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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet on Saturday against eight accused, including Pakistani gangster-turned-terrorist Shehzad Bhatti, in connection with the IED car bomb blast in the parking area of Ambala's Baldev Nagar police station in Haryana this January. Besides the Pakistani national and handler Bhatti, other Indian nationals named in the chargesheet filed before the Special NIA Court in Panchkula (Haryana) are Karamjit Singh alias Tony, Akash, Soureb alias Sobi alias Sourab, Raman Kumar, Satyam, Sukhdev Singh alias Sukha, Amarjeet Singh alias Ambi, a statement issued by the NIA said. The anti-terror agency detailed the roles of the accused and the conspiracy orchestrated by Bhatti to attack Baldev Nagar police station in Ambala, Haryana, aiming to spread terror among the people by targeting police establishments. The Pakistani terrorist, wanted in other terrorist cases too, had established operational modules in India and assigned local operatives to
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate talks with the leaders of Iran and Qatar in an effort to revive the stalled US-Iran negotiations. The talks were held on Friday night as efforts picked up pace to mend the broken peace bridge between the warring sides after the recent escalation and attacks on the rival targets. In his conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Sharif expressed "deep concern over the recent escalation in tensions in the region" and underscored the urgent need to "restore regional peace and stability," according to a statement by the PM Office. He urged parties to "exercise restraint and refrain from any action that could jeopardise the hard-earned peace gains achieved over the past few months". Sharif stressed the importance of upholding the commitments undertaken under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing it as an enduring framework for promoting mutual understanding, respect and shared prosperity in the region and ...
Dismissing any comparison between India and Pakistan on mediating in the West Asia conflict, India's envoy to China Vikram Doraiswami on Saturday said countries should decide for themselves whether doing so serves their interests. "I think the comparison, if I might be a little direct, with Pakistan, is a little... a little unfair. I think the economy in the two countries will tell you a lot," he said, responding to a question by a Chinese journalist about India's role in global leadership and Islamabad's attempts to mediate in the Iran-US conflict Doriaswami was speaking at the World Peace Forum here organised by China Tsinghua University. "We should look at countries according to what they are and what they are actually doing in the larger global system, " he said, adding that "India's integration with the globe is at a level not matched by most countries". "This includes the idea of economic integration with European countries, with Asian countries, our willingness to contribute
Pakistan on Thursday said its mediators, along with Qatar, concluded separate meetings with the US and Iranian negotiators in Doha and reported "positive progress" on various aspects of the MoU, with the two sides agreeing to further discussions. The US and Iran signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 18, aimed at restoring peace in West Asia. It was followed by technical-level talks in Switzerland on June 21, with Pakistan and Qatar as mediators. "Qatari and Pakistani mediators concluded separate meetings with the US and Iranian negotiators in Doha today (Thursday), with positive progress made on issues related to the aspects of the Islamabad MOU, building on the Lake Lucerne Summit," the Foreign Office said. Though the next date of talks was not announced, it was decided to continue discussions after the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "Parties have agreed to continue discussions over the coming period, with the next meeting to be set
India on Sunday forcefully dismissed Pakistan's allegations of an Indian link to an attack on a military base in Karachi that left four paramilitary personnel dead, saying the neighbouring country should look inwards and take credible action against terror infrastructure on its soil. Reports from Islamabad said Pakistani security forces killed six terrorists and captured another alive after foiling a brazen attack by militants on a Sindh Rangers compound in Karachi on Saturday night. The attack left four paramilitary personnel dead and marked the city's first major terrorist strike since October 2024. Certain elements in the Pakistani establishment alleged an Indian link to the attack. "We have seen Pakistani reports making baseless allegations against India regarding the recent incident in Karachi," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. "We categorically reject them. Instead of pointing fingers at others, Pakistan would do better to look inwards, take credib
At least three paramilitary soldiers were killed on Saturday after terrorists attacked a Pakistan Rangers headquarters in Karachi's heavily populated Gulistan-e-Jauhar area, police said. Initial investigations suggest the terrorists arrived in a vehicle and entered the compound by ramming the main gate, said Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho, adding that more information is being collected. Rangers personnel responded rapidly but three of them were killed in the attack, he said. Odho said an explosion had been heard when the attack began; however, its cause has not been determined yet. "What is confirmed is that as soon as the attack took place, the Rangers personnel immediately took positions and engaged these attackers in a gun battle," he said. The area was cordoned off and surrounding roads also closed. Sindh Home Minister Zia ul Hasan Lanjhar said Special Security Unit commandos and the Anti-Terrorist Force were helping Rangers personnel in the clean-up opera
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Pakistan has emerged as a "peacemaker" in the world after its efforts for peace in West Asia culminated in the signing of an agreement between the US and Iran. The US and Iran have agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days after talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, held in Switzerland last week. The high-level talks were held under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by the US and Iran on June 18. Addressing the passing out parade of cadets at the Pakistan Naval Academy in Karachi, Sharif said that the recent trip of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was an acknowledgement of Pakistan's important role in promoting peace in the region. Sharif said that Pakistan was navigating conflicts and multi-faceted security challenges, marked by a dangerous combination of international and internal threats. He also accused India of using "proxies" to undermine the stability
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday clarified that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the US and Iran does not contain any provision related to Tehran's ballistic missile programme. Sharif made these remarks following delegation-level talks during a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was in Pakistan for a one-day state visit. Responding to a question about Iran's nuclear and missile technology, Sharif stated that he would say "without fear of contradiction that Iran's ballistic missile program was not a subject of discussion between the US and Iran...It was not on the table." "It is not possible that others have missiles and Iran does not have them," he said. Iran's missile programme remains a major concern for Israel, which faced hundreds of missiles during the recent conflict. "Our missiles do not like at all to be talked about by anyone," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in an interview with
Two Republican senators flagged histories of Qatar and Pakistan of "harbouring terrorists" against the backdrop of US Vice President J D Vance's remarks professing "love" for Islamabad. "It should be clear to everybody by now who our friends really are. Qatar and Pakistan have long histories of harbouring terrorists, and right now they seem far more invested in propping up Iran's decades-long terror campaign than achieving a meaningful peace," Senator Rick Scott said in a post on X on Monday. The Florida senator's remarks came against the backdrop of Vance's "we love Pakistan" remark in Switzerland, where he, along with leaders from Pakistan and Qatar, were negotiating technical details of a peace deal with Iran. "There is still room for a workable agreement that benefits everyone. HOWEVER, what everybody needs to get through their heads here is that there is ZERO chance Iran comes out of this able to build a nuclear weapon," Scott said. Senator Tim Sheehy from Montana, in an ...
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and its Army Chief Asim Munir left for Switzerland early Sunday to participate in the technical-level talks between the US and Iran. As a follow-up to the signing of the Islamabad MoU, technical-level talks will be held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, on Sunday, according to the prime minister's office. "The prime minister, along with a high-level delegation, has departed from Islamabad for Switzerland," the PMO said in its statement issued after midnight. It added that Prime Minister Sharif and Field Marshal Munir will participate in these talks. Earlier, Pakistan had announced that the talks would be held in Switzerland after they were postponed on Friday. The talks are aimed at adding key details to the preliminary accord to halt the nearly four-month war between the US and Iran signed earlier this week by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. US Vice President J D Vance was initially supposed to hold a first rou
Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday reached Iran unannounced the first visit to the country by any senior Pakistani official after Washington and Tehran signed an agreement aimed at restoring peace in West Asia. Naqvi reached Mashhad in Iran on Saturday, reported Geo News, without disclosing further details. Later, Iranian media reported that Naqvi was on his way to the capital city, Tehran, to hold talks with senior Iranian officials. According to the state-owned IRNA news agency, Naqvi, during his visit, will "monitor the ongoing negotiations" between Iran and the US. The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) this week, which led to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and marked the beginning of a 60-day negotiation window aimed at restoring peace in West Asia. Pakistan - the key mediator in the negotiations - is also a signatory to the memorandum as a guarantor. No official announcement was made in Islamabad about Naqvi's trip, but it is .
Pakistan says that the deal to end the war in Iran is taking immediate effect' after both sides have signed it, but that there will still be a formal signing ceremony on Friday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said leaders of both the US and Iran had signed the agreement and endorsed him as a mediator. He said in a post on X that the deal "shall enter into force with immediate effect and as a first step, Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade." Sharif said that Pakistan and co-mediator Qatar will still host an official signing ceremony on Friday in Switzerland. His post came shortly after President Donald Trump said he'd signed the agreement during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles.
A court here sent a man accused of spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies to five-day police custody on Wednesday, officials said. The accused, Mustaq Ali (26), was produced before the court of Special Judicial Magistrate, Jaipur Metropolitan-I, by the CID (Intelligence), following his arrest on Tuesday, Special Public Prosecutor Sudesh Satwan told reporters. The court sent Ali to police custody till June 22. The CID (Intelligence) had sought his seven-day remand for interrogation, he said. Satwan said the agency has been maintaining strict surveillance on espionage activities allegedly being operated from across the border. He said Ali, a resident of Higoala ki Dhani in Jaisalmer district, had come on the agency's radar due to his activities. According to police, preliminary investigation revealed that Ali had been in contact with handlers of Pakistani intelligence agencies through social media for the past two years. During questioning and an examination of his mobile phone
Pakistan's prime minister said Friday the United States and Iran have agreed to wording of an agreement aimed at ending their war in the Middle East and that mediators were working with both sides to finalize a deal. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the U.S. and Iran have reached a "final, agreed upon text." He said Pakistan, which has taken the lead in mediation efforts, was working with the warring countries on next steps. "Peace has never been this close as it is now," Sharif said in a post on X. The apparent breakthrough in negotiations comes after Iran exchanged fire with the U.S. and Israel over three days this week, threatening to return the Middle East to full-scale war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday an agreement "has never been closer" in a post on X. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said multiple times in recent weeks the countries are on the cusp of a deal, shared Araghchi's post on his own social media. The war launched by the U.S. and Israe
Poverty in Pakistan increased by 7 per cent over the last six years, with about 27 million joining the unenviable league, pushing the net tally of poor in the country to 70 million, according to the national economic survey. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26, a key national document, was launched on Thursday as part of an annual exercise to share economic indicators before unveiling of the federal budget. The survey shows that poverty was at 21.9 per cent in 2018-19 and increased to 28.9 per cent in 2024-25. Rural poverty rose from 28.2 to 36.2 per cent, while urban poverty surged from 11 to 17.4 per cent, according to the survey. The province-wise data shows an increase in poverty across all regions. In the Punjab province, it rose from 16.5 to 23.3 per cent; in Sindh, from 24.5 to 32.6 per cent; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw a rise from 28.7 to 35.3 per cent; and Balochistan from 41.8 to 47 per cent. Balochistan remained on top, recording the highest poverty incidence, while Punjab