Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson to the prime minister on foreign media, said on Tuesday that the Afghan Taliban regime initiated unprovoked firing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Torkham and Tirah sectors.&nbsp;In a post on X, he said Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces &ldquo;responded immediately and effectively, silencing the Taliban aggression.&rdquo;&nbsp;Zaidi warned that any further provocation would be met with an &ldquo;immediate and severe&rdquo; response, reaffirming that Pakistan would continue to protect its citizens and safeguard its territorial integrity. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2026326337695211825&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d9de6d2732cd3795fc9a78059af0dc9350b4e0de&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The exchange follows <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-strikes-7-ttp-iskp-terrorist-camps-near-afghan-border" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan&rsquo;s overnight air strikes</a> over the weekend in Afghanistan&rsquo;s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, where, according to officials, terrorist camps and hideouts were targeted. An official said more than 80 terrorists were killed in the precision strikes.&nbsp;A statement issued by the information ministry in the early hours of Sunday said the strikes were conducted in response to a series of terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, including a suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad and multiple attacks in Bannu and Bajaur.&nbsp;The ministry said Pakistan had &ldquo;conclusive evidence&rdquo; that &quot;khwarij&quot; -- terrorists backed by India belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- carried out the attacks at the behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.&nbsp;Describing the action as a retributive, intelligence-based operation, the statement said seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the TTP, along with affiliates and Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), were targeted in the border region.&nbsp;It added that despite repeated efforts by Pakistan urging the Afghan Taliban regime to take verifiable measures to deny the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russia-estimates-up-to-23000-terrorists-in-afghanistan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">use of its territory by terrorist groups</a> and foreign proxies for attacks against Pakistan, no substantive action had been taken.

Security

Warns that any further provocation would be met with an “immediate and severe” response, reaffirming that Pakistan would continue to protect its citizens and safeguard its territorial integrity.

Afghan Taliban initiated unprovoked firing along border, says PM’s spokesperson

ISLAMABAD: English cricketers have come out in support of Pakistan players after reports claimed that Indian-owned franchises in The Hundred may overlook them during the upcoming player auction. According to BBC Sport, four teams with ownership links to the Indian Premier League are not considering Pakistan players for the draft scheduled for March 11 and 12. The development has sparked concern across the English cricket community, with senior players warning that any exclusion based on nationality would damage the league&rsquo;s credibility. Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali said it would be a &ldquo;massive shame&rdquo; if Pakistan players were ignored. &ldquo;In the UK, I&rsquo;m not sure that can happen &mdash; and I hope it doesn&rsquo;t happen,&rdquo; he told Telegraph Sport on Monday, adding that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) would be expected to keep a close watch. Former England batter Mark Butcher also criticized the reported move, saying the issue goes beyond legal considerations.&nbsp; Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Podcast, he said: &ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t just a legal thing, it is an optics thing,&rdquo; warning that any perceived exclusion of Pakistan players would damage the league&rsquo;s image and credibility.<div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVG6kvMEv0y/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=687&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2Fnew#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A7721786%2C%22ls%22%3A834.1000000238419%2C%22le%22%3A1117.300000011921%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="920" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</iframe></div>Previously, England&rsquo;s limited-overs captain Harry Brook had also expressed disappointment at the prospect. &ldquo;Pakistan have been a great cricket nation for many years and have some awesome players, some of the best players in the world,&rdquo; Brook said. &ldquo;It would be a shame not to see some of them in The Hundred.&rdquo; Former England captain Michael Vaughan urged the ECB to intervene, saying the board owns the competition and should ensure that all players are treated fairly.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 975px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024783177613504772&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=0f788f5019564c51946ce9062ca401b85a0de722&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2024783177613504772"></iframe></div></div>The ECB has written to franchises to reiterate that The Hundred is open to players from around the world and that recruitment decisions must align with the league&rsquo;s inclusive principles. A total of 67 Pakistan cricketers have registered for the auction, including leading names such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf. The issue has raised broader questions about the influence of franchise ownership structures and the balance between global cricket politics and domestic league governance, as pressure mounts on The Hundred&rsquo;s organizers to ensure a transparent and merit-based auction process.

Cricket

Four The Hundred teams with ownership links to the Indian Premier League are not considering Pakistan players for the draft scheduled for March 11 and 12.

English stars call out Indian-owned cricket franchises over Pakistan boycott row

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and a group of Arab and Muslim countries have strongly condemned remarks by the United States Ambassador to Israel suggesting it would be acceptable for Israel to exercise control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the&nbsp;occupied West Bank.&nbsp;In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, along with the secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed &ldquo;strong condemnation and profound concern&rdquo; over the comments. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 344px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2025456028779770039&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=388a92daefa09c055cbfcc53f6ba00a992e881df&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2025456028779770039"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The countries described the remarks as dangerous and inflammatory, saying they constitute a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/arab-countries-condemn-us-ambassadors-remarks-on-israels-right-to-mideast-land" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">clear violation of international law</a>&nbsp;and the UN Charter, and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability.&nbsp;The statement said the comments contradict the vision presented by US President Donald J. Trump and the comprehensive plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, which seeks to contain escalation and create a political pathway toward a just settlement, ensuring an independent Palestinian state.&nbsp;The ministers reaffirmed that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab lands.&nbsp;They rejected any&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-says-israeli-actions-raising-ethnic-cleansing-fears-in-west-bank-gaza" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">attempts to annex the West Bank</a>&nbsp;or separate it from Gaza, and strongly opposed the expansion of Israeli settlements.&nbsp;The joint statement also warned that continued expansionist policies and unlawful measures would fuel violence and undermine prospects for peace, urging an end to such statements.&nbsp;The countries reiterated their commitment to the Palestinian people&rsquo;s right to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent state along the pre-4 June 1967 borders, with an end to the occupation of all Arab lands.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee (R) is shown a painting of Jerusalem during a visit to the Beit Hanassi presidential residence, in Jerusalem, on September 15, 2025.

Foreign Affairs

The countries describe the remarks as dangerous and inflammatory, saying they constitute a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability.

Pakistan, Arab states condemn US envoy’s remarks on Israel's right to Mideast land

COLOMBO: The Super Eight clash between Pakistan and New Zealand in the Twenty20 World Cup was washed out without a ball being bowled after heavy rain in Colombo on Saturday.&nbsp;Persistent drizzle right after the toss which Pakistan won and opted to bat at the Premadasa stadium did not relent with umpires finally calling the match off at 9:05pm local time (15:35 GMT).&nbsp;Not even a five-over match was possible by the 10:16 pm (1646 GMT) cut-off time, giving the two teams one point each.&nbsp;Pakistan, New Zealand, England and co-hosts Sri Lanka are in Group 2 of the Super Eights.&nbsp;Title-holders India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies are in Group 1.&nbsp;The top two teams from each Group will qualify for the semi-finals.

The T20 World Cup Super Eight match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Colombo was abandoned due to heavy rain. Both teams shared one point, with semi-final spots reserved for the top two from each group.

Pakistan-New Zealand Super Eight World Cup clash rained off

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said that at a time when the multilateral system is facing an unprecedented stress, and there are widespread calls for a United Nations that is truly fit for purpose, demands for special privileges and new permanent seats should have no place in the reform discussions. Speaking during the second IGN meeting on the cluster of &ldquo;Categories of Membership,&rdquo; Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, said that Pakistan&rsquo;s position has remained consistent and unequivocal: the addition of new permanent members will not dilute the disproportionate influence of the existing permanent members; rather, it risks entrenching and further expanding it, said a press release shared on X by Pakistan&#39;s Permanent Mission to the UN, on Saturday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2025026834132250673&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c28e7388c936359b389c6946dae3ab6b905b1080&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2025026834132250673">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;Two wrongs cannot make a right and a larger oligarchy is no antidote to an elite power club,&rdquo; he said. He said that a circle of permanence within the Security Council, even though expanded, will still remain a closed circle, adding that no wonder some of the P5 are happy to expand this club, primarily to protect what he termed as &ldquo;their own outdated status in today&rsquo;s Council.&rdquo; The Pakistan UN Ambassador suggested a proposal of a meaningful increase in the number of elected, non-permanent members to balance the unequal power of the P5 as part of efforts to make the Security Council more democratic, accountable and representative. He said that this shift in the internal balance of an expanded Council in favour of the wider UN membership will enhance transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in the Council&rsquo;s decision-making process. Referring to Africa&rsquo;s demand for permanent seats in the reformed Council, Ambassador Ahmad explained that Pakistan fully respected and understood the demand, stating that advanced on behalf of and for the entire region, this demand was fundamentally different from other proposals that are divisive as they seek permanent membership for individual States. Addressing proposals for longer-term fixed regional seats, he acknowledged the Co-Chairs&rsquo; efforts to bridge differences and explore middle-ground solutions.&nbsp; He noted that such ideas implicitly recognize the lack of feasibility surrounding the creation of new permanent members and instead point toward models based on longer-term elected seats, re-election, and regional rotation. &#39;Reform for All &ndash; Privilege for None&#39; While describing these ideas as constructive and worthy of consideration, he stressed that any arrangement must avoid evolving into de-facto permanence. Reform, he emphasized, must not result in expanded exclusivity or privilege. In this context, Pakistan reiterated its longstanding position that expansion of the veto is neither desirable nor feasible. The ambassador stated that any viable reform model must ensure genuine rotation and equitable regional representation.&nbsp; This, he said, can only be achieved through a reasonable expansion in elected, non-permanent seats &mdash; including longer-term and regular two-year terms &mdash; particularly to address the under-representation of certain regions. He further stressed the importance of accommodating sub-regional and cross-regional groupings, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), consistent with commitments outlined in the Pact for the Future. Concluding his statement, the ambassador reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s readiness to engage constructively and in a spirit of flexibility with the Co-Chairs and all Member States to advance genuine reform. He reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s guiding principle:&nbsp;&ldquo;Reform for All &ndash; Privilege for None.&rdquo;

Pakistan told the UN IGN debate Security Council reform must avoid new permanent seats or veto expansion, urging more elected members, genuine rotation, regional equity, and inclusivity.

'Reform for All – Privilege for None': Pakistan outlines vision for UN Security Council reform

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, addressed the UN Security Council on Thursday, declaring that there is &quot;no military solution to the conflict in Sudan&quot; and asserting that meaningful dialogue remains the only viable path forward. Ambassador Jadoon warned that the crisis is currently deteriorating &quot;at an alarming pace,&quot; citing the expansion of hostilities into Kordofan following the humanitarian catastrophe in El Fasher.&nbsp; To address the instability, he emphasized the need for coherence among international political initiatives.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024717729471582468&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0889d6deeb65e66808aa7a3fe8acf59016a1fb50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2024717729471582468"></iframe></div></div>He stated that efforts from the African Union, the United Nations, and regional partners must be &quot;mutually reinforcing&quot; to help secure a humanitarian truce that can eventually evolve into a ceasefire. The ambassador expressed Pakistan&#39;s support for the peace plan presented by the transitional Sudanese government and welcomed recent communiqu&eacute;s from the African Union.&nbsp; However, he remained vocal regarding the escalating violence, strongly condemning atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur and Kordofan.&nbsp; Jadoon warned that deliberate attacks against civilians, peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers are unacceptable and &quot;may amount to war crimes&quot;.&nbsp; He noted that the civilian population is paying the heaviest price, facing sieges and the use of &quot;increasingly sophisticated weaponry&quot;. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s principled position, Jadoon reiterated unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Sudan. He stressed that a unified Sudan is essential for the stability of the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and the Red Sea region. Regarding the humanitarian crisis, Jadoon called for &quot;sustained, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access,&quot; noting that coordination with the Sudanese government is &quot;indispensable&quot; for effective aid delivery.&nbsp; He urged an urgent scaling-up of international funding for the response. In closing, Jadoon insisted that the &quot;guns must fall silent&quot; to restore a credible political horizon for a stable Sudan.

Pakistan's ambassador expresses the country's support for the peace plan presented by the transitional Sudanese government and welcomed recent communiqués from the African Union. 

Pakistan urges political path to peace in Sudan at UNSC 

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that Pakistan remains under an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement and that an IMF staff team is expected to visit the country starting Feb. 25. Speaking at a press briefing in Washington on Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/foreign-investors-return-to-pakistan-as-sovereign-bond-inflows-surge" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">IMF</a>&nbsp;Communications Director Julie Kozack said the visit will be for discussions on the Third Review under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/fitch-reaffirms-pakistans-b-credit-rating-removes-review-status" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">EFF</a>and the Second Review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 667px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024536716728832035&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b20dfaf377288055659d21dac844e09f45427c2a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Kozack said Pakistan&rsquo;s policy efforts under the EFF have helped stabilize the economy and rebuild confidence. She said fiscal performance has been strong, noting that Pakistan currently has a primary fiscal surplus of 1.3% of GDP in fiscal year 2025, which is in line with program targets. Headline inflation has been relatively contained, she added. Kozack also said Pakistan posted its first current account surplus in 14 years in fiscal year 2025. She further noted that the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Report was recently published and includes proposals for reforms, including simplifying tax policy design, leveling the playing field for public procurement, and improving asset declaration transparency.

Woman walks past International Monetary Fund headquarters (IMF) building in Washington, DC. (File/MANDEL NGAN/AFP)

Economy

Speaking at a press briefing in Washington on Thursday, IMF Communications Director Julie Kozack said the visit will be for discussions on the Third Review under the EFF and the Second Review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

Pakistan's policy efforts have helped stabilize economy: IMF  

ISLAMABAD: Sahibzada Farhan&#39;s unbeaten century powered Pakistan to 199 for three against Namibia on Wednesday, setting a towering target of 200 in a must-win T20 World Cup group match at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Farhan, opening the batting, defied a knee scare midway through his innings to finish on 100 not out off 58 balls &mdash; the first century for Pakistan in this World Cup.&nbsp; His knock, featuring 11 fours and four sixes, spanned all 20 overs and anchored an innings that threatened to stall before exploding in the final stages. Slow start, explosive finish Pakistan was measured through the powerplay, reaching 47 for one at the six-over mark &mdash; cautious but not catastrophic. Saim Ayub fell for 14, caught behind off Jack Brassell&#39;s wide, angled delivery. Captain Salman Agha provided the spark with a 38 off 23, but was also dismissed by Brassell. Khawaja Nafay, promoted ahead of Babar Azam, lasted just five balls before holing out to Erasmus. Pakistan reached the midpoint at 85 for one and needed to shift gears. They did. The finishing blitz Shadab Khan joined Farhan at the crease and the pair put on 81 for the fourth wicket. Shadab scored 36 not out off 22, clubbing consecutive sixes off Gerhard Erasmus in the penultimate over as Pakistan plundered 37 runs from the final three overs. Farhan reached his century off the second-last ball of the innings with a nudge to long off, before misreading the final delivery and falling just short of 200. Jack Brassell was Namibia&#39;s best with two for 48, while Erasmus claimed one for 25. High stakes&nbsp; Pakistan needs this victory &mdash; or a washout &mdash; to reach the Super Eight stage, having lost the previous match. A Namibian win would send the United States through instead, eliminating Pakistan from a second consecutive T20 World Cup at the group stage. Meanwhile, Namibia started off the second innings steadily. The African nation reached 16 without loss after 2.2 overs, with Louren Steenkamp and Jan Frylinck unbeaten at the interval.

Pakistan vs Namibia toss at T20 World Cup

The match is crucial for Pakistan’s hopes of advancing to the Super Eights stage. A win — or even a washout due to rain — will be enough to see Pakistan through to the next round. However, a defeat would result in their elimination from the tournament.

T20 World Cup: Farhan’s century powers Pakistan to 199 against Namibia

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, on Tuesday met Russia&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan, Albert P. Khorev, to discuss security threats posed by armed groups based in Afghanistan.&nbsp;In a post on X, Sadiq said the two sides reviewed matters of mutual interest, including regional security dynamics and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/afghan-clerics-forbid-use-of-soil-for-crossborder-terrorism" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">cross-border terrorism</a>. He noted that coordinated diplomatic efforts were also discussed to address shared security concerns stemming from militant activity in Afghanistan.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 744px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2023654317803393210&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=c4aff7d45fa999c492b8c3fc05352fa678a38b55&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The meeting comes amid a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-warns-ttp-emerging-as-significant-regional-threat-from-afghan-soil" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">rise in terrorism in Pakistan</a>. Islamabad has repeatedly alleged that groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate from Afghan territory &mdash; an allegation the Afghan Taliban authorities have denied.&nbsp;International organizations have similarly warned about the presence of various extremist and militant outfits in Afghanistan, cautioning that their activities could threaten regional stability.&nbsp;Earlier, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said numerous international militant groups remain active in Afghanistan, raising the risk of security challenges spreading to neighboring states, including Russia and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq meets Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev in Islamabad on Feb. 17, 2026, to discuss regional security, cross-border terrorism and threats from groups based in Afghanistan. (Photo: X/@Ambassa

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan says coordinated diplomatic efforts were also discussed to address shared security concerns stemming from militant activity in Afghanistan.

Pakistan, Russia discuss security threats from Afghanistan-based groups

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Austria on Sunday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;Upon arrival at Vienna International Airport, the prime minister was presented with a guard of honor.&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch are also part of the visiting delegation, the Foreign Office reported.&nbsp;Bilateral talks and business engagementDuring the visit, the prime minister will hold bilateral and delegation-level talks with his Austrian counterpart, in which &quot;both leaders will conduct a detailed review of all aspects of Pakistan-Austria relations,&quot; the foreign office statement said.&nbsp;The two leaders will also jointly chair a meeting of prominent business figures.&nbsp;The prime minister is further scheduled to address the Pakistan-Austria Business Forum.&nbsp;UN engagement in ViennaSharif will participate in and address a special event under the United Nations in Vienna on the theme &ldquo;Sustainable Development: The Path to Global Peace and Prosperity.&rdquo;&nbsp;He is also scheduled to meet the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during his visit.

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Vienna on a two-day official visit, at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, to discuss Pakistan-Austria bilateral relations and to address a UN special ceremony.

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