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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the suicide attack on a police station in the Domel area of District Bannu, said a press release issued by Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office on Friday. The prime minister expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the incident that took place in the northwest of the country. Sharif prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, the press release said. &ldquo;We are determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country&rdquo;, the prime minister said.

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‘We are determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country,’ the prime minister said, according to a press release.

PM Sharif strongly condemns suicide attack in northwest Pakistan  

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday warned India that any aggression would be met with a &ldquo;swift, calibrated, and decisive&rdquo; response, after his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, issued fresh warnings amid rising regional tensions.&nbsp;The exchange underscores renewed friction between the nuclear-armed neighbors months after a brief but intense conflict in May 2025, raising concerns for international observers about escalation risks in South Asia, at a time when the world is already grappling with heightened instability in the Middle East following the ongoing Iran crisis and widening regional tensions.&nbsp;Addressing a Sainik Sammelan in Indian state of Kerala, Singh said India remained alert to the possibility of &ldquo;hostile actions from across the border&rdquo; and cautioned that any such move would be met with a &ldquo;firm and decisive response,&rdquo; according to Indian media reports.&nbsp;Referring to India&rsquo;s &ldquo;Operation Sindoor,&rdquo; Singh claimed Indian forces had brought Pakistan &ldquo;to its knees&rdquo; within 22 minutes and warned that further provocation could trigger &ldquo;unprecedented action.&rdquo;&nbsp;Responding sharply, Asif dismissed the remarks as part of a &ldquo;predictable pattern,&rdquo; accusing New Delhi of &ldquo;externalising internal fragility&rdquo; and attempting to &ldquo;provoke escalation&rdquo; under the guise of &ldquo;unsubstantiated allegations&rdquo; for political purposes.&nbsp;&ldquo;Such threat-mongering from India is not new,&rdquo; Asif said, adding that the rhetoric reflected &ldquo;not strength, but visible strategic anxiety.&rdquo;&nbsp;He warned that &ldquo;miscalculation has consequences,&rdquo; saying recent history remained &ldquo;fresh in our minds,&rdquo; and cautioned that any future confrontation would draw an even more &ldquo;forceful and decisive&rdquo; response.&nbsp;Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s official position, Asif said the country remained committed to peace and regional stability but its &ldquo;resolve to defend sovereignty is absolute.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Our preparedness is complete, and our response will be swift, calibrated, and decisive,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He further cautioned that the notion of conventional conflict between two nuclear-armed states was &ldquo;inconceivable&rdquo; and would carry &ldquo;drastic consequences.&rdquo;&nbsp;The latest war of words follows a four-day conflict in May 2025, triggered by a militant attack on civilians in Indian-occupied Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack, a charge Pakistan firmly rejected. The fighting, involving missile, drone and artillery strikes, marked the deadliest cross-border escalation since 2019 and ended only after a US-brokered ceasefire.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif says Pakistan will respond swiftly, decisively to India’s warnings, calling its rhetoric a sign of “strategic anxiety” as tensions rise months after the May 2025 conflict.

Pakistan issues tit-for-tat warning after Indian defense minister remarks

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed eight terrorists during an operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan district, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Wednesday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a group of &quot;khawarij&quot; was effectively engaged, as a result of which eight terrorists connected to &ldquo;Indian proxy, Fitna al Khawarij&rdquo; were killed.&nbsp; Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the militants. The military said the engagement once again &ldquo;substantiated&rdquo; its repeated stance regarding the failure of the Afghan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/operation-ghazab-lilhaq-435-killed-as-pakistan-strikes-afghan-targets" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Taliban</a>&nbsp;regime to ensure effective border management on its side of the border. &ldquo;Afghan Taliban Regime must fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khawarij and involvement of its citizens in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-security-forces-kill-15-terrorists-in-balochistan-operation-military" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">terrorism</a>&nbsp;inside Pakistan,&rdquo; ISPR added. &quot;Khawarij&quot; is&nbsp;Islamabad&#39;s term for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorist&nbsp;group, which it accuses of operating from Afghan soil, backed by India. PM, President laud security forces&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for a successful operation against terrorists.&nbsp; The president and PM praised the professionalism of the security forces for their effective and timely actions, according to press releases issued by the Aiwan-e-Sadr press wing&nbsp;and the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office on Thursday.&nbsp; &ldquo;The role of the security forces in defending the country and safeguarding its borders was commendable,&rdquo; the president said. The leaders urged the Afghan interim government to prevent its territory from being used for terrorism against Pakistan. &ldquo;The entire nation, including myself, stands resolute in its unwavering commitment to the war against terrorism,&rdquo; said PM Sharif.&nbsp; Sanitization operation continuesAccording to ISPR, Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces remain &ldquo;resolute and unwavering&rdquo; in their commitment to defending the nation&rsquo;s frontiers. A sanitization operation was undertaken to eliminate any remaining Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area.&nbsp; The counterterrorism campaign under the Azm-i-Istehkam vision, approved by the federal apex committee on the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace to eliminate &ldquo;foreign-sponsored terrorism&rdquo; from the country, ISPR said.

A Pakistani soldier stands guard in a bunker at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman on February 27, 2026, following overnight cross-border firing between the two countries. (Photo: AFP/File)

The military's media wing urges the Afghan Taliban regime to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists and the involvement of its citizens in terrorism inside Pakistan.

Eight terrorists killed in North Waziristan operation: Pakistan military 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy and the Chinese People&#39;s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy concluded &#39;Sea Guardian IV&#39; exercise, held from March 25 to April 1, 2026, to enhance interoperability and maritime cooperation, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Wednesday.&nbsp;&ldquo;The exercise concluded with a coordinated patrol in the Arabian Sea, reaffirming both navies&rsquo; commitment to regional maritime security and stability,&rdquo; according to the ISPR.&nbsp;The exercise included air defense drills against multi-domain swarm threats, submarine operations with the Pakistan Navy, conventional war-at-sea exercises, and live gunnery firing to enhance operational and tactical coordination.&nbsp;During the port visit, PLA Navy Ship &#39;DAQING&#39; was welcomed by PNS TAIMUR, with activities including exchange visits, naval orientations, professional discussions, and a maiden Young Officers Seminar.&nbsp;&ldquo;The exercise included a five-day port phase in Karachi and a two-day sea phase in the North Arabian Sea,&rdquo; it concluded.

Pakistan and China concluded the seven-day Sea Guardian IV exercise, featuring coordinated Arabian Sea patrols, air defense drills, submarine operations, gunnery firing, and a port visit, enhancing interoperability, maritime cooperation, and regional security.

Pakistan, China conclude ‘Sea Guardian IV’ exercise enhancing maritime cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has dismissed claims circulating on social media about the removal of barbed wire along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, calling them &ldquo;fabricated&rdquo; and part of a wider misinformation campaign amid ongoing cross-border tensions. In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting&rsquo;s fact-checking unit said videos shared by Taliban-linked outlets showing individuals cutting border fencing were staged and misleading. <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; text-align: left; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039357175139815579&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=f02c18f8d4b3e600f453b7a7597dc682e3e72516&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 626px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2039357175139815579"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;The multiple claims&hellip; regarding the removal of barbed wire along the Pak-Afghan border are fabricated and devoid of facts,&rdquo; the ministry said. According to the statement, the clips, circulating over the past week, depict individuals briefly cutting sections of fencing before leaving, describing the content as &ldquo;staged&rdquo; and part of a propaganda effort. &ldquo;All clips&hellip; are staged content, outdated, and part of propaganda tactics,&rdquo; the ministry added. Operation Ghazab lil HaqThe claims emerge as Pakistan&rsquo;s cross-border military campaign, Operation Ghazab lil Haq, continues following weeks of escalation triggered by &ldquo;cross-border terrorist attacks.&rdquo; Pakistani officials say the operation has targeted terrorist infrastructure, including camps, logistics hubs and support networks used to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Authorities have also reported drone incidents, artillery exchanges and strikes on what they describe as terrorist-linked installations in Afghanistan, underscoring heightened tensions along the border. &#39;Fence remains intact&rsquo;Pakistan began fencing the more than 2,600-kilometre border with Afghanistan in 2017 to curb illegal crossings and infiltration by terrorist groups. Officials say the fence remains operational and secure. &ldquo;Pak-Afghan border fence is fully intact, and all such attempts are met with an immediate and strong response,&rdquo; the ministry said. The statement added that the Afghan side does not maintain the border in the same way, alleging that gaps are exploited by terrorist groups and criminal networks. The ministry said the circulation of such content follows recent military developments, including the destruction of hundreds of posts during the ongoing operation. It described the videos as part of a broader pattern of misinformation. &ldquo;Afghan Taliban regime&hellip; are internationally known for frivolous claims,&rdquo; the statement said, referencing previous unverified claims including alleged drone strikes and aircraft incidents. Officials say the information environment has become an increasingly important dimension of the conflict, with competing narratives emerging alongside military developments. Pakistan maintains that its operations are based on verified intelligence and aimed at countering terrorism, while urging caution against unverified claims circulating online.

Officials say viral videos showing fence removal are staged and outdated, emphasizing the border barrier remains intact and monitored, while warning of coordinated misinformation efforts amid ongoing military operations and heightened tensions along the border.

Pakistan rejects Afghan border fence claims as propaganda amid tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan witnessed a significant decline in violence-related casualties in March 2026, with overall deaths falling by 35% compared to the previous month, according to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. The report said 331 people were killed in March, down from 506 in February, even as the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/security-forces-kill-34-terrorists-in-kp-and-balochistan-operations-army" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">terrorist attacks</a>&nbsp;increased. The think tank attributed the drop in fatalities partly to Pakistan&rsquo;s cross-border strikes targeting terrorist&nbsp;hideouts in Afghanistan, carried out from late February until March 18, before a ceasefire was reached. Despite threats of escalation by banned outfits including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, and Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen, the overall impact of violence remained limited, with attacks largely shifting towards low-intensity operations. Civilian casualties saw the sharpest decline, dropping by 70% from 132 in February to 39 in March. Fatalities among security forces fell by 26% to 59, while terrorist&nbsp;deaths decreased by 22% to 228. Injuries also declined by 37% overall, with 210 reported in March compared to 333 in February. Civilian injuries dropped significantly, while injuries among terrorists&nbsp;rose, indicating increased pressure during security operations. However, the frequency of terrorist&nbsp;attacks increased, rising to 146 in March from 83 in February. Suicide attacks fell to one in five in the previous month. Terrorists&nbsp;also kidnapped 19 individuals, while security forces arrested 41 suspects. Regionally, Balochistan recorded the highest number of fatalities, though deaths dropped by 34%. Civilian deaths in the province declined sharply, but injuries surged. The merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also saw a 42% reduction in fatalities, despite a rise in injuries and continued terrorist&nbsp;activity. In mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, fatalities remained largely unchanged, though security forces&rsquo; losses declined. The report noted an increase in attacks targeting pro-government peace committee members, signaling a shift by terrorists&nbsp;towards softer targets. Punjab and Sindh reported no terrorist&nbsp;attacks during the month, while isolated incidents were recorded in Gilgit-Baltistan, where a terrorist&nbsp;attempt near the Diamer-Bhasha Dam was foiled without casualties. The report concluded that while terrorist&nbsp;groups increased the frequency of attacks, their operational effectiveness appeared to have declined, reflecting the impact of sustained security measures.

Security personnel stand guard at the site of a bomb blast in Bajaur district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on July 31, 2023. (AFP/File)

The report says 331 people were killed in March, down from 506 in February, even as the number of terrorist attacks increased.

Casualties drop as Pakistan hits terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan: Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces killed 13 terrorists during two intelligence-based operations in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military announced on Wednesday.&nbsp;According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations were conducted on Monday, March 30, in Khyber and Bannu districts.&nbsp; In the first operation in Khyber&#39;s&nbsp;Bara area, 10 terrorists were killed after an intense exchange of fire. Three more terrorists were neutralized in a separate operation in Bannu, the statement added.&nbsp;Security forces have launched sanitization operations to clear the areas of any remaining terrorists.&nbsp;The military said the operations are part of an ongoing counter-terrorism campaign aimed at eliminating <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/operation-ghazab-lilhaq-435-killed-as-pakistan-strikes-afghan-targets" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">foreign-sponsored terrorism</a> from the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security for the successful operations. &ldquo;Our security forces are like a solid wall against terrorism to protect the country.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said the government is determined to eliminate terrorism from the country.

According to the military's media wing, the operations were conducted in Khyber and Bannu districts.

13 terrorists killed in northwest Pakistan operations: Military

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Sunday that both the United States and Iran have expressed confidence in Islamabad to facilitate peace talks, as diplomatic efforts intensify to contain a rapidly expanding regional conflict. Speaking after a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-to-host-quadrilateral-meeting-of-foreign-ministers-on-iran-war-fo" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">quadrilateral&nbsp;</a>meeting with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye and Egypt, Dar said Pakistan stands ready to host negotiations aimed at ending the war. &ldquo;It would be an honor to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict,&rdquo; he said. The development signals a rare convergence of trust from opposing sides, with Pakistan emerging as a key channel for communication as the conflict, sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, continues to reverberate across the Gulf, disrupting energy routes and heightening global economic uncertainty. Dar said the participating countries unanimously emphasized diplomacy as the only viable path forward. &ldquo;We advocated dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable pathway to prevent conflict and promote regional peace and harmony,&rdquo; he said, adding that ministers also called for &ldquo;upholding principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.&rdquo; Pakistan has remained actively engaged with multiple stakeholders, maintaining contacts with Washington, Tehran and regional capitals to reduce tensions and keep diplomatic options open. &ldquo;We have remained actively engaged with the US leadership as part of our efforts to de-escalate the situation and find a peaceful resolution of the conflict,&rdquo; Dar said. He added that Pakistan&rsquo;s initiative has received broad international backing, including support from China and appreciation from global partners. &ldquo;We have remained actively involved in all efforts and initiatives aimed at bringing this conflict to an end,&rdquo; he said, expressing gratitude to Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye and Egypt for supporting Pakistan&rsquo;s peace efforts. Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, appreciating Riyadh&rsquo;s restraint amid escalating tensions. Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;full and unwavering solidarity&rdquo; with Saudi Arabia, while both sides agreed to continue close coordination to promote regional peace and stability. Officials said the flurry of high-level engagements reflects growing urgency among regional and global actors to prevent further escalation and create space for a negotiated settlement.

The development signals a rare convergence of trust from opposing sides, with Pakistan emerging as a key channel for communication as the conflict, sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, continues to reverberate across the Gulf, disrupting energy routes and heightening global economic uncertainty.


Iran, US back Pakistan role to host peace talks: FM Dar

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari led a high-level consultative meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr to assess the evolving economic and energy situation amid oil supply constraints and rising petroleum prices, as well as regional security developments, according to a press release issued by the President&#39;s Secretariat on Thursday.&nbsp; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attended the meeting. Other participants included cabinet members and senior government officials. The meeting reviewed the impact of fluctuations in global oil and gas supplies and prices on Pakistan&rsquo;s economy, with particular focus on managing inflationary pressures and ensuring energy security.&nbsp; The ministers for finance and petroleum briefed the meeting on ongoing measures to stabilize petroleum prices, manage the effects of rising fuel costs on other sectors of the economy, and enforce fiscal discipline through austerity measures to reduce expenditure pressures.&nbsp; The broader regional situation also came under discussion, including its implications for Pakistan&rsquo;s security, economic outlook and food security.&nbsp; The meeting emphasized the need for a coordinated national response, noting that policy decisions must prioritize stability while safeguarding the public interest. The meeting underscored the importance of maintaining national consensus and strengthening institutional coordination in view of emerging regional challenges. It was agreed that economic management, energy planning, food security, and broader security concerns must stay closely aligned to address this challenging situation. The meeting also emphasized the need for public awareness to reduce fuel consumption, encourage the use of public transportation and promote shared ride systems.

President Asif Ali Zardari chairs a high-level meeting attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir at Aiwan-i-Sadr on March 26, 2026. — Photo courtesy President’s Secretariat

Meeting highlights need for national consensus and stronger institutional coordination to tackle regional challenges. Economic management, energy planning, food security, and security issues must stay aligned.

Pakistan leaders review energy crisis, economy amid regional tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has welcomed People&rsquo;s Liberation Army (Navy) Ship &#39;Daqing&#39; for its participation in the 4th iteration of bilateral &lsquo;Sea Guardian&rsquo; exercise&nbsp;scheduled from March 25 to April 2, the military&#39;s media wing said on Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Upon arrival, PLA(N) Ship DAQING was accorded a ceremonial welcome and escorted into port by Pakistan Navy ships with traditional zeal,&rdquo; according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement.&nbsp; It said the exercise, which aims to further strengthen bilateral relations through the mutual exchange of maritime expertise,&nbsp;will include both harbor and sea-phase activities. &quot;The exercise will feature a range of harbour and sea-phase activities, including subject matter expert engagements, a young officers&rsquo; seminar on contemporary topics, gunnery firings, coordinated patrols, and other maritime security operations,&quot; it said. The ISPR said the exercise series underscores the strong strategic partnership between the two countries and is expected to contribute to a stable maritime environment in the region.

Pakistan Navy welcomed Chinese PLA Navy ship 'DAQING' for Sea Guardian exercise from March 25 to April 2, 2026, featuring drills, seminars, and patrols aimed at enhancing interoperability, maritime cooperation, and regional stability.

Pakistan Navy hosts Chinese warship for Sea Guardian exercise

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday issued its first-ever presidential statement on closer cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)&nbsp;to address regional challenges, including maritime security, terrorism, and food and water security.&nbsp; The statement, submitted by Bahrain&#39;s UN representative in his capacity as Council President for April, recognizes the GCC&rsquo;s &quot;position and expertise&quot; in promoting regional peace and security, and acknowledges its &quot;contributions to regional and international stability through mediation, preventive diplomacy, technical and financial support, and humanitarian engagement.&quot; The Council requested that the UN Secretary-General, Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, include recommendations on strengthening institutional ties with the GCC in his next report, and encouraged regular briefings by the GCC Secretary-General. &quot;The ongoing escalation underlines the urgent need for coordinated multilateral action,&quot; said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General, stressing the importance of &ldquo;strengthened&rdquo; UN-GCC cooperation. He highlighted the GCC&#39;s role in de-escalating regional tensions, supporting mediation in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, and its cooperation with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. &#39;Cornerstone of the global economy&#39;GCC Secretary-General Jassim Albudaiwi told the Council the bloc is a &quot;cornerstone of the global economy&quot;, noting its combined output exceeded $2.3 trillion in 2024 and its members&rsquo; major contribution to global oil and gas supplies. He warned that instability in the Gulf carries global consequences. &quot;Stability in the Arabian Gulf is not merely a regional concern, but is rather a global necessity,&quot; he said. Bahrain&#39;s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al Zayani announced that his country had submitted a separate draft resolution to the Council addressing what he described as Iran&#39;s &quot;unlawful and unjustified&quot; attempts to control navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with a vote expected Friday. Delegates from the United Kingdom and France backed GCC states&#39; right to defend their sovereignty, with France stating Iran &quot;bears the primary responsibility for the current escalation.&quot;&nbsp; Russia countered that the conflict was &quot;the direct result of an unprovoked act of aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran&#39;s territory.&quot; China and Pakistan jointly called for an immediate ceasefire and the launch of peace talks. The GCC, founded in 1981, comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

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The statement, submitted by Bahrain's UN representative, recognizes the GCC’s 'position and expertise' in promoting regional peace and security, and calls for deeper UN-GCC coordination on terrorism, maritime security, water and food security.

UNSC backs stronger cooperation with Gulf bloc in first-ever presidential statement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday extended Good Friday greetings to the Christian community at home and abroad, emphasizing the values of compassion, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Prime Minister Sharif in a post on X on Friday stated: &quot;On the occasion of Good Friday, I extend sincere greetings to our brothers and sisters of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-extends-heartfelt-greetings-on-joyous-blessed-christmas" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christian community</a>&nbsp;in Pakistan and members of the Christian faith across the world.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-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=2039943098672025844&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cf1149a8b3beaafec088d9fab9bb7e3150ffa371&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;May this sacred day, marked by sacrifice and reflection, strengthen our shared commitment to compassion, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence,&quot; the prime minister added.

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Says, ​'May this sacred day, marked by sacrifice and reflection, strengthen our shared commitment to compassion, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence'. 

Pakistan's PM Sharif extends Good Friday greetings, urges compassion and tolerance

PARIS:&nbsp;Iran should make a deal with the United States to end the war by offering to curb its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief, a former Iranian foreign minister said. Mohammad Javad Zarif, who served as foreign minister from 2013-2021, claimed in an op-ed for American journal Foreign Affairs that Tehran had the &quot;upper hand&quot; in the conflict against the US and Israel, but argued Iran needed to stop the war to prevent the loss of more civilian lives and damage to infrastructure. &quot;Iran should use its upper hand not to keep fighting but to declare victory and make a deal that both ends this conflict and prevents the next one,&quot; Zarif said in the piece published late Thursday. &quot;It should offer to place limits on its nuclear program and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to all sanctions a deal Washington wouldn&#39;t take before but might accept now,&quot; he added. &#39;Nonaggression pact&#39;&nbsp; Iran should also be prepared to accept a mutual &quot;nonaggression pact&quot; with the United States, as well as economic relations, he said. Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic ties since shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Zarif, one of the architects of the now moribund 2015 deal over the Iranian nuclear program, is seen as a relative moderate within the Islamic republic elite, but has no official post in the current government. However this is one of the first times during this conflict that a high profile figure in Iran has called for a deal and an end to the war, with top military and political officials urging daily for fighting to continue until the US is defeated. &#39;Back to the stone ages&#39;US President Donald Trump has evoked ongoing talks with Tehran without giving details but also threatened to send the country &quot;back to the stone ages&quot; if it fails to agree terms. &quot;As an Iranian, outraged by Donald Trump&#39;s reckless aggression and crude insults, yet proud of our armed forces and resilient people, I am torn about publishing this peace-plan in Foreign Affairs,&quot; Zarif wrote in English on X Friday. &quot;Yet I&#39;m convinced that war must end on terms consistent with Iran&#39;s national interests,&quot; he added. Zarif in the Foreign Affairs piece warned that &quot;although continuing to fight the United States and Israel might be psychologically satisfying, it will lead only to the further destruction of civilian lives and infrastructure&quot;.

Mohammad Javad Zarif (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Mohammad Javad Zarif urges Iran to end the conflict with the US by negotiating a deal to limit its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief.

Iran's former top diplomat urges deal with US to end war

ISLAMABAD: Congress&rsquo; National spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed renewed scrutiny of alleged RSS backing for propaganda-style films in an X post, on Thursday.&nbsp;Dr. Shama said producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah had &ldquo;openly admitted&rdquo; that the RSS supported &ldquo;Kerala Story 2&rdquo; and arguing that this showed the organisation had backed a film meant to defame Kerala. Her post brought fresh attention to a wider debate over how the BJP and the RSS ecosystem support politically aligned cinema through ideological links, endorsements, tax breaks and promotion.<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" 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=2039579655645348127&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c92d3faf5176e582d37f5cad3e26fa7ac3e0dbe2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>At least ten films have been produced or directed by individuals linked to the BJP, the RSS, or affiliated Hindutva organisations, an Indian news outlet, The Quint, reported on Friday. The films named in the report include The Kerala Story, The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond, Bastar: The Naxal Story, Razakar, Swatantra Veer Savarkar, PM Narendra Modi, Accident or Conspiracy: Godhra, Bengal 1947, The Accidental Prime Minister, and Jahangir National University.&nbsp;One of the most striking claims in that report concerns producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The Quint said Shah acknowledged at the 2023 World Hindu Congress that The Kerala Story could not have been made without RSS &ldquo;guidance and support.&rdquo; The report said he described the RSS as the film&rsquo;s &ldquo;guardian angels.&rdquo;&nbsp;Political endorsement has also come from the top. Reuters reported that Indian PM Narendra Modi publicly praised The Kashmir Files in 2022. BJP-ruled states then moved to make the film tax-free, helping widen its reach.&nbsp;A similar pattern was seen with The Kerala Story and Article 370. NDTV reported that BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh made The Kerala Story tax-free. NDTV also reported that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh made Article 370 tax-free.&nbsp; Taken together, the reporting suggests these films are not just cultural products. They are increasingly part of a political ecosystem where cinema, ideology, and state patronage intersect.

India

The BJP and the wider RSS ecosystem are backing a string of ultra-nationalist and propaganda-style films in India; the support is not always visible as direct funding but through political links, public endorsements, tax breaks, and coordinated promotion by party leaders and allied networks. 

Scrutiny grows over BJP-RSS backing of propaganda films

JINJA: Giggles and songs ripple across a field in rural eastern Uganda where elderly women swing cricket bats as a way to reshape what ageing, health and sports can look like in later life. The so-called &quot;cricket grannies&quot; are bound together by a growing love of a game they initially knew nothing about but is now helping them manage age-related health conditions, stress and loneliness. Clad in floor-length dresses and mostly barefoot, the women, aged 50 to 90, gather weekly at a playground in Jinja district, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital, Kampala. Each swing draws cheers from teammates as the women turn Saturday morning practice into a lively spectacle. &quot;With the exercises I&#39;ve been doing, my legs used to hurt, but they no longer do,&quot; Jennifer Waibi Nanyonga, 72, told AFP. &quot;I spent the whole of last year without seeing a doctor for my back, yet it had previously been paining me,&quot; added the grandmother of 29. The initiative began in 2025 with just 10 grandmothers in the remote village of Kivubuka and has since grown more than tenfold. The programme was initially aimed at children, but when cricket coach Aaron Kusasira realised their caregivers had little knowledge of the game and often kept them from joining, he decided to involve the elderly women, too. &quot;We come here, we jog, we move around, we do some stretches,&quot; Kusasira, 26, said. They &quot;unknowingly have to run because they have to compete,&quot; he added. Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for deaths from noncommunicable diseases and, according to the World Health Organization, it is more common among women globally. International health data estimates that sedentary lifestyles are costing public health systems roughly US$27 billion per year and will continue to rise if activity levels are not improved. Fresh start&nbsp; Beyond physical activity, cricket has also fostered a sense of community among the Ugandan grannies. &quot;When at home, you have no company and spend your time buried in your thoughts,&quot; said an elderly woman who only gave her first name, Patriciah. For others, the weekly meetings have proved cathartic. &quot;When I arrive here and see my friends, we get together and talk about our problems, we counsel each other,&quot; said Jennifer Waibi Nanyonga. &quot;By the time we return home, everyone is lighter and with a fresh start,&quot; she added. For coach Kusasira, training the women has been a win-win, giving him the opportunity to coach children in the area without opposition. &quot;From the kids to the elders, provided I see the smiles it&#39;s enough. I know that is a day well spent,&quot; he said.

In eastern Uganda’s Jinja district, groups of older women have embraced cricket as a way to stay physically active and socially connected later in life. Often referred to locally as “cricket grannies”, they take part in informal games and training that co

Africa

The so-called "cricket grannies" are bound together by a growing love of a game they initially knew nothing about but is now helping them manage age-related health conditions, stress and loneliness.

From bats to bonds: Uganda's 'cricket grannies'

DHAKA: The Bangladesh government has introduced a series of measures aimed at addressing the impact of global disruptions and ensuring stability in fuel oil supply, following a high-level cabinet meeting held at night at the Cabinet Room in the Parliament Secretariat.&nbsp; Under the new directives, all government and private offices will operate from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Banking hours for public transactions will run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, while banks will officially close at 4:00 pm, Bangladeshi state media Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported.&nbsp; In an effort to conserve energy, shopping malls and markets nationwide must shut down by 6:00 pm. However, essential services including kitchen markets, food outlets, and pharmacies will remain exempt from this restriction. The decisions were taken by the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday night. Later, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed the journalists at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, saying that the government took measures considering fuel supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prime Minister&rsquo;s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly was present at the briefing. Noting that several steps have been taken for the next three months to reduce government expenditure, the cabinet secretary said, &ldquo;No new vehicles, watercraft or aircraft will be purchased during this period&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;Procurement of new equipment, including computers, will also remain suspended, he said, adding, internal training has been reduced by 50 percent, while all foreign training under government funding will remain suspended until further notice.&nbsp;&nbsp;Expenditure on meetings and seminars has also been cut by 50 percent, Ghani said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Besides, he said, government spending in the power, energy and gas sectors will be reduced by 30 percent. The meeting issued a directive to reduce unnecessary travel expenses by 30 percent, the cabinet secretary added.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said new directives will be issued for the education sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Ministry of Education will start issuing instructions in phases from Sunday, considering the needs of different levels, so that the measures do not have a negative impact on the education system, Ghani said.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a bid to reduce traffic congestion in the capital city during the school hour, he said, the government has decided to introduce electric buses for school students instead of private cars.&nbsp;&nbsp;Educational institutions joining the initiative will be able to import buses duty-free, the cabinet secretary said, adding, the private sector will also get this facility, but a 20 percent duty will apply for commercial purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, only new buses will be allowed for import, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Noting that imports from alternative sources are also being increased to maintain normal fuel supply, Ghani said initiatives have already been taken to import fuel from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.

Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed the journalists at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (Photo : BSS)

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh government has introduced reduced working hours, spending cuts, and energy-saving measures to manage fuel shortages caused by global disruptions.

Bangladesh cuts expenditure, reduces office hours, orders markets shut after 6pm

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;US President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday and named his former personal lawyer to serve as the acting chief of the Justice Department. The US president announced the move in a social media post. &quot;Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year,&quot; Trump said on Truth Social. &quot;Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country.&quot; Bondi &quot;will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector,&quot; the president said, and will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who Trump described as &quot;a very talented and respected Legal Mind.&quot; According to The New York Times, Trump may name former Republican congressman Lee Zeldin, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, to be the next attorney general.In the meantime, the post will be filled by Blanche. &#39;Honor of a lifetime&#39;Bondi, in a post on X, said serving as attorney general had been &quot;the honor of a lifetime&quot; and said she will &quot;continue fighting for President Trump&quot; in her unspecified new private sector job. &quot;Over the next month I will be working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to the amazing Todd Blanche,&quot; she said. &quot;I remain eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to Make America Safe Again.&quot; Bondi&#39;s ouster comes nearly a month after Trump fired Kristi Noem as the head of the Department of Homeland Security.&nbsp;Democratic lawmakers welcomed Bondi&#39;s firing. Bondi served as a prosecutor for 18 years before being elected Florida&#39;s attorney general in 2010, the first woman to hold the post.&nbsp;She was reelected to a second term in 2014.

Bondi 'will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector,' the president said, and will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who Trump described as 'a very talented and respected Legal Mind.'

Trump sacks attorney general Pam Bondi, replaces with lawyer Todd Blanche

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Pakistan&rsquo;s digital economy could contribute between 5%-7% of gross domestic product by 2030, provided structural constraints are addressed and reforms accelerate, according to a new report by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI).&nbsp;Titled &ldquo;Recommendations for Pakistan&rsquo;s Digital Future,&rdquo; the OICCI Digital Report 2025 presents a detailed assessment of the country&rsquo;s digital landscape, highlighting both measurable gains and persistent bottlenecks shaping future growth.&nbsp;The report frames Pakistan&rsquo;s digital sector as a rapidly expanding but uneven ecosystem, where strong growth in connectivity, exports and digital finance is being tempered by infrastructure gaps and slow policy execution, raising the stakes for reforms needed to unlock its full economic potential.&nbsp;The report identifies the digital sector as an emerging driver of productivity, exports and financial inclusion, supported by a growing user base and rising adoption of digital services.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) exports have reached $3.8 billion, while the freelance economy contributes $779 million in earnings.&nbsp;Digital access continues to expand, with more than 150 million broadband subscriptions and over 200 million telecom connections. The broader mobile ecosystem contributes an estimated $17 billion to the national economy.&nbsp;The report also underscores rapid growth in digital finance.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan has made notable strides in digital payments and financial inclusion. The Raast instant payment system processed Rs18 trillion in peer-to-peer transactions in FY26, demonstrating the rapid adoption of digital financial services,&rdquo; said OICCI President Yousaf Hussain.&nbsp;However, infrastructure limitations remain a key constraint.&nbsp;Only 18% of cellular towers are connected through fiber, well below the global benchmark of around 40%, limiting network capacity and readiness for next-generation technologies.&nbsp;Policy execution is another concern.&nbsp;While engagement on digital policy has improved, implementation remains slow. The report notes that only about one-quarter of recommendations from OICCI&rsquo;s 2022 Digital Report have been carried out.&nbsp;&ldquo;Only about one-quarter of OICCI&rsquo;s digital policy recommendations issued in OICCI&rsquo;s Digital Report 2022 have been implemented so far. Faster execution, improved fiber penetration and a more investment-friendly regulatory environment will be essential to unlock Pakistan&rsquo;s digital potential,&rdquo; said M. Abdul Aleem, Secretary General of OICCI.&nbsp;To address these gaps, the report recommends reducing taxes on broadband services and digital devices, accelerating fiber deployment, ensuring regulatory clarity in data protection and cybersecurity, and strengthening public-private collaboration.&nbsp;The government has set a target of $5 billion in IT exports for FY26, while analysts project exports could reach around $4.5 billion, implying annual growth of 18% to 20% from the $3.8 billion recorded in FY25.&nbsp;Under the broader Uraan Pakistan framework, policymakers are targeting $10 billion in IT exports by FY29, requiring a compound annual growth rate of approximately 27%.&nbsp;The report concludes that while Pakistan&rsquo;s digital economy is expanding and foundational elements are in place, closing infrastructure gaps, accelerating policy implementation, and investing in advanced skills such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity will determine whether current momentum translates into sustained economic impact

Economy

Pakistan’s digital economy is growing fast and could reach 5–7% of GDP by 2030, driven by rising IT exports, digital payments, and increasing internet and mobile use.

Pakistan digital economy seen reaching 7% GDP by 2030: Report

Web Desk/AFP

'Multiple attacks on health have been reported in the Iranian capital, Tehran, in recent days amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East,' WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X.

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Latest News

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Scrutiny grows over BJP-RSS backing of propaganda films

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