Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that US military operations in Iran could conclude &ldquo;very soon,&rdquo; suggesting a possible timeline of two to three weeks.&nbsp;Speaking to reporters at the White House after signing an executive order, Trump said American forces were &ldquo;finishing the job&rdquo; in Iran.&nbsp;&ldquo;I think in two weeks, or maybe a few days longer, we&rsquo;ll do the job. We want to knock out everything they&rsquo;ve got,&rdquo; he said, referring to Iran&rsquo;s military capabilities.&nbsp;The US president reiterated earlier claims about significantly weakening Iran&rsquo;s capabilities, though he has previously offered mixed signals regarding Washington&rsquo;s objectives and timeline in the conflict.&nbsp;On economic concerns, Trump linked a potential&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-ready-to-end-middle-east-war-with-hormuz-strait-still-closed" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US withdrawal from Iran</a>&nbsp;to falling oil prices. &ldquo;All I have to do is leave Iran &ndash; and we&rsquo;ll be doing that very soon. Then prices will come tumbling down,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Addressing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route, Trump said the United States would not be responsible for ensuring its security.&nbsp;&ldquo;That&rsquo;s not for us. That&rsquo;ll be for whoever&rsquo;s using the strait,&rdquo; he told reporters, adding that countries dependent on the waterway should take responsibility.&nbsp;He also criticized US allies for not doing enough to support Washington&rsquo;s efforts in the ongoing conflict with Iran.&nbsp;The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region and continued uncertainty over the scope and duration of US military engagement.

US President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Middle East

Reiterates earlier claims about significantly weakening Iran’s capabilities, though he has previously offered mixed signals regarding Washington’s objectives and timeline in the conflict.

Trump says US may end Iran operations within ‘two to three weeks’

MIAMI: President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his disappointment with NATO allies over their refusal to send military to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and said Washington may not help them in future if asked to do so. &quot;They just weren&#39;t there,&quot; he said at an investment forum in Miami. &quot;We spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on NATO, hundreds, protecting them, and we would have always been there for them, but now, based on their actions, I guess we don&#39;t have to be, do we?&quot; &quot;Why would we be there for them if they&#39;re not there for us? They weren&#39;t there for us.&quot; Since the start of the US-Israeli offensive against Iran a month ago, Trump has repeatedly voiced frustration over Western allies&#39; lack of support and reluctance to commit forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key sea lane for Gulf oil and gas exports vulnerable to Iranian attacks. Traffic through the narrow waterway has ground to a virtual standstill, leading to a surge in global energy prices. Six key powers including Britain, France, Germany and Japan say they are ready to &quot;contribute to appropriate efforts&quot; but have not made any commitment. Trump has reserved some of his toughest criticism for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Last week, he dubbed its other members &quot;COWARDS,&quot; and declared the alliance was a &quot;paper tiger&quot; without the United States. On Thursday, he said on his Truth Social platform that the United States &quot;needs nothing from NATO.&quot; &quot;NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help with the lunatic nation, now militarily decimated, of Iran.&quot;

US President Donald Trump speaks at the FII PRIORITY Summit at the Faena Hotel on March 27, 2026 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo: AFP)

Americas

Reiterates his disappointment with NATO allies over their refusal to send military to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and said Washington may not help them in future if asked to do so.

Trump says US may not be there for NATO if needed

ISLAMABAD: The United States has expressed support for Pakistan&rsquo;s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks, as US President Donald Trump publicly praised Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership amid escalating hostilities with Afghanistan. Speaking about Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership, Trump said, &ldquo;Well, I would, but I get along with Pakistan, as you know, very well, very very well.&rdquo; &ldquo;You have a great&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-briefed-at-military-headquarters-as-pakistan-inflicts-heavy-taliban-losses" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">prime minister [Shehbaz Sharif], you have a great general</a>&nbsp;[Field Marshal Asim Munir] there, you have a great leader,&rdquo; he added.<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: 321px; 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=2027488449171730683&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4471%2F&sessionId=18939436600dbe61445e0575651a7687a21e6f5f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2027488449171730683"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;But I think two of the people that I truly respect a lot, and I think that Pakistan is doing terrifically well.&rdquo; His remarks came as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-says-297-taliban-fighters-killed-in-afghanistan-strikes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan conducted its most extensive military strikes</a>&nbsp;inside Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, targeting multiple locations, including Kabul and Kandahar, declaring a state of &ldquo;war&rdquo; following unprovoked cross-border attacks. Washington&rsquo;s position was formally conveyed by Allison Hooker, the US under secretary of state for political affairs, who said the United States &ldquo;expressed support for Pakistan&rsquo;s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks&rdquo; after talks with a Pakistani counterpart. Pakistani officials say the strikes were a defensive response to sustained aggression from Afghan soil and aimed at degrading Taliban military capabilities used to threaten Pakistan&rsquo;s security. International reactions, however, were mixed. The European Union urged restraint, with foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling on both sides to de-escalate and return to dialogue amid a sharp rise in violence. &ldquo;The EU reiterates that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries and calls on the Afghan de facto authorities to take effective action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan,&rdquo; Kallas said in a statement. Concern over the situation was echoed by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, while Britain, Norway and Azerbaijan also called for immediate de-escalation. Diplomatic efforts were launched by China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to help ease tensions, as Pakistan maintains that its actions fall within its sovereign right to self-defense against cross-border attacks.

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House for Texas in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Praises the Pakistan leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir; says he believes Pakistan is 'doing terrifically well.'

US backs Pakistan’s self-defense as Trump praises leadership amid Afghan conflict

ISLAMABAD: The United States has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East in recent days ahead of what Israeli media reports describe as &quot;preparations for a potential joint US-Israeli military campaign against Tehran.&quot;&nbsp; Israeli outlets, including The Times of Israel, cited security sources as saying the emerging plan would likely go beyond limited, symbolic strikes and instead involve coordinated American and Israeli action. Sources quoted in the reports indicated the operation could surpass the scale of the 12-day Israeli-led bombing campaign carried out last June, the operation the US later joined under the codename Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to Israeli reports, the confrontation could begin sooner than many anticipate and may be far broader in scope than previous escalations. US media echoes the sameIt is not only the Israeli media; the US media have also echoed similar reports about a potential campaign against Iran.&nbsp; CBS News was the first major American outlet to report on Wednesday that top national security officials have told President Donald&nbsp;Trump the military is ready for potential strikes on Iran as soon as Saturday. CNN also reported on Thursday that the US military has been placed on high readiness to strike Iranian targets this weekend. Still, President Trump has not yet made a final call on authorizing military action. But one source cautioned that Trump has privately argued both for and against military action and has polled advisers and allies on the best course of action, CNN said. Military buildup and strategic postureOver the past week, US military assets in the Middle East have increased. Reports indicate deployments include aircraft&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-aircraft-carrier-located-near-iran-as-washington-increases-military-pressure" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">carrier</a>&nbsp;strike groups, advanced fighter aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, and support units, a buildup described as one of the most significant in the region in years. The New York Post reported that President Trump is sending the USS Gerald R Ford, along with F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft and refuelling tankers, toward the region. The naval news outlet US Naval Institute reported that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its strike group departed the Atlantic and were heading toward the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar. BBC Verify said on Tuesday it has tracked 12 US ships in the Middle East in recent weeks, including destroyers positioned in Bahrain, the eastern Mediterranean near the Souda Bay base, and the Red Sea. Iran&#39;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday posted on X, saying, &quot;The US President constantly says that the US has sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware&quot;. &quot;However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-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=2023707826011378060&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4286%2F&sessionId=95318898e0030ebf9e8668c5941f779cfe26e718&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The USS Gerald R Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups, along with accompanying vessels, would provide both offensive and defensive capabilities if operations are authorized. CBS also reported that the Pentagon is temporarily relocating some US personnel from parts of the Middle East, primarily to Europe or back to the United States, as a precaution ahead of potential Iranian retaliation if military action proceeds. Diplomacy still in playDespite the heightened military posture, there has been no public confirmation from the White House or Pentagon of an imminent strike order. US officials&nbsp;have maintained that diplomatic engagement remains the preferred course. Indirect talks in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-us-hold-new-geneva-talks-as-khamenei-warns-of-sinking-us-warship" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Geneva</a>&nbsp;between US negotiators and Iranian representatives concluded this week, with Iranian officials saying progress was made on broad principles, though significant differences remain. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on Wednesday that there are &ldquo;many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran,&rdquo; but stressed that diplomacy remains President Trump&rsquo;s first option. &ldquo;Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration,&rdquo; she said. As of Thursday, no formal declaration of military action had been issued by Washington, and the situation remains fluid.

STOCKSHOTS: World's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (AFP)

The United States is increasing its military presence in the Middle East amid reports of a possible joint US-Israeli strike on Iran; media outlets are citing operational readiness, while President Trump has not yet officially authorized any action.

US builds up forces in Middle East as Israeli media report possible joint strike on Iran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday said the country &ldquo;confronts and eliminates the enemy openly, not from the shadows,&rdquo; while addressing the National Scholars and Sufi Saints Conference in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). &ldquo;We do not strike from the shadows; we confront and eliminate the enemy openly,&rdquo; he said, stressing that terrorism &ldquo;is not Pakistan&rsquo;s problem but India&rsquo;s.&rdquo; &ldquo;In the battle of truth, we achieved victory with the help of Allah,&rdquo; the field marshal added. Highlighting the role of religious leaders, he said the Ulema must &ldquo;keep the nation united&rdquo; and help broaden the country&rsquo;s vision. He warned that nations distancing themselves from learning risk internal division, stating: &ldquo;Any nation that abandons knowledge and the pen becomes vulnerable to discord and corruption.&rdquo; &ldquo;Honor and strength are not gained through division, but through hard work and knowledge,&rdquo; he emphasized. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also addressed the conference, echoing the field marshal&rsquo;s call for unity. In remarks shared on his official Facebook page, the prime minister said the &ldquo;entire world was astonished&rdquo; by Pakistan&rsquo;s victory over India, adding that friendly states consider it &ldquo;their own victory&rdquo; and are honoring Pakistan. &ldquo;It is our collective responsibility to defend the army that has sacrificed its blood for the defense of Pakistan and inflicted a defeat on the eternal enemy, one it will remember until the end of time,&rdquo; he said. PM Sharif said Pakistan&rsquo;s progress depends on national cohesion and continued sacrifice. &ldquo;Our elders migrated for this country and made countless sacrifices. The entire nation must stand united on national matters,&rdquo; he said. Commenting on economic recovery, he noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s economy is &ldquo;rapidly moving toward growth&rdquo; and credited joint political-military efforts with preventing bankruptcy. Warning that development and terrorism cannot be fought simultaneously, he said, &ldquo;If this country is to progress, eliminating terrorism is absolutely essential.&rdquo;

Security

In his address at the National Scholars and Sufi Saints Conference, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said that terrorism “is not Pakistan’s problem but India’s,” while emphasizing unity, knowledge, and defeating threats for national progress.

Articles tagged with "war"

Trump says US may end Iran operations within ‘two to three weeks’

Trump says US may not be there for NATO if needed

US backs Pakistan’s self-defense as Trump praises leadership amid Afghan conflict

US builds up forces in Middle East as Israeli media report possible joint strike on Iran

Pakistan confronts enemies openly, not from shadows: CDF Munir