Page 20 - Pakistan

Pakistan: An economy on life support, strained by debt and weak reforms

Faces shaky recovery amid renewed tensions with India, surging debt, IMF dependence, weak reforms, and chronic structural and governance failures. SHIKHA CHATURVEDI & JAYANT PANKAJ explain

Why the Indus river system is truly Pakistan's economic 'jugular vein'

With India keeping the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, Pakistan's agricultural sector, the backbone of its economy, faces uncertainty. SANJEEB MUKHERJEE analyses

India-Pakistan LIVE: Will hold talks with Pakistan DGMO at 12 noon on Monday, says Lt Gen Ghai

Operation Sindoor highlights: India and Pakistan reached an understanding on the stoppage of firing and military action with effect from 5 pm on Saturday; catch all live updates here

India won't compromise on terrorism; has capacity to wipe out Pak: Shinde

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said India has a zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and possesses the capacity to wipe out Pakistan from the world map. His remarks come a day after India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a strong message to Pakistan that there is zero tolerance against terrorism. India will not tolerate any compromise on terrorism," Shinde told reporters. India has got strength to deal with external threats, he said. "India holds the capacity to obliterate Pakistan from the world map. It should learn from India's firm stance," Shinde added. Pakistan should engage with India by taking into consideration its own limitations, the deputy CM said.

Operation Sindoor Highlights: Pakistan breached understanding reached earlier today, says MEA

Operation Sindoor Highlights: India and Pakistan reached an understanding on stoppage of firing and military action with effect from 5 pm on Saturday

India, Pakistan agree on stoppage of firing, military action: S Jaishankar

The suspension of Indus Water Treaty will continue. There is no decision to hold talks on any other issue at any other place

Why India abstained on IMF's $2.3 billion loan package for Pakistan

India abstained from voting on the IMF executive board's approval of two loan proposals worth $2.3 billion for Pakistan, officially recording its objections without casting a dissenting vote

NOTAM issued as India closes 32 airports, restricts airspace till May 15

India suspends civilian flights at 32 airports amid rising tensions with Pakistan; NOTAM issued to restrict airspace and alert pilots of changes through 15 May

India-Pak tensions: Here's how to activate emergency alerts on your phone

As tensions rise between India and Pakistan, authorities urge citizens to enable government emergency alerts on iPhone and Android devices for critical updates during national security threats

Afghan defence ministry rejects Pak claims about Indian missile strikes

Afghanistan and India reject Pakistan's claims of Indian missile strikes on Afghan territory, calling them baseless and part of a broader misinformation campaign by Pakistani state agencies

India should take 1st step to de-escalate tensions with Pakistan: Mehbooba

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said India should embrace its leadership role in the subcontinent and take the first step to de-escalate tensions with Pakistan, as it is a moment for the country to stand tall and demonstrate that its true strength lies in its soft power and commitment to peace. Mufti's remarks came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Pakistani Army chief Asif Munir, and urged both parties to find ways to de-escalate. "Even though US Vice-President J D Vance initially said that America wouldn't intervene beyond a certain point in the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, in light of the worrying intensity of the situation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has now reached out to the Pakistani Army chief, urging de-escalation," Mufti said in a post on X. Rather than relying on "inconsistent" international support, India should take the first step to de-escalate, she said. India as the world's largest democracy and now as an emerging power/

'India's approach remains responsible': Jaishankar amid Indo-Pak tensions

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as tensions escalate; US urges de-escalation, offers support for dialogue

'Baseless': India rejects Pak's claim of destroying S-400 defence system

India denies Pakistan's claim of destroying the S-400 air defence system, calls it false and baseless. Time-stamped images, PIB Fact Check refute attack on Sirsa, Suratgarh bases

India foiled Pakistan's 'cowardly act' of targeting civilian infra: MEA

India says Pakistan deliberately attacked schools and medical centres near airbases in a cowardly act, with over 26 sites hit; Indian forces responded with precision strikes

US Secy of State Rubio dials General Munir in Pakistan, urges de-escalation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, bypassing the foreign ministry, and urged de-escalation amid rising tensions with India

Terrorist launchpad in Pakistan opposite Jammu's Akhnoor destroyed: BSF

The Border Security Force on Saturday said it has "completely destroyed" a terrorist launchpad opposite Akhnoor in Jammu in response to unprovoked firing from the other side along the International Border. The base was located at Looni in Pakistan's Sialkot district, a BSF spokesperson said. This came after Pakistan initiated "unprovoked" firing on BSF posts in Jammu sector from 9 pm on Friday. The BSF responded in a commensurate manner, causing widespread damage to the posts and assets of the Pakistan Rangers along the international boundary, the spokesperson said. The terrorist launchpad at Looni in Sialkot district, opposite Akhnoor area, was completely destroyed by the BSF. Our resolve to protect India's sovereignty is unshaken, the spokesperson said.

Govt debunks claims of Indian drone attacking Nankana Sahib in Pakistan

The government on Saturday debunked claims that India had launched a drone attack on the Nankana Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. "A video shared on social media is claiming that India has carried out a drone attack on the Nankhana Sahib gurdwara. This claim is completely fake," the PIB Fact Check Unit said. Such content was being circulated to create communal hatred in India, it said. Nankhana Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and the gurdwara is a revered shrine and pilgrimage centre for Sikhs. The government also dismissed claims that India's power grid has been rendered dysfunctional in a cyberattack by Pakistan, and that there has been a temporary closure of the Mumbai-Delhi airline route. "These claims are fake," the government said. The Airports Authority of India has extended the temporary closure of 25 segments of Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes within the Delhi and Mumbai Flight Information Regions due to operational reasons, it said.

People wake up to blast-like sounds as sirens wail across Jammu region

People across Jammu on Saturday woke up to blast-like sounds as sirens rang out in the city amid a fresh wave of suspected drone attacks by Pakistan, officials said. Artillery and mortar shelling were also reported from the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district, they said. Deafening sounds of explosions started rattling Jammu and Udhampur towns around 5 am with officials confirming a fresh wave of drone attack from across the border, triggering panic among the people. On Friday night, drones were sighted at 26 locations, ranging from Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla in the north to Gujarat's Bhuj in the south, along both the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, according to defence officials. "These included suspected armed drones posing potential threats to civilian and military targets, the officials said. The locations include Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota and Jammu in J-K, Ferozpur, Pathankot a

Pak drone attacks foiled in Punjab; three of family injured in Ferozepur

Security forces said multiple attacks by Pakistani drones in Punjab's Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, and Amritsar districts were thwarted on Friday evening as local authorities clamped a blackout upon hearing explosions. Ferozepur Senior Superintendent of Police Bhupinder Singh said a crashing projectile from the Pakistani drone destroyed by the air defense system landed at a house in Village Khai Pheme Ke, setting the structure and a car on fire. Three people -- Lakhwinder Singh, his wife Sukhwinder Kaur and his brother Monu Singh -- were injured and they were rushed to a private hospital, police said, adding that Lakhwinder's condition was stated to be critical. Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma said teams were dispatched to the village where the house was damaged and three people were injured. The attack came a day after India swiftly thwarted Pakistan's attempts to strike military sites with drones and missiles, including in Jammu and Pathankot, after foiling simi

IMF approves disbursement of $1 bn loan to Pakistan despite India's warning

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday approved the immediate disbursement of about USD 1 billion to Pakistan under the ongoing Extended Fund Facility, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction over the approval of a USD 1bn dollar instalment for Pakistan by the IMF and the failure of India's high-handed tactics against it," according to a statement issued by the PMO. It said Pakistan's economic situation has improved and the country is moving towards development.