ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistani nationals hauled heavy suitcases across the border from neighbouring Iran on Monday, recounting scenes of missile launches and travel chaos as they rushed to leave following US and Israeli strikes over the weekend. AFP journalists witnessed a steady flow of people passing through large metal gates at the remote crossing between Mirjaveh in Iran and Taftan in Pakistan&rsquo;s southwestern Balochistan province. Families, traders and pilgrims wheeled bulky luggage across the frontier&rsquo;s pedestrian route, while freight trucks lined up in long queues nearby. Powerful explosions have rocked Iran&rsquo;s capital, Tehran, since Saturday, prompting embassies from several countries to advise their citizens to leave. &ldquo;All our Pakistani brothers who were in Tehran and other cities had started to leave and were arriving at the terminal, which caused a lot of crowd pressure,&rdquo; said Ameer Muhammad, a 38-year-old trader. &ldquo;Due to the crowds, there were major transport problems.&rdquo; The Taftan crossing lies about 500 kilometres (310 miles) from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, and is one of the few official land routes between the two countries. On the Iranian side, AFP reporters saw the national flag flying at half-mast as security personnel stood guard. Irshad Ahmed, a 49-year-old pilgrim, described seeing missiles launched near his accommodation in Tehran. &ldquo;There was an army base near the hostel, and we saw many missiles being fired,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;After that, we went to the Pakistani embassy so that they could evacuate us from there. They brought us here safely.&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the killing of Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling it a &ldquo;violation&rdquo; of international law. &ldquo;It is an age-old convention that the Heads of State/Government should not be targeted,&rdquo; Sharif wrote on social media platform X. He added that the people of Pakistan stood with Iran &ldquo;in their hour of grief and sorrow&rdquo; and extended condolences on Khamenei&rsquo;s &ldquo;martyrdom.&rdquo; A teacher at the Pakistani embassy in Tehran, who identified himself as Saqib, said the situation had initially appeared manageable. &ldquo;Before we left, the situation was normal. The situation was not that bad,&rdquo; the 38-year-old said. However, he added that strikes on Saturday night forced many to reconsider. &nbsp;&ldquo;The situation became bad when attacks caused precious lives to be lost.&rdquo; As tensions continue to escalate, more Pakistanis are expected to cross through Taftan in the coming days, seeking safety amid growing regional uncertainty.

Pakistanis walk across the Taftan border as they return from Iran, in Balochistan province on March 3, 2026 amid ongoing US-Israel strikes on Iran. (AFP)

Middle East

AFP journalists witness a steady flow of people passing through large metal gates at the remote crossing between Mirjaveh in Iran and Taftan in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. Families, traders and pilgrims wheeled bulky luggage across the frontier’s pedestrian route, while freight trucks lined up in long queues nearby.

Pakistanis at remote border describe scramble to leave Iran

Reuters

MUMBAI: Britain said on Thursday it had signed a 350 million-pound ($468 million) contract to supply the Indian army with U.K.-manufactured lightweight missiles, as part of a deepening weapons and defense partnership between the two countries. The announcement came as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai, where the two leaders highlighted the potential for stronger commercial links following their months-old trade deal. In its statement on the defense deal, the British government said the new contract for Lightweight Multirole Missiles, made by Thales in Northern Ireland, would secure 700 jobs at a factory that currently produces the same weapons for Ukraine. &ldquo;The deal paves the way for a broader complex weapons partnership between the U.K. and India, currently under negotiation between the two governments,&rdquo; the statement said. Starmer has, over the past 12 months, thrown his support behind Britain&rsquo;s defense sector to spur economic growth, pledging to raise spending in line with NATO targets and focusing on winning exports, such as a recent $13.5 billion frigate contract with Norway. Britain also said on Thursday it reached a new milestone with India on a collaboration for electric-powered engines for naval ships, as both countries signed the next phase of the deal, worth an initial 250 million pounds.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left and and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the India-UK CEO Forum at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)

Asia

United Kingdom

Britain said on Thursday it had signed a 350 million-pound ($468 million) contract to supply the Indian army with U.K.-manufactured lightweight missiles, as part of a deepening weapons and defense partnership between the two countries.

Articles tagged with "missiles"

Pakistanis at remote border describe scramble to leave Iran

UK signs $468 million deal to supply India with missiles