Shaharyar Khalid

ISLAMABAD: Imagine waking up one morning to find your child&#39;s social media apps simply do not work. Would you feel happy, sad, or conflicted? You&#39;re likely not alone. Four experts weigh in, yet they cannot agree. Muneeza Zafar, a mental health counsellor, believes banning is a good start. Child psychologist Khubi Khaleeq disagrees. &ldquo;They won&#39;t stop it. They&#39;ll look for a way to hide it better.&rdquo; Meanwhile, Asad Baig, founder and director of Media Matters for Democracy, offers a third path. &ldquo;We should start with educating parents instead of a carpet banning like the UK or Australia.&rdquo; This split reflects a global debate. In December 2025, Australia formally barred under-16s from YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X. Non-compliant companies face fines up to 50 million Australian dollars ($35 million). Britain followed on June 15, 2026, banning Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X for under-16s, with enforcement targeted for spring 2027. Days later, the UAE became the first Arab nation to act. Its cabinet resolution bans under-15s from creating or operating personal social media accounts, giving platforms 12 months to comply. Notably, parental consent cannot override the restriction. France, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Canada are moving in similar directions. &ldquo;Every parent can see it with their own eyes. Social media makes children unhappy,&rdquo; Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at Downing Street. Baig argues everyone now acknowledges the harm. &ldquo;Mark Zuckerberg apologized to parents after nudity appeared on their daughters&#39; Instagram timelines. Chatbots in the US were involved in harm that resulted in suicide. A California court ruled that platform design itself, not just content, promotes addiction,&rdquo; he says. Clinical psychologist Syeda Aleezah Shah explains how &ldquo;constant exposure causes dopamine loop disruption. Constant notifications trigger short-term reward pathways in a child&#39;s brain, lowering their attention span for real-world tasks.&rdquo; Khaleeq notes that &ldquo;attention span, stress management, social engagement, and exposure to violence are all deteriorating for a child&#39;s personality. But there is always a plus side.&rdquo; Enforcement, however, proves difficult. Research on Australian teens reveals over 60% who had accounts before the ban retained access using printed face masks, borrowed parental IDs, and VPNs. &ldquo;You can literally ask any AI the mechanism to override these things, and it will tell you,&rdquo; Shah notes. Baig warns banning major platforms creates false comfort: &ldquo;Many other platforms like Roblox and PUBG have predators. Banning could promote a false sense of security.&rdquo; Zafar maintains her position. &ldquo;Children under 16 get no substantial benefit from social media that they wouldn&#39;t get through play, family, or exploring,&rdquo; she says. However, Khaleeq counters with how &ldquo;balancing it with strategies that help children accomplish those needs holds the key.&rdquo; While Shah suggests that &ldquo;we must educate parents about cyber safety and security.&rdquo; Baig issues a sharp local warning. &ldquo;Unlike Australia and the UK, we have a diverse society where young entrepreneurs make their livelihood from platforms like Facebook. A ban could be counterproductive. This might not work in Pakistan.&rdquo; Four experts, yet no consensus. As more countries follow Australia and the UK, the real question becomes whether one policy can ever fit every society.

Viral

As governments move to block children from social media, four Pakistani experts offer sharply different answers to a question parents everywhere are asking: Do bans actually work?

To ban or not to ban: Do social media restrictions for minors work?

Pakistan&#39;s proposed 2026-27 budget includes increased spending on social welfare, healthcare, education and housing, reflecting the government&#39;s focus on public welfare. The budget allocates Rs838 billion to the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Rs71 billion to the Prime Minister&#39;s Housing Scheme and Rs25.1 billion for health sector projects. It also sets aside Rs22 billion for Daanish Schools, Rs26.3 billion for broader education initiatives and nearly Rs8 billion for youth skills development programmes. The government says the measures are aimed at strengthening social protection and supporting human development across the country.

Shorts

Pakistan's proposed 2026-27 budget includes increased spending on social welfare, healthcare, education and housing, reflecting the government's focus on public welfare.

Pakistan boosts safety net as budget expands social spending

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is preparing for a new spell of heavy rainfall and a sharp drop in temperatures just weeks after devastating floods, raising fresh concerns for recovery efforts, agriculture, and transport across the country.&nbsp;According to WeatherWalay, the weather system, linked to a developing low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, will impact large parts of Pakistan, northern India, and eastern Afghanistan from this weekend. Nighttime temperatures could fall by 8 to 10 degrees Celsius in some regions, accompanied by widespread showers, gusty winds, and even snowfall in mountainous areas.&nbsp;The forecast comes as Pakistan continues to recover from catastrophic flooding that displaced over 2.5 million people and killed more than 1,000, according to Reuters. The renewed rainfall threatens to complicate relief operations, particularly in flood-hit Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan, where damaged infrastructure and waterlogged fields remain critical challenges.&nbsp;Danish Baig, Head of Meteorology at WeatherWalay, said rainfall is expected across Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, with urban centres like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad likely to experience downpours, cooler nights, and travel delays. Mountainous areas such as Naran, Hazara, and Kalam may also see snowfall.&nbsp;In Punjab, the wet spell could last three to four days, with strong winds and hail possible. Islamabad&rsquo;s temperatures may dip to 14&ndash;15&deg;C. Traffic on major motorways (M-2, M-3, and M-4) is expected to slow due to slippery conditions, while crops in central and southern Punjab are at risk of damage from hail and waterlogging. In KP, tobacco crops may also be threatened.&nbsp;Health experts warn that stagnant water may trigger a rise in mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue. Authorities have urged intensified vector-control measures. In Gilgit-Baltistan, snow and rain could disrupt transportation on routes such as Babusar Top and the Karakoram Highway, potentially isolating remote communities.&nbsp;While the cold spell signals an early seasonal transition, forecasters stress that it does not mark the onset of winter. However, the development of La Ni&ntilde;a conditions could bring cooler-than-normal temperatures across the region later this year.

Climate & Environment

Pakistan braces for a new wave of heavy rain, hail, and snowfall, threatening flood recovery, crops, and transport. The Bay of Bengal weather system may drop temperatures by up to 10°C and trigger health risks.

Pakistan braces for heavy rains, temperature drop amid recovery

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye and Egypt on Sunday welcomed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, describing it as an important step toward de-escalation and calling for the faithful implementation of commitments undertaken under the agreement. Pakistan&#39;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar participated in the fourth meeting of the Regional Four (R-4) grouping in Cairo, where ministers reviewed progress on the Islamabad MoU, exchanged views on regional and international developments, and reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and collective efforts aimed at promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity across the Middle East and beyond. The meeting came as high-level talks on implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding got underway in B&uuml;rgenstock, Switzerland, bringing together delegations from the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar. The discussions mark the first formal engagement since the signing of the agreement and are aimed at advancing understandings reached under its implementation framework. The R-4 mechanism emerged as a key platform for regional coordination during the crisis. The grouping first convened in Riyadh in March before holding subsequent ministerial meetings in Islamabad and Antalya, where member states coordinated diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and encouraging dialogue. Sunday&#39;s gathering in Cairo marked the fourth consultative meeting of the forum. According to a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the ministers viewed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as &quot;a constructive step towards de-escalation&quot; and toward ending a conflict that posed significant risks to regional security and stability, as well as to energy markets, international maritime routes, global supply chains and international trade. The ministers welcomed the signing of the agreement between the United States and Iran and stressed the importance of continued consultation and coordination in support of peace and stability in the region. &quot;The Ministers lauded the instrumental efforts of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in reaching this historic outcome, along with the support extended by the State of Qatar to bring about a successful conclusion to the negotiations on the MoU,&quot; the joint statement said. The statement added that the ministers also commended Pakistan&#39;s continued and close coordination with the group on the issue. Building on what they described as positive momentum, the ministers emphasized the importance of achieving &quot;a swift and successful conclusion to the subsequent phase of negotiations&quot; aimed at reaching a lasting, verifiable and mutually acceptable solution to the remaining issues. They further stressed that future efforts should take into account the concerns of countries across the region, particularly with regard to the security and stability of the Gulf Arab states and the Levant. On the sidelines of the meeting, Dar called on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. According to Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office, the discussions covered bilateral relations, regional developments and cooperation under the R-4 framework. The ministers also reaffirmed support for the Palestinian cause and reiterated backing for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Foreign Affairs

As technical talks open in Switzerland, regional powers meeting in Cairo focuses on safeguarding recent diplomatic gains and ensuring that negotiations address wider concerns affecting Gulf security, regional stability and international commerce.

R-4 ministers back Islamabad MoU, urge swift talks progress

LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was reflecting this weekend on the &quot;political realities&quot; that he faces, a senior minister said on Sunday, amid media reports the premier would resign within days. It follows veteran Labour politician and rival Andy Burnham&#39;s victory in a crunch by-election on Friday, which paves the way for the 56-year-old to challenge the beleaguered Starmer to be party leader and prime minister. Any Labour leadership candidate must be a member of parliament. If Starmer does leave office this year, Britain will get its seventh prime minister in a decade -- an unprecedented rate of churn in its modern history. Burnham -- Greater Manchester mayor since 2017 -- has made clear he intends to bid to lead the slumping centre-left party, warning in his by-election victory speech that it had a &quot;final chance to change&quot;. If successful, he would become prime minister by default, given that ruling Labour has a huge parliamentary majority. Starmer, who is deeply unpopular with voters according to polling, has insisted he will fight any attempt to oust him. But the emphatic nature of Burnham&#39;s win in the Makerfield constituency in northwest England -- where he nearly doubled Labour&#39;s majority -- has increased the internal pressure on Starmer to quit. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said on Sunday that Starmer was &quot;making time to reflect on the political realities, challenges and opportunities that he finds himself in&quot;. &quot;He has been engaging in conversations with a wide, wide range of people,&quot; Kyle told Sky News broadcaster after having what he said was a &quot;frank&quot; conversation with Starmer on Friday. &#39;Ready to resign&#39; The Observer newspaper headlined on its cover on Sunday that Starmer was &quot;expected to resign&quot; the following day, while the Sunday Telegraph also reported he was &quot;ready&quot; to go, citing allies of the embattled British leader. The Observer said Starmer would &quot;set out a timetable for his departure&quot;, noting he had been holding weekend talks from Chequers, the countryside retreat for prime ministers. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was among the senior ministers telling her boss to stand down, Sky News reported. Starmer, who took office in July 2024, has been clinging to power for months after a tenure littered with missteps, policy U-turns, scandals and ministerial resignations. He was nearly forced out in March, over his ill-fated decision to appoint ex-Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson as the UK&#39;s ambassador to Washington. Labour&#39;s drubbing in local and regional polls in England, Scotland and Wales last month once again intensified the pressure on him. The fallout from the polls saw Makerfield&#39;s previous Labour MP quit in order to allow Burnham to stand there. Burnham, a former MP and government minister under ex-prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is due to be sworn back in to parliament on Monday. From the so-called soft-left wing of Labour, he reinforced his reputation as the party&#39;s most popular figure by easily beating the hard-right populist Reform UK party&#39;s candidate in this week&#39;s by-election. Reform, led by Brexit architect Nigel Farage, had won all Makerfield&#39;s wards in last month&#39;s local elections there. Burnham has provided little detail about his plans for government if he wins power. UK media reported that he intends to replace finance minister Rache Reeves, while keeping interior minister Shabana Mahmood in post.

United Kingdom

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to resign after Andy Burnham's by-election victory fuels leadership speculation, with reports suggesting Starmer is considering his future despite insisting he will remain in office.

UK's Starmer mulling 'political realities': senior minister

Adil Shahzeb

Burgenstock Resort, Switzerland: Pakistan&rsquo;s mediation role in the ongoing diplomatic process between the United States and Iran has drawn praise from US Vice President JD Vance. Responding to a question by head of Pakistan TV Adil Shahzeb on Pakistan&rsquo;s contribution to the peace process and the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Vice President Vance said, &ldquo;Very good, we love Pakistan&rdquo;. The remarks reflect growing international recognition of Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts in mediating between key stakeholders involved in the negotiations. Pakistan TV has been at the forefront of coverage from the beginning of the process, including the Islamabad talks, and continues to provide exclusive on-ground reporting from Switzerland.&nbsp; It is a &ldquo;big day&rdquo; for Pakistanis and for Pakistan TV, which is closely tracking every development as delegations engage in high-level diplomacy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held bilateral meeting with US Vice President JD Vance, and more bilateral meetings between the Iranian and Qatari delegations are also lined up.&nbsp; A broader quadrilateral meeting involving the United States, Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar is also scheduled. The task Pakistan has achieved is not easy and the world is praising Pakistan&rsquo;s role. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asmir Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar played a crucial role in the entire process, but the role of Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and his ministry also deserves praise. Communication and coordination remain central to the process, with further rounds of discussions likely as the talks continue at Burgenstock. Pakistan TV will remain on the ground providing continuous live updates.

The Newsroom

The remarks reflect growing international recognition of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in mediating between key stakeholders involved in the negotiations.

'Very good, we love Pakistan': JD Vance | Pakistan TV Exclusive

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban moved to arrest one of its most powerful northern commanders on Sunday, an operation that exposes deep divisions within the group&#39;s leadership over control of Afghanistan&#39;s gold-rich provinces. A Taliban convoy of approximately 50 vehicles departed Badakhshan province to apprehend Juma Khan Fatah, the group&#39;s deputy governor for Zabul, according to 8AM Media. The arrest operation exposes divisions within the Taliban leadership. It also reveals how regional commanders have built independent power bases that resist central authority. Deputy governor breaks ranks The operation itself demonstrates the splintering. Mawlawi Mahbub Hamid, the Taliban deputy governor for Ghor, refused to join the arrest convoy, according to 8AM Media. He has not reported for duty since Eid al-Adha. Senior Taliban officials, including Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of army staff, and Amanuddin, the governor of Helmand province, were sent to Faizabad to manage the crisis, Amu TV reported. Negotiations with Fatah have failed. The tensions have already turned violent. According to DID Press, local sources reported escalating clashes between forces aligned with Fatah and Kandahar-backed Taliban factions over mining control in Shiki district, with at least two civilian deaths reported in recent incidents. The Taliban&#39;s central leadership appears intent on crushing the challenge to its authority. According to Afghanistan International, the Taliban dispatched a special unit of approximately 1,000 personnel to Badakhshan to suppress rival networks and rein in local commanders. The unit is led by Ismail Ghaznawi, the Taliban&#39;s governor in Badakhshan. Fatah commands formidable forces. According to DID Press, he claimed to control approximately 10,000 armed fighters across northern Afghanistan, with about 2,500 in Nasi district alone. His influence in the Darwaz region remains significant despite his formal title as deputy governor of Zabul. Gold mines The underlying cause is gold. Badakhshan contains some of Afghanistan&#39;s most valuable mineral deposits, and control of mining operations has become an increasingly important source of revenue for the Taliban, according to Amu TV. The Taliban leadership has sought to consolidate control over these assets, creating friction with regional commanders who have profited from managing mines independently. That conflict intensified in May 2026. According to Afghanistan International, the Taliban detained at least 15 people affiliated with Fatah and other figures close to Mawlawi Amanuddin Mansoor, the Taliban&#39;s governor in Helmand. The detainees included Musa Kaka, a commander close to Fatah. The Taliban also destroyed gold-processing workshops belonging to Amanuddin Mansoor, Afghanistan International reported. According to Afghanistan International, Abdul Fateh, Juma Fateh&#39;s brother, fled with dozens of his men following the start of the Taliban operation. He was a central figure in clashes at a gold mine in the Shiki district. The arrest attempt suggests that the Taliban leadership views Fatah as a direct threat to unified control.

Juma Khan Fatah, a deputy governor of Zabul province in Afghanistan, has become a focal point of Afghan Taliban internal disputes over control of valuable mining operations. (8am Media)

Afghanistan

Juma Khan Fatah, the northern commander, controls about 10,000 fighters in northern Afghanistan, with tensions stemming from disputes over valuable mining operations and control of resources.

Afghan Taliban's internal divisions exposed over northern commander's arrest order

DOHA: Al Jazeera on Sunday rejected Israeli accusations that one of its journalists, killed in Gaza a day earlier, was a Hamas operative, as family and colleagues mourned the cameraman in the besieged Palestinian territory. The Qatar-based network said in a statement it &quot;condemns the Israeli occupation army&#39;s baseless accusations, which seek to justify its crimes against Al Jazeera journalists and cameramen in Gaza, most recently the killing of cameraman Ahmed Wishah&quot;. The Israeli military said in a statement issued late on Saturday that Wishah was killed in a &quot;precise strike&quot; alongside two other Hamas &lsquo;militants&rsquo; and that he had served as a &quot;sniper operative&quot; in Hamas. &quot;Alongside his work as an Al Jazeera photojournalist in recent years, Wishah was an operative in Hamas&#39; military wing,&quot; the military said. AFP footage captured in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza showed friends and family grieving over Wishah&#39;s lifeless body in the area&#39;s Al-Aqsa Hospital. The cameraman could be seen laid out on a steel tray in the hospital&#39;s morgue in a cabinet with other bodies. Bilal Abu Samak, a freelance journalist in Gaza said the killing had left him &quot;in shock&quot;. &quot;For the first time, I found myself unable to film. The occupation deliberately kills journalists and anyone covering events on the ground,&quot; Samak added. In its Sunday statement, Al Jazeera said an &quot;Israeli campaign of incitement has relentlessly spread false allegations and baseless accusations against Al Jazeera staff&quot;. The network called the effort a &quot;smear campaign a transparent and futile attempt to justify the deliberate targeting of journalists and cameramen&quot;. On Saturday, Al Jazeera reported that Wishah was killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a house in the Bureij refugee camp. Ahmed Wishah&#39;s brother Mohammed Wishah, also an Al Jazeera journalist, was killed by Israeli shelling in April, the Qatari broadcaster said at the time. According to the media rights group Reporters Without Borders, Israeli forces have killed more than 220 journalists since its war on Gaza began. At least 70 of them were killed in the context of their professional duties. The Israeli military has said it does not deliberately target journalists.

Middle East

The Qatar-based network said Israel was attempting to justify attacks on media workers, while press freedom groups say Israeli forces have killed more than 220 journalists in Gaza since the war began.

Al Jazeera rejects Israeli accusations against journalist killed in Gaza

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a nationwide weather alert, warning that thunderstorms, strong winds, heavy rainfall, urban flooding and glacier-related flood risks could affect several parts of Pakistan over the next 12 to 24 hours, with vulnerable mountainous regions facing an elevated threat of flash floods, landslides and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). According to the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC), the forecast weather pattern is consistent with the seasonal outlook issued three to four months ago. The NDMA said it has been continuously providing advance warnings and risk assessments to relevant federal, provincial and district authorities to ensure timely preparedness and effective response measures ahead of potential emergencies. The alert forecasts rain accompanied by thunderstorms, windstorms and dust storms in most parts of the country. In Punjab and Islamabad, rainfall is expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Gujar Khan, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Khushab, Jhang, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan. In Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, thunderstorms and rainfall are likely in Gilgit, Skardu, Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Hunza, Ghanche, Shigar, Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh, Kotli, Poonch, Hattian, Mirpur and Bhimber. The NDMA has also issued a separate alert regarding the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir. Authorities warned that GLOF incidents could trigger sudden flooding, landslides and debris flows in vulnerable mountainous areas. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rainfall with thunderstorms is expected in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Kohat, Parachinar, Karak, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan. Balochistan is also likely to receive thunderstorms and rain in Turbat, Kech, Awaran, Khuzdar and Zhob, while parts of Sindh, including Jacobabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Dadu, Ghotki, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Shaheed Benazirabad and Karachi, may experience strong winds, dust storms and rainfall at isolated locations. The NDMA said district administrations and relevant agencies are maintaining continuous monitoring of vulnerable areas and have been directed to remain on high alert. Rescue and emergency response teams have also been instructed to ensure readiness for any developing situation. Tourists and travelers have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense rainfall and to check weather forecasts and road conditions before visiting northern regions, where road closures due to flooding, landslides and debris flows remain a possibility. The authority urged citizens to stay updated through the official &ldquo;Pak NDMA Disaster Alert&rdquo; mobile application and to immediately contact local administration and rescue services in case of any emergency. The NDMA has directed all provincial and district authorities to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the expected weather system.

Residents use stones to cross a path flooded by an overflowing rainwater channel following heavy rains in Peshawar on April 7, 2026. (AFP/FILE)

The alert forecasts rain accompanied by thunderstorms, windstorms and dust storms in most parts of the country.

Pakistan enters critical 24-hour weather window, warns disaster management authority

Pakistan TV Satellite

Switzerland: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation have arrived at the Burgenstock Resort in Switzerland to participate in the much-anticipated technical-level talks between the United States and Iran, according to Pakistan TV head Adil Shahzeb. Speaking from the venue, Adil Shahzeb said the Pakistani delegation includes Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior government officials. Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have also reached the resort ahead of the negotiations.<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-6" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2068599432044802478&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f3cc800cba5883030758f7d97271021ef55801b1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2068599432044802478"></iframe></div></div>He said delegations from Iran, Qatar and the United States are already present at the venue.&nbsp; The US delegation is being led by Vice President JD Vance, while the Iranian side includes Parliamentary Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to Adil Shahzeb, all participating delegations are currently engaged in separate in-house consultations before the formal talks begin. He said the technical-level negotiations are expected to commence within the next few hours. He added that Pakistan is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with the US, Iranian and Qatari delegations on the sidelines of the talks. Highlighting Pakistan TV&#39;s role in covering the developments, Adil Shahzeb said the state broadcaster has remained at the forefront of reporting on the diplomatic process from the very beginning.&nbsp; He said Pakistan TV provided extensive coverage of the Islamabad talks and is once again leading on-the-ground reporting from Burgenstock.&nbsp; Adil Shahzeb said Pakistan TV will continue to deliver live updates throughout the negotiations, regardless of how long the talks continue, ensuring audience received firsthand information on the progress of the discussions and Pakistan&#39;s mediation efforts.

Speaking from the venue, Adil Shahzeb said the Pakistani delegation includes Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other senior government officials. Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi have also reached the resort ahead of the negotiations.

PM Sharif, CDF Munir reach Burgenstock Resort; talks to commence soon: Adil Shahzeb

NEW DELHI: India&#39;s 2.2 million aspiring medical students sit a re-examination under tight security on Sunday, after the last test was scrapped following a paper leak that triggered widespread outrage. The failure of the hugely competitive exam, along with a separate marking fiasco in high school tests, sparked an outcry and fueled youth protests demanding the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indias-gen-z-cockroaches-to-gather-in-delhi-today-against-exam-fraud" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">education minister&#39;s resignation.</a> The authorities say they have deployed more than 200,000 officials, including police, and restricted the Telegram messaging app. The <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/india-cockroach-party-announces-bengaluru-jaipur-protests-after-large-amritsar-rally" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">National Testing Agency</a> (NTA) said it had put in a place a &quot;multi-layered security framework to ensure a fair and transparent examination&quot;. That includes biometric authentication, AI-enabled camera surveillance and GPS tracking of question papers, it said. The examination is scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm local time (0830 GMT).&nbsp;&lsquo;Cheating rackets&rsquo;&nbsp;The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the gateway to India&#39;s medical colleges, is taken annually by millions of candidates competing for just over 100,000 undergraduate seats. The intense competition has fueled a vast coaching industry and created opportunities for organized criminal networks seeking to profit from paper leaks and exam fraud. The leak prompted a backlash from students and parents after last month&#39;s exam was scrapped, with Indian media reporting suicides of some teenagers.&nbsp;&lsquo;Leaks just moved to other apps&rsquo;India&#39;s Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested the alleged kingpin behind the leak, identifying him as a chemistry lecturer. The NTA said that messaging apps were used &quot;by cheating rackets to defraud candidates&quot; by sharing leaked questions. Telegram head Pavel Durov said the week-long ban would not work, arguing that the &quot;leaks just moved to other apps&quot; and that the issue was the &quot;insiders who leaked the exam materials&quot;.&nbsp;&lsquo;Cockroach People&#39;s Party&rsquo;The controversy came on top of another dispute over the online marking system used for tests taken by nearly two million high school students, with many alleging incorrect grades or results were assigned to the wrong candidates. Public anger has also fueled the rise of the satirical &quot;Cockroach People&#39;s Party&quot;, which has attracted millions of followers since its launch in May and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

India

The failure of the hugely competitive exam, along with a separate marking fiasco in high school tests, sparked an outcry and fueled youth protests demanding the education minister's resignation.

Tight security as India holds exam retest after leak scandal

LOS ANGELES: Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said Saturday he has been told US travel restrictions on his World Cup team will finally be eased for their third group game, but blasted the treatment they have received so far for damaging their on-field performance.&nbsp;The Iranian squad arrived at the World Cup with their country still at war with co-hosts the United States, and have been based in Mexico while playing all their games in the US.&nbsp;That has required frequent cross-border travel, and US authorities have only permitted the team to remain in the country for a few hours after each game, with restrictions frequently shifting last-minute.&nbsp;After playing Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Iran&#39;s final group game will take place in Seattle next Friday against Egypt.&nbsp;Ghalenoei on Saturday said he had been told his team will have more flexibility for their final match, before quickly adding that it would have been &quot;justice&quot; for his team to have the same treatment for its first two games.&nbsp;&quot;They said in Seattle, you can do what you want, you can act the way you want to, and you can come earlier,&quot; he told a press conference, without specifying who exactly the information had come from.&nbsp;&quot;But what I want, my problem is, why didn&#39;t they let us come earlier for the first two games as well?&nbsp;&quot;I just know for the last game, yes, they&#39;ve allowed us to decide, to make our own decisions with regards to planning the travel.&nbsp;&quot;But unfortunately, for the first two games, others made these travel arrangements for us, and the timing for us.&quot;&nbsp;Last week Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand, the tournament&#39;s lowest-ranked team, with sloppy defending twice allowing the All Whites to go ahead before Team Melli equalized.&nbsp;&quot;There were errors, individual ones, and also with regards to this defense we had, and I think we were playing... we were doing too many passes,&quot; said Ghalenoei.&nbsp;&quot;And I think, because we have been flying too much, commuting, as a result of this long commute, we&#39;ve been tired.&quot;&nbsp;The manager said restrictions on his team had been even more onerous for Sunday&#39;s upcoming game against Belgium, Group G&#39;s highest-ranked team.&nbsp;Ghalenoei said his team had arrived in the US on Saturday less than 24 hours before kickoff, despite being briefly told by FIFA on Friday early afternoon that they may be able to travel that day.&nbsp;&quot;We waited till 7.00pm, nothing happened, and they said, &#39;Sorry, we weren&#39;t able to do that,&quot; said the coach.&nbsp;&quot;That&#39;s going to affect us mentally, especially me as a head coach, because I want to focus on technical stuff,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Iran had only been able to do half its usual pre-game training session, complained Ghalenoei.&nbsp;All four teams in Group G currently have one point, with only the top two guaranteed to reach the knockout stages. A majority of third-placed teams across all groups will also progress, depending on their performance.

Football

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said eased US travel restrictions for Iran’s final World Cup group game came too late, arguing frequent cross-border travel from Mexico disrupted preparation, caused fatigue, affected performances, and reduced training time before facing Belgium.

Iran World Cup travel restrictions to be eased, says coach

Ibrahim Babakhel

Romesa Umar

ISLAMABAD: In a hotel overlooking Lake Lucerne in Switzerland&#39;s B&uuml;rgenstock resort, senior officials from the United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar gathered on Sunday for high-level talks on implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the agreement that ended more than three months of war between Washington and Tehran and opened a path toward broader negotiations. The talks mark the latest chapter in a diplomatic effort that Pakistani officials say spanned 111 days, involved around 250 high-level engagements and brought together dozens of countries and international organizations in support of a negotiated settlement. According to Pakistan TV Digital&#39;s compilation of information released by government sources, Pakistan&#39;s leadership conducted approximately 170 telephone calls and 80 in-person meetings during the crisis.&nbsp; The effort engaged 49 countries across five continents, as well as major international organizations including the United Nations, European Union, Gulf Cooperation Council, Commonwealth and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. For Pakistan, the agreement represents the culmination of months of diplomacy aimed not only at ending a conflict between the United States and Iran, but also at preventing a broader regional war that threatened global energy supplies, international trade routes and economic stability. How the war startedThe conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched air strikes against Iran, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a rapid escalation across the region. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting American military facilities and allied positions across the Middle East, including Israel. Tehran also restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas trade passes. The disruption rattled energy markets and raised fears of a wider regional confrontation with global economic consequences. Within days of the first strikes, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar began contacting regional leaders and key capitals across the Gulf and the broader Muslim world, urging restraint and seeking diplomatic channels before the conflict could spread further. The war widensFor weeks, diplomatic efforts unfolded alongside intensifying fighting. Iran expanded its military operations by launching missile and drone attacks against Gulf states accused of hosting American military assets. Tehran also threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb waterway, raising concerns about disruptions to another critical global shipping route. The death toll continued to rise, with thousands reported killed across Iran and Lebanon as fighting intensified and Israel&#39;s campaign against Hezbollah expanded alongside the wider conflict. &quot;Pakistan did not just stop the US-Iran war, but a regional war,&quot; analyst Shaukat Piracha told Pakistan TV Digital while commenting on the crisis. On April 7, US President Donald Trump warned that &quot;a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back&quot; if diplomacy failed to gain traction. The first breakthroughA day later, PM Sharif announced that Pakistan had helped secure a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, marking the first significant pause in hostilities since the conflict began. The breakthrough shifted Pakistan&#39;s role from crisis management toward sustained mediation, with diplomatic outreach expanding simultaneously across Washington, Tehran, Beijing, Moscow, European capitals and key regional partners. Islamabad TalksA major turning point came on April 11 and 12 when Pakistan hosted direct talks in Islamabad between a US delegation of roughly 300 officials led by Vice President JD Vance and a 70-member Iranian delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The discussions represented the highest-level direct engagement between American and Iranian officials in decades. Chaired by PM Sharif, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, and FM Dar, the negotiations stretched across 21 hours and three rounds of discussions. The talks ended without an agreement and were followed by renewed tensions, including the announcement of a US naval blockade. Yet the Islamabad discussions established a direct channel that both sides continued to use in the months that followed, even when prospects for a breakthrough appeared increasingly remote. Behind the scenesWhat followed was the most intensive phase of the mediation effort. Sharif, Dar and Munir engaged counterparts in Riyadh, Doha, Ankara, Beijing, Moscow, Cairo, Tehran and Washington through a combination of shuttle diplomacy and near-daily telephone consultations. Field Marshal Munir travelled to Tehran on multiple occasions for security consultations while maintaining continuous engagement with key stakeholders throughout the negotiations. Addressing Pakistan&#39;s National Assembly, PM Sharif later said Munir remained actively involved &quot;day and night&quot; during the most sensitive phases of the talks. Pakistan and China jointly proposed a five-point framework for de-escalation, while the R-4 grouping comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye and Egypt met repeatedly to coordinate diplomatic efforts. FM Dar attended the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, participated in discussions at the United Nations Security Council in New York and held meetings with senior American officials in Washington. PM Sharif travelled to Beijing to secure support from Chinese President Xi Jinping, while European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited Islamabad for a strategic dialogue focused on regional stability. By June, Pakistani officials were coordinating with counterparts from across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and North America as negotiations entered their final phase. The breakthroughOn June 14, Pakistan announced that the United States and Iran had agreed on a framework known as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement called for an end to military operations, the reopening of critical maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, and the launch of a 60-day implementation framework covering issues ranging from regional security arrangements to Iran&#39;s nuclear programme and frozen assets. PM Sharif later described the development as &quot;not merely an agreement between two countries, but a triumph of peace and diplomacy.&quot; The memorandum was electronically signed on June 17 by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Since then, implementation talks have moved to Switzerland, where PM Sharif, Field Marshal Munir, US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian officials are participating in high-level discussions aimed at advancing commitments under the agreement and addressing issues including Lebanon, Iran&#39;s nuclear program, frozen Iranian assets and future negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

Pakistan says 111 days of diplomacy involving 250 high-level engagements, outreach to 49 countries and sustained mediation between Washington and Tehran culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with implementation talks now underway in Switzerland.

Articles by Shaharyar Khalid