Page 14 - Pakistan

13 security personnel killed in suicide bombing in Pak's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At least 13 security personnel were killed and 24 others injured in a suicide attack on Saturday in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, security sources said. A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle belonging to the Bomb Disposal Unit early this morning in Khaddi area of North Waziristan district, the sources added. Among the 24 injured are 14 civilians, including women and children, with several said to be in critical condition. A curfew was imposed in the area at the time of the incident due to ongoing military movement, the sources said. Security agencies launched a rescue operation following the explosion. The militant group Usud al-Harb, a sub-faction of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, has claimed responsibility for the attack, they added. This incident is being described as one of the deadliest in North Waziristan in recent months and has raised serious concerns about the security situation in the

US' Rubio, Pak PM acknowledge importance of working together for peace

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday acknowledged the importance of working together to promote peace and stability in the region. Rubio dialled Sharif to discuss the Middle East situation. "The two leaders acknowledged the importance of working together to promote a durable peace between Israel and Iran and maintaining regional stability," said Tammy Bruce, US State Department Spokesperson. Both leaders "agreed to continue working together to strengthen Pakistan-US relations, particularly to increase trade", said a statement released by the Pakistan government. Commenting on the current situation in the Middle East, Sharif asserted that Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role in establishing peace in the Middle East. Sharif also praised US President Trump's "courageous and decisive leadership, which led to a ceasefire between Iran and Israel." He also thanked Secretary Rubio for the key role of the United States in the Indo-Pak

DRI seizes Pak-origin goods worth ₹9 crore under 'Operation Deep Manifest'

In a significant enforcement action, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized goods worth Rs 9 crore under 'Operation Deep Manifest', targeting illegal imports of Pakistani-origin goods routed through Dubai. The operation has thus far led to the seizure of 39 containers carrying 1,115 metric tonnes of goods in blatant violation of import policy conditions and prohibitions imposed by the government on direct or indirect import or transit of Pakistani-origin goods, the finance ministry said in a statement on Thursday. One of the partners of an importing firm was arrested on Thursday, it added. Following the Pahalgam terror attacks, the government imposed a comprehensive ban, effective May 2, 2025, on the direct or indirect import or transit of goods originating in or exported from Pakistan. Previously, such goods were subject to 200 per cent customs duty. Despite these stringent measures, some importers attempt to bypass the government policy by misdeclaring the origi

Watch: Rajnath Singh exposes acts of terrorism during SCO meet

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a strong message on the need for collective action against terrorism and regional instability during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

White House puts Pak's military elite back on top with Trump-Munir meet

Munir and Pakistan's civilian leaders praised Trump for helping secure an India-Pakistan ceasefire and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, thanking him repeatedly for his role

DU panel's decision to drop PG papers on Islam, Pakistan, China sparks row

A Delhi University panel's decision to drop proposed postgraduate Political Science papers on Islam, Pakistan, and China has failed to find consensus among the members. While some called it ideological censorship, those who supported the decision termed it a step towards making the syllabus "India-centric" and free from bias. In its meeting on Wednesday, DU's Standing Committee for Academic Matters directed the removal of four elective papers -- Islam and International Relations, Pakistan and the World, China's Role in the Contemporary World, and State and Society in Pakistan. A fifth paper, Religious Nationalism and Political Violence, will be reviewed in the next meeting on July 1. Opposing the decision, committee member Professor Monami Sinha said such changes undermine critical thinking and reflect a push to dilute controversial but academically relevant content. "We argued that it is imperative to study Pakistan and China in detail. Ignoring these geopolitical realities would

Pak politicians, others ask govt to review Trump's Nobel Prize nomination

Several Pakistani politicians and notable figures have asked the government to reconsider its decision to recommend President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize after the US bombed Iran's three nuclear sites. The government, in a surprise move on Friday, announced that it would nominate Trump for the prestigious award due to his peacemaking efforts during the recent India-Pakistan conflict. A letter of recommendation, signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, has already been sent to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in Norway. But the decision came under scrutiny after the US bombed Iran's Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, joining Israel to dent Tehran's nuclear programme. The Dawn newspaper reported that some leading politicians demanded the government review its decision in light of the latest development. Veteran politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who heads the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), demanded that the government rescind its ...

Pak to hold National Security Committee meeting after US strikes on Iran

The Pakistan government will hold an emergency meeting of its top security body on Monday to discuss the regional situation after the US airstrikes on Iran's three nuclear facilities. The National Security Committee (NSC) is the highest forum for security deliberations in the country, and its meeting is chaired by the Prime Minister. The country's top civil and military leadership, including Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, are part of the committee. Sources in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) told the Dawn newspaper that the NSC meeting will be held on Monday evening. Munir, who recently returned from a trip to the US, will brief the committee on the details of his meeting with US President Donald Trump. The US strikes on Iran's three nuclear sites - Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz - came a day after Pakistan's announcement to recommend Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Pakistan condemned the US strikes in Iran. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a phone call with Iranian Pres

Pakistan condemns US strikes on Iran after nominating Trump for Nobel Peace

Islamabad called the strikes a breach of international law and warned of wider conflict, hours after praising Trump for "averting war" between India and Pakistan

Punjab Police busts Pak-linked terror module; one held, six pistols seized

Punjab Police on Saturday said it has dismantled a Pakistan-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module operated by UK-based handler Dharam Singh alias Dharma Sandhu. Police have arrested a local operative of the module and recovered six foreign-made pistols from his possession, DGP Gaurav Yadav said. The accused has been identified as Onkar Singh alias Nawab, a resident of Jalalusma village in Amritsar district. The seized weapons, smuggled via drones from across the border, include four 9 mm Glock pistols and two .30 bore pistols, the DGP said. Dharam Singh, who operated the terror module, is a close associate of Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Singh alias Rinda. Further investigation is underway to unearth the broader network of the module, the DGP said. Sharing operation details, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the arrest followed precise intelligence inputs and coordination. "During interrogation, the accused disclosed that the weapons .

Pakistan nominates Trump for 2026 Nobel Peace Prize after Munir's US visit

Islamabad praises Trump's role in defusing India-Pakistan tensions while New Delhi continues to deny third-party mediation

China, Pakistan, Bangladesh hold inaugural trilateral ministerial meet

China, Pakistan, Bangladesh have held the inaugural session of their trilateral meeting of foreign ministry officials, Beijing's new strategic initiative to promote closer ties between two estranged South Asian countries in India's immediate neighbourhood. It is the second such trilateral that China has established in India's neighbourhood after its foreign ministers' mechanism with Pakistan and Afghanistan last month. On Thursday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladeshi Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique and Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting held at the Chinese city of Kunming, capital of Southern Yunnan province. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated in the first phase of the meeting via video link, a Chinese Foreign Ministry press release said here on Friday. In his address, Sun Weidong said Bangladesh and Pakistan are both good neighbours, good friends, and good partners of China, and ...

India to organise Yoga Day events in 191 countries on Jun 21: ICCR

India will organise thematic events and programmes in 1,300 cities across the globe to mark the International Day of Yoga on Saturday, showcasing the nation's ancient tradition and soft power. The Indian High Commission in Pakistan is also organising a yoga event in Islamabad on the occasion, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the cultural arm of the Ministry of External Affairs. "On the 10th anniversary of International Day of Yoga, we will practically cover every country in the world where yoga events are being organised. In some countries like the US, we are hosting multiple events across various cities," ICCR's Director General, K Nandini Singla, was quoted as saying in a statement. The ICCR will organise various yoga events and programmes in 191 countries on June 21 to mark the IDY, with more than 2,000 events to be hosted at 1,300 locations, covering multiple cities in various nations, it said. Additionally, the ICCR

Trump expressed keen interest in trade partnership with Pakistan: Pak Army

US President Donald Trump has expressed "keen interest" in developing a "mutually beneficial" trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests, the army here said on Thursday. In a statement after a meeting between Trump and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the Pakistan Army - said they also discussed joint counterterrorism efforts. During the high-level engagement, the discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies, the ISPR said. "President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests," said the statement. In the first formal reaction by the Pakistan governme

Pakistan signs $1 bn syndicated financing deal for 5 years amid crisis

Pakistan signed a five-year long-term syndicated financing facility for USD 1 billion, indicating strong support from leading financiers amid the country's ongoing economic crisis. The Dubai Islamic Bank acted as the Sole Islamic Global Coordinator while Standard Chartered Bank is the Mandated Lead Arranger and Book-runners, a finance ministry statement said on Wednesday. Other financiers include Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank as the Mandated Lead Arranger and Sharjah Islamic Bank, Ajman Bank and HBL as Arrangers, it said. The Ministry of Finance has signed a syndicated term finance facility of USD 1,000 million partially guaranteed by a policy-based guarantee of the ADB (Asian Development Bank) programme Improved Resource Mobilisation and Utilisation Reform', said the statement. The facility is a landmark transaction for the Government of Pakistan that demonstrates strong support from leading financiers in the region. This is a five-year multi-tranche facility including both Islamic and .

Trump hosts Pak's Asim Munir after latter seeks Nobel prize for him

Pakistan's Army chief Asim Munir met with US President Donald Trump and thanked him for mediating in the conflict with India. He also called for a Nobel Prize for Trump

Terrorists blow up key gas pipeline in Pakistan's Lakki Marwat district

Unidentified terrorists on Wednesday blew up a key pipeline in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province which supplied gas to the Punjab province, according to local police. The terrorists blew up the gas pipeline in the restive Lakki Marwat district, triggering a fire and causing a massive gas leak, the district police officer's spokesperson said. They targeted the key gas pipeline from the Bettani Gas Field to Punjab, using explosives to destroy a main section of the line. Soon after the blast, security forces were dispatched to the site and cordoned off the area. Emergency teams were also mobilised to control the fire and assess the extent of the damage. Investigations are underway to identify and apprehend those involved in the attack. Officials have condemned the incident as an assault on critical national infrastructure aimed at destabilising the region and disrupting essential energy supplies. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities over the past year, especial

Bomb blast derails six coaches of Jaffar Express in Pakistan's Sindh

A bomb explosion near a railway track derailed six carriages of Jaffar Express in Sindh province of Pakistan on Wednesday. No casualties were reported in the incident involving the train plying from Peshawar to Quetta, authorities said. It is the second time in four months that the Jaffar Express was targetted. Wednesday's blast occurred near the railway track close to the cattle market in Jacobabad in the Sindh province, near the volatile province of Balochistan. The explosion caused a three-feet deep and railway track of almost six feet was damaged, according to Dunya TV. A heavy contingent of police cordoned off the area soon after. Authorities are currently investigating the nature of the blast and an inquiry is underway to determine the cause and nature of the incident. Following the explosion, train operations were temporarily suspended on the route. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast as yet, however, police sources said usually terrorist acts in Sindh prov

Bomb blast derails six coaches of Jaffar Express train in Pakistan

Six carriages of the Jaffar Express train were derailed after being hit by a bomb planted near the railway track in Pakistan on Wednesday. The mishap happened in the Jacobabad District of the Sindh province, which borders the volatile province of Balochistan. No casualties have been reported in the incident, authorities said. The blast occurred near the railway track close to the cattle market in Jacobabad, causing six bogies of the Jaffar Express to derail. Following the explosion, a heavy contingent of police cordoned off the area. Authorities are currently investigating the nature of the blast. An inquiry is underway to determine the cause and nature of the incident. Following the explosion, train operations were temporarily suspended on the route. No group has so far claimed responsibility. It is the second time in recent months that Jaffar Express was targeted after it was attacked in March in the Bolan area of Balochistan when travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. The Balo

India has more nuclear weapons than Pakistan, China far ahead: SIPRI report

A new SIPRI yearbook reveals that India now has more nuclear warheads than Pakistan. But China continues to outpace both South Asian neighbours.