher-value exports of digital services.&nbsp;Summing up Pakistan&rsquo;s pitch to the international community, Aurangzeb pointed to opportunities across traditional sectors such as agriculture, minerals and mining, alongside fast-growing areas like information technology and startups.&nbsp;The finance minister said Pakistan aims to leapfrog in the knowledge economy by attracting expertise, financing and technology transfer through global partnerships.&nbsp;The World Economic Forum annual meeting, held every January in the Alpine town of Davos since 1971, brings together heads of state, ministers, corporate leaders and policymakers. This year&rsquo;s meeting, which began on January 19 and concludes on January 23, comes amid global economic uncertainty and heightened focus on technological transformation and international cooperation. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uSIuj_Y9ayk?si=6ESAjjOQmQ9MS9Nf" 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>

Economy

In conversation with Pakistan TV Digital in Davos, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says Pakistan is engaging global counterparts, courting investors, and leveraging digital innovation to drive sustainable, export-oriented economic growth.

Pakistan pitches stability, AI-led growth to investors at Davos forum

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban have committed to taking &ldquo;clear, verifiable, and effective action&rdquo; against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Pakistani sources told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;The announcement follows a five-day negotiation in Istanbul, where both sides agreed to extend the ceasefire.&nbsp;Official sources described the development as a key step toward regional peace and stability and an important milestone for international security.&nbsp;While the ceasefire will continue, Pakistani officials stressed that it is conditional on Afghanistan not being used as a launchpad for attacks against Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;This outcome has been achieved through reasoned diplomacy, patience, and steadfast commitment to national interest, despite hurdles and accusations from adversaries,&rdquo; sources said.&nbsp;Afghanistan and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire during talks mediated by T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar, according to a joint statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The talks aimed to consolidate the truce originally agreed upon in Doha on Oct. 18-19, with a principal-level meeting scheduled for Nov. 6 to finalize further implementation details. <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" 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=1983980512046985585&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6652bdd701f220ebc8bad8fec5974eead6ae7a79&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 801px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The Qatar foreign ministry also confirmed the development in a post later on X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; 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=1983996754577256826&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=7c20b0e41c6bb8cfcc9ba92af1cf60b6569cb840&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The statement also confirmed that a joint monitoring and verification mechanism will be established to ensure compliance and impose penalties on violators. T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar, as mediators, praised the active participation of both sides and reaffirmed their readiness to continue supporting efforts for lasting peace and stability.&nbsp;Reaffirming the agreement, Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the talks concluded with an understanding that both sides will continue future meetings to review the remaining issues.&nbsp;Mujahid emphasized that Kabul seeks positive relations with Pakistan based on mutual respect, non-interference, and avoidance of actions that could threaten either side.&nbsp;Speaking to SAMAA TV, Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the outcome as a victory for Pakistan and thanked Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye for their mediation. He added that the responsibility now rests with the Afghan Taliban to take concrete action against terrorism.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s stance has been clear: support for terrorism must end. A mechanism for monitoring, verification, and enforcement in case of violations will also be implemented,&rdquo; he said.

In a statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to continue their ceasefire, establish a joint monitoring mechanism, and finalize implementation details in a principal-level meeting on Nov. 6.

Afghanistan to take ‘clear, verifiable action’ against terrorists: sources

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has agreed to extend the ongoing dialogue process with Afghanistan in Istanbul following a request from the host country, T&uuml;rkiye, well-placed sources confirmed to Pakistan TV Digital on Thursday.&nbsp;The talks will resume at 2pm Pakistan Time, according to sources. &quot;It was decided to resume the dialogue process to give peace another chance,&quot; sources said. The talks will focus on Pakistan&rsquo;s central demand that Afghanistan take clear, verifiable and effective action against terrorists, the sources added. Pakistan has once again stressed that Afghan territory must not be used for terrorism against it. The sources appreciated the constructive role of the hosts and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to pursuing a peaceful resolution through dialogue in good faith. BackgroundThe four-day high-level security talks between the two South Asian nations in Istanbul had ended on Tuesday without an agreement after the Afghan delegation &ldquo;declined to accept verifiable measures&rdquo; against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).&nbsp;&ldquo;The Afghan side did not sign the final draft despite multiple near-agreements,&rdquo; a senior security source added.&nbsp;Pakistan presented evidence and proposed enforcement steps to curb cross-border attacks, but Kabul &ldquo;avoided concrete commitments,&rdquo; another source said. Mediators from Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye facilitated the discussions. On Oct. 17, the two countries had agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, and for a second round of talks in Istanbul.&nbsp; Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban leadership to act against the proscribed TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), saying both groups operate from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. Officials note that commitments made under the Doha Agreement have not been fully implemented.&nbsp;Earlier, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said Pakistan joined the Doha and Istanbul rounds &ldquo;to give peace a chance&rdquo; at the request of Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye. However, he said, the Afghan side resorted to &ldquo;blame, deflection, and excuses,&rdquo; leaving the dialogue fruitless.

Security

At the request of the host country, Türkiye, the talks will resume at 2pm Pakistan Time, sources said.

Pakistan agrees to extend dialogue process with Afghan Taliban in Istanbul: sources

ISLAMABAD: High-level security talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul ended without an agreement, sources told Pakistan TV Digital on Wednesday. According to the sources, the four-day negotiations concluded after the Afghan delegation &ldquo;declined to accept verifiable measures&rdquo; against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). &ldquo;The central issue was verifiable action to restrain the TTP and prevent cross-border attacks,&rdquo; a senior security source said. &ldquo;The Afghan side did not sign the final draft despite multiple near-agreements.&rdquo; Pakistan, the sources said, presented evidence and proposed enforcement steps, but the Afghan delegation &ldquo;kept avoiding concrete commitments.&rdquo; &ldquo;They acknowledged the concern but would not agree to mechanisms of verification. This affects peace and stability,&rdquo; another source said. Mediators from Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye facilitated the discussions. Pakistan thanked both host countries for their role. Patience ran its courseIn a detailed statement on X, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said Pakistan had engaged the Afghan Taliban leadership repeatedly after their takeover in Kabul to address &ldquo;persistent cross-border terrorism&rdquo; carried out by &ldquo;Indian-abetted TTP and the Indian proxy BLA [Balochistan Liberation Army].&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; 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=1983278941944107396&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=de3a52aa346e03965fbbca4d6dd1ec9b26cd3cee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;Pakistan has time and again asked the Afghan Taliban regime to fulfil their written commitments under the Doha Agreement,&rdquo; Tarar said. He said Pakistani efforts had &ldquo;proved futile&rdquo; due to what he described as &ldquo;unabated support to anti-Pakistan terrorists&rdquo; inside Afghanistan. &ldquo;For four years, Pakistan has borne heavy losses in men and material. Pakistan&rsquo;s patience has run its course,&rdquo; he said. Tarar added that Pakistan attended the Doha and Istanbul rounds &ldquo;to give peace a chance&rdquo; at the request of Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye. &ldquo;Irrefutable evidence was shared and acknowledged by the Afghan side and the hosts,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But instead of taking responsibility, the Afghan Taliban resorted to blame, deflection, and excuses. The dialogue, therefore, failed to produce any workable outcome.&rdquo; He said Pakistan would continue to take &ldquo;all necessary measures to protect its people&rdquo; and &ldquo;eliminate terrorists, their sanctuaries, abettors and supporters.&rdquo;

After four days of talks in Türkiye, negotiations end without agreement as Afghanistan decline verifiable action against cross-border militants, prompting concern from mediators and leaving future dialogue prospects uncertain.

Pakistan, Afghan Taliban talks in Istanbul end without resolution

MUMBAI: Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, whose voice defined Bollywood music through the 1970s and 80s, died Sunday in Mumbai aged 92, her family said. Two-time Grammy nominee Bhosle breathed her last at the Breach Candy hospital, where she was admitted with complaints of &quot;extreme exhaustion&quot; and chest infection. &quot;My mother passed away today (Sunday). Her last rites will be held tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai,&quot; her son Anand Bhosle told reporters. Bhosle recorded more than 12,000 songs in multiple Indian languages over a seven‑decade career. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was &quot;deeply saddened&quot; by her death. &quot;Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world,&quot; he said in a post on X. &quot;She will continue to inspire generations, and her songs will forever echo in people&#39;s lives.&quot; Born on September 8, 1933, to a musical family, Bhosle began singing as a child alongside her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, after their father&#39;s death. Often compared to Mangeshkar &mdash; revered as &quot;India&#39;s nightingale&quot; who died in 2022 &mdash; Bhosle forged her own path, embracing genres from pop to folk. Her early life was marked by struggle, including a turbulent marriage at 16. She went on to become one of Indian cinema&#39;s most versatile and celebrated voices, receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001 and earning two Grammy nominations. Bhosle continued collaborating with global artists well into her later years, including a recent feature on British virtual band Gorillaz&#39;s album The Mountain (&quot;Parvat&quot;). Beyond music, she nurtured her passion for food, launching her &quot;Asha&#39;s&quot; restaurant chain in Dubai and Britain.

Two-time Grammy nominee Bhosle breathed her last at the Breach Candy hospital, where she was admitted with complaints of "extreme exhaustion" and chest infection.



Legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle dies aged 92

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefed regional counterparts on the outcome of high-stakes Iran&ndash;US negotiations in Islamabad, the Foreign Office said late Sunday, urging all parties to uphold a fragile ceasefire following 21 hours of intensive talks between Washington and Tehran. The negotiations, brokered through Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic engagement, come after weeks of conflict that disrupted global energy flows, pushed oil prices higher and unsettled financial markets, before a two-week truce created space for dialogue. While the United States said it had presented a &ldquo;final and best offer,&rdquo; Iran maintained that progress depends on &ldquo;seriousness and good faith&rdquo; and respect for its rights and interests. Speaking with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Dar shared updates on the Islamabad Talks and stressed that &ldquo;it is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire.&rdquo; He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s role in facilitating dialogue and supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving lasting regional stability. In separate calls with Egypt and T&uuml;rkiye, Dar reiterated the importance of sustained engagement, with the Foreign Office noting that he emphasised continued diplomacy as essential for peace. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan commended Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts, according to statement, with both sides reaffirming support for dialogue and de-escalation. The outreach comes as both Washington and Tehran signal continued engagement following the initial round of talks. US Vice President JD Vance said no agreement had been reached after extended discussions, while Iran&rsquo;s foreign ministry said the two sides had reached &ldquo;an understanding on a number of issues&rdquo; despite &ldquo;differences of opinion on 2-3 important&rdquo; matters. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said &ldquo;no one&rdquo; had expected an agreement in a single round, emphasising that &ldquo;diplomacy never ends&rdquo; and that contacts with Pakistan and regional partners would continue, underscoring a shared willingness to keep the process moving forward.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar briefs counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt following high-stakes US-Iran talks in Islamabad, urging ceasefire adherence, continued diplomacy, and sustained engagement to build on a fragile truce and support regional peace efforts

Pakistan briefs allies on Islamabad Talks, urges ceasefire adherence

LONDON: The Irish government was on Sunday due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting to sign off on measures aimed at ending fuel cost protests that have endangered the functioning of the country&#39;s emergency services. Hauliers and agricultural contractors began a series of &nbsp;protests on Tuesday over spiralling petrol and diesel prices amid the Middle East war. Since then the protests have grown from slow-moving convoys on motorways and restricted access to Dublin&#39;s busiest streets, to a part blockade of Ireland&#39;s only oil refinery and restricted access to at least two other fuel depots. Finance Minister Simon Harris said later on Saturday ministers had held meetings with transport and agriculture sector representatives ahead of Sunday&#39;s meeting. The government was in the process of &quot;finalising a significant support package to address the ongoing crisis&quot;, a government statement added. Some protests rolled into a sixth day on Sunday. The government has urged the public not to panic buy as pumps at many fuel stations have run dry. Police on Saturday with the support of the armed forces deployed public order units to clear the blockade at Whitegate Refinery in southern Ireland. Irish police chief Justin Kelly said the action was taken as a last resort. The blockading of &quot;critical national infrastructure&quot; had &quot;resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting on emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service, and the fire service&quot;, he said. Elsewhere, police dismantled a makeshift barrier erected by protesters blockading western Galway docks. A late-night operation also targeted the blockade of the capital Dublin&#39;s main thoroughfare O&#39;Connell Street after multiple vehicles including tractors and lorries were removed. Justice Minister Jim O&#39;Callaghan said earlier the continuation of the protests despite the increasingly difficult situation had been &quot;unacceptable&quot;. &quot;While we all acknowledge the impact of higher fuel prices, and seek to minimise that impact, no groups are entitled in our republic to hold our people to ransom in such a manner,&quot; he said. In March, Dublin announced a 250 million-euro package to reduce fuel costs, notably including a diesel rebate for road haulier There were now the &quot;bones of an agreement&quot; with the government, the president Ger Hyland of the Irish Road Haulage Association said on Saturday. &quot;It is a substantial package and we hope to have this over the line either late tonight or tomorrow,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

The Irish government was on Sunday due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting to sign off on measures aimed at ending fuel cost protests that have endangered the functioning of the country's emergency services

Irish ministers to hold emergency meet over fuel cost protests

PORT-AU-PRINCE: A stampede at historical fortress in Haiti has killed at least 30 people, a government minister told AFP on Sunday, with the crush reportedly involving several young visitors. &quot;The Minister of Culture and Communication has confirmed the deaths of 30 people at the Citadelle Henri on Saturday, April 11, 2026,&quot; culture minister Emmanuel Menard told AFP in a written message. &quot;The injured are currently receiving the necessary medical care, and a rescue team is searching for any missing persons,&quot; Menard said, without giving an exact figure of those injured. Citadelle Henri, also known as Citadelle Laferriere, is a 19th-century fortress and popular tourist spot. The UNESCO World Heritage Site was closed to visitors &quot;until further notice,&quot; Menard said. Haiti&#39;s prime minister&#39;s office expressed &quot;deep sadness&quot; in a government statement posted on Facebook, adding that the crush occurred during &quot;a tourist activity bringing together many young people.&quot; Jean Henry Petit, head of the civil protection office in Northern Haiti, told local newspaper Le Nouvelliste that the toll could rise due to the large number of people reported missing. Several dozen people were also injured and taken to hospital, the outlet reported. Initial reports said visitors, mostly young people, were crammed against a single entrance and a scuffle broke out between those trying to leave and enter the site. Other local media reports said the gathering took place after being advertised on TikTok. AFP was not able to immediately confirm the reports. The government urged citizens to &quot;be calm and cautious&quot; while it investigates. &quot;All competent authorities are fully mobilized and placed on maximum alert to provide, without delay, the necessary assistance, care and support,&quot; it added in its statement.

A view of Citadelle Laferrière, a 200-year-old fortress built by King Henri-Christophe of Haiti, near Cap-Haïtien. (UN Media)

Americas

Haitian authorities say dozens died in a stampede at the historic Citadelle Henri, with many young visitors involved, as rescue teams search for missing and treat injured.

Haiti fort stampede kills at least 30: authorities

INDIO: With a minimalist set and a trip through his musical past, pop superstar Justin Bieber returned to the stage on Saturday night to headline the second day of Coachella. The Canadian singer has not performed at a venue of Coachella&#39;s size since 2022, when he appeared at Rock in Rio in Brazil before canceling the remainder of his international tour due to health issues. Last year Bieber released the album &quot;Swag,&quot; quickly followed by his eighth studio album &quot;Swag II.&quot; While Bieber has recently played smaller shows, Coachella was billed as the start of his full-scale comeback. Bieber earlier said in an Instagram post that &quot;We WILL be singing at the top of our lungs on Saturday.&quot; Dressed in a red sweater, shorts and black boots, the 32-year-old artist made good on his promise, playing the role of DJ and taking requests from online viewers. After opening with several tracks from &quot;Swag II,&quot; Bieber sat at a computer and began a journey into the past, searching for his videos on YouTube and singing snippets from &quot;That Should Be Me,&quot; &quot;Beauty and a Beat,&quot; &quot;Never Say Never,&quot; the teen pop anthem &quot;Baby&quot; and others hits. &quot;This is special,&quot; he told the crowd. &quot;This is a night I dreamed about for a long time, so to be here is amazing.&quot; Bieber also showed his old clips on YouTube, as well as moments captured by the ever-present cameras following him and his wife, Hailey Bieber. Eclectic offerings Earlier in the day, New York City rockers The Strokes took the stage and announced a new album for June, following a six-year hiatus for the band. They played anthems including &quot;Hard to Explain,&quot; &quot;Reptilia,&quot; &quot;Last Nite&quot; and &quot;Someday.&quot; Other acts in the spotlight Saturday included Nine Inch Noize &ndash; the collaboration between legendary industrial band Nine Inch Nails and German producer Boys Noize &ndash; who also have an album on the way. With dramatic lighting and intense sound, the band had fans jumping with versions of songs like &quot;Closer,&quot; &quot;Heresy,&quot; &quot;The Warning&quot; and &quot;Copy of A.&quot; The set by rising indie star Sombr featured Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, and together they performed the rock band&#39;s 1990s hit &quot;1979.&quot; With nine stages, the festival hosted a wide range of genres, including Brazil&#39;s Luisa Sonza, influencer-turned-singer Addison Rae, Britain&#39;s PinkPantheress, K-pop star Taemin and David Byrne, the legendary co-founder of the band Talking Heads. Coachella kicked off Friday with performances from headliner Sabrina Carpenter, Moby, Devo and surprise appearances from Lizzo, David Lee Roth and HUNTR/X, who performed their Oscar-winning &quot;Golden&quot; alongside KATSEYE. Carpenter&#39;s performance of hits like &quot;Manchild,&quot; &quot;Espresso&quot; and &quot;Please, Please, Please&quot; was helped by big-screen stars Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon and Will Ferrell, who rounded out her 90-minute set. The festival runs this weekend and next weekend, with a nearly identical lineup. It can be viewed on YouTube.

An employee shows a Justin Bieber shirt to a fan during during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on April 11, 2026. (AFP)

Entertainment

The Canadian singer has not performed at a venue of Coachella's size since 2022, when he appeared at Rock in Rio in Brazil before canceling the remainder of his international tour due to health issues.

Justin Bieber reconnects with fans on Coachella's second day

Moscow/Kyiv: Russia on Sunday claimed that Ukraine had committed nearly 2,000 truce violations, as the warring neighbors traded accusations of breaching an agreement to temporarily halt hostilities for Orthodox Easter. &quot;A total of 1,971 ceasefire violations by units of the Ukrainian armed forces were recorded between 4:00 pm Moscow time on April 12 and 8:00 am on April 12,&quot; the Russian <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ukraine-reports-469-easter-truce-violations" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">defense ministry</a> said, as reported by the TASS news agency. Ukraine reports 2,299 Easter truce violationsMeanwhile, Russia has violated a truce in place for <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/easter-truce-between-russia-and-ukraine-begins" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Orthodox Easter</a> nearly 2,300 times since it came into effect, the Ukrainian army said on Sunday. &quot;As of 7:00 a.m. on 12 April, 2,299 ceasefire violations were recorded. Specifically: 28 enemy assault actions, 479 enemy shellings, 747 strikes by attack drones... and 1,045 strikes by FPV drones,&quot; the Ukrainian military&#39;s general staff said in a post on Facebook. &quot;There were no missile strikes, guided aerial bomb strikes, or Shahed-type UAV strikes,&quot; it added.

Russia on Sunday claimed that Ukraine had committed nearly 2,000 truce violations, as the warring neighbors traded accusations of breaching an agreement to temporarily halt hostilities for Orthodox Easter.

Russia, Ukraine accuse each other of nearly 2,000 Easter truce violations

NEW DELHI:&nbsp;Domestic migrants in India, who often travel thousands of kilometers for work are weighing up whether to leave New Delhi for good as energy resources choked by the US-Israel war on Iran war dwindle. Black market prices of cooking <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/fuel-panic-deepens-indias-economic-strain" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">gas cylinders</a> have soared beyond what laborers living hand-to-mouth can earn and, even if energy flows resume soon, they worry it could take weeks for the impact to filter down to them. Crouched over smoky fires at dawn, using wood shavings to cook a breakfast of flat bread chapatis, dozens of construction workers say they are ready to return home. &quot;We will just leave when (the) money finishes,&quot; said Milan Kumar Mondal, who will make the 1,100-kilometer (685-mile) journey home to Katihar in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/panic-and-chaos-in-india-as-lpg-supply-dwindles-and-prices-surge" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bihar state</a>, when the last of his savings runs out.&nbsp;Millions of internal migrants&nbsp;India has more than 450 million internal migrants, according to the last census in 2011 and government estimates, forming the backbone of its informal economy. Many move seasonally from poorer states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to cities in search of construction, factory and daily wage work. The South Asian nation, heavily dependent on imported energy, including roughly 60% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) needs, has seen supply chains strained by the war. And while the government says there is no overall LPG shortage, and is ensuring the most vulnerable receive cooking gas, migrants in informal settlements say they are left out. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;Savings uncertain&#39;&nbsp;</h2>Government rules mean a household can have only one registered LPG connection.&nbsp; For domestic migrants, that is back in their home village. Incomes are volatile and savings minimal, making them particularly vulnerable to sudden price spikes or supply disruptions. Mondal earns around 600&ndash;700 rupees ($6.50-7.50) a day for construction work but, with LPG prohibitively expensive, he is barely breaking even.&nbsp;Surge in prices&nbsp;Prices of cooking gas have surged by as much as five times on the black market, the only source he can access without formal paperwork. &quot;Earlier cooking gas was 80&ndash;90 rupees ($0.86-0.97) per kilogram... Now it is 300&ndash;400 rupees, even 500 ($5.40),&quot; Mondal said. Workers&#39; union leader Rajiv Kumar Pandit said swaths of migrant workers had left the city already. &quot;The situation is very bad,&quot; he said. &quot;Wages are irregular, gas is not available, and prices are extremely high.&quot; Ramesh Kumar Mahto, also from Bihar, is ready to return home once he is paid. &quot;I don&#39;t think I will return to Delhi,&quot; he said. &quot;The crisis has made savings uncertain,&quot; he said.<h2 style="line-height: 2;">&nbsp;</h2><h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;What is left?&#39;&nbsp;</h2>Many initially turned to firewood gathered from city forests or wood shavings from construction sites, but even the cost of that has now nearly doubled. &quot;We were cooking on firewood for the first 15 days of the crisis,&quot; said Suresh Kumar from Bhagalpur district, noting that they cannot cook when it rains.&nbsp; &quot;Now, even wood has become expensive.&quot; Electric stoves are not an option, since their power connection in tight-packed rooms is often only strong enough for a single charging point. &quot;If we use a heater or induction stove, the fuse goes off, the wiring burns,&quot; Kumar said. Food stalls are unaffordable -- or mean the worker spends all that they earn. &quot;A laborer needs three meals a day because the work is heavy -- lifting stones, working on multi-story buildings,&quot; construction worker Lalu Singh said. &quot;If we spend almost everything on food, what is left? It is better to go home and be with your family&quot;. Work is uncertain back in their villages -- farming on leased land or daily wage labor -- but living costs are lower and families share expenses. Five-month pregnant Naseema, in Delhi&#39;s Noor Nagar district, gathers wood from scrubland to cook for her six children and husband. &quot;If we can manage with the wood, we will,&quot; she said. &quot;After that, what option do we have -- than to return back to our village?&quot;

The South Asian nation, heavily dependent on imported energy, including roughly 60% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) needs, has seen supply chains strained by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Domestic Indian migrants weigh return home in energy crunch

JAKARTA: Indonesia&#39;s President Prabowo Subianto will depart for Russia on Sunday for talks with counterpart Vladimir Putin on oil, Prabowo&#39;s office said.&nbsp;The presidency in Jakarta confirmed to AFP that Prabowo would leave Sunday evening.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Sugiono said Saturday that oil, which is &quot;of strategic importance for the Indonesian nation&quot;, would be on the agenda.&nbsp;&quot;He will meet with President Putin and will also discuss global geopolitics and, certainly, the energy situation,&quot; said Sugiono, who like many Indonesians has only one name.&nbsp;Prabowo, who recently travelled to South Korea and Japan, has defended his foreign travels.&nbsp;&quot;Brothers and sisters, it&#39;s to secure oil, I have to go everywhere,&quot; he said in an address to his cabinet last week.&nbsp;Like many nations, Indonesia has come under pressure from soaring global oil prices over the war in the Middle East.&nbsp;Southeast Asia&#39;s largest economy, where fuel is heavily subsidised, is an oil producer but nevertheless a net importer.&nbsp;Last month, Prabowo&#39;s government announced fuel rationing and mandated a day-per-week work-from-home policy for civil servants to conserve energy stocks.&nbsp;It has vowed not to increase the price of fuel in the near future.&nbsp;Russia&#39;s ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov told reporters in March that his country was open to selling oil to Indonesia.&nbsp;&quot;If Indonesia needs it, so please tell us and you will have it,&quot; Tolchenov said as the countries prepared for joint military exercises at a Jakarta port.&nbsp;Last year, Jakarta joined the BRICS bloc of emerging economies that includes Russia and China.&nbsp;But Prabowo has also signed a trade deal with US President Donald Trump and joined his so-called &quot;Board of Peace&quot;.&nbsp;

Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto will visit Russia to meet Vladimir Putin, focusing on oil supply, energy security, and geopolitics, as Jakarta faces rising prices, fuel subsidies pressure, and seeks stable imports amid Middle East tensions.

Indonesian president to meet Putin in Russia for oil talks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that it is imperative that the US and Iran continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire.&nbsp; Dar said this while briefing media on Islamabad Talks on Sunday. The Pakistani foreign minister, expressed his deep gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America for responding to the call made by Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for an immediate ceasefire in the region as well as for accepting prime minister&#39;s invitation for holding peace talks in Islamabad.<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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2043183031121330312&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=76100c9e5ba0cf395b19894855d58680eb56c856&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 777px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2043183031121330312"></iframe></div></div>The foreign minister said that &quot;I along with the Chief of Defense Forces and Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir helped mediate several rounds of intense and constructive negotiations between the two sides that continued through the last 24 hours and ended this morning.&quot;&nbsp; Dar said, &quot;On behalf of Pakistan, I would like to express gratitude to the two sides for appreciating Pakistan&#39;s efforts to help achieve the ceasefire and its mediatory role.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We hope that the two sides continue with the positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond.&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2043175378488041726&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=76100c9e5ba0cf395b19894855d58680eb56c856&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 877px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2043175378488041726"></iframe></div></div>The foreign minister said, &quot;It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to ceasefire.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the days to come.&quot;&nbsp;

Ishaq Dar Says, 'Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America in the days to come.' 

Pakistan foreign minister says 'imperative' for US, Iran to uphold ceasefire

KYIV: Ukraine&#39;s military command on Saturday reported nearly 470 Russian violations of a truce agreed to mark the Orthodox Easter.&nbsp;&quot;After 4:00 pm, 469 ceasefire violations were recorded, namely: 22 enemy assault actions, 153 shelling attacks, 19 strikes by attack drones... &nbsp;and 275 strikes by FPV drones,&quot; it said on Facebook.&nbsp;&quot;Today in total, the enemy carried out 57 air strikes and dropped 182 guided aerial bombs. In addition, it deployed 3,928 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,454 shelling attacks on populated areas and positions of our troops&quot;.

Ukraine’s military reported 469 Russian violations of an Easter truce, including assaults, shelling, and drone strikes. It said Russia also launched dozens of air strikes, dropped bombs, and carried out thousands of attacks on troops and populated areas, showing the ceasefire was largely ignored.

Articles by Saqib Tanveer