Page 23 - Pakistan

Pakistan to brief UN Security Council on latest regional developments

Pakistan has decided to brief the UN Security Council on the latest regional developments in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the foreign office said on Sunday. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar directed Pakistan's UN Permanent Representative, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, to take immediate steps to convene a meeting of the Security Council, the statement said. The decision comes amid tensions between Pakistan and India following the Pahalgam terror attack. Terrorists killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, in the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. "Pakistan will inform the UNSC about India's aggressive actions, provocations, and provocative statements, the foreign office said. Pakistan will specifically highlight India's illegal actions to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, it said, adding that the country would clarify how New Delhi's actions are jeopardising peace and security in the region. This important diplomatic move is part of

BSF to get 16 new battalions, 2 field HQs for Pakistan, Bangladesh borders

The Border Security Force is all set to get the government's final nod to raise 16 more battalions, comprising around 17,000 troopers, and set up two forward headquarters for its western and eastern commands guarding the Pakistan and Bangladesh frontiers, respectively, official sources have said. The plan has already received an in-principle approval. Once sanctioned, it will be a shot in the arm for the force that has heightened vigil in the east following last year's fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh and in the wake of a renewed challenge on the Pakistan front after the April 22 Pahalgam massacre. The BSF is soon expected to get the final sanction for raising 16 new battalions which will be raised over the next few years, sources in the security establishment told PTI. Some final approvals including sanction from the Union finance ministry are pending and are expected to be granted soon, they said. The paramilitary force has 193 battalions as of now to guard the

Pahalgam attack: Pakistan shuts ports for Indian ships in tit-for-tat move

In a directive issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Indian flag carriers would no longer be permitted at any Pakistani port

CRPF dismisses jawan who married Pak woman without intimation

The Central Reserve Police Force has dismissed from service its jawan Munir Ahmed for "concealing" his marriage with a Pakistani woman as his action was found to be detrimental to national security, official sources said Saturday. The jawan was last posted with the 41st battalion of paramilitary CRPF, the lead internal security force of the country. He was "dismissed from service" under the rules that do not require conducting an enquiry, official sources told PTI. "Munir Ahmed has been dismissed from service with immediate effect for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national and knowingly harbouring her beyond the validity of her visa. "His actions were found to be in violation of service conduct and detrimental to national security," CRPF spokesperson Deputy Inspector General (DIG) M Dhinakaran said. Ahmed's marriage with Menal Khan came to light after India asked Pakistani nationals to leave the country as part of diplomatic measures taken in the wake of the Pahalgam ...

Death toll from oil tanker blast in Pak's Balochistan rises to eight

The death toll from a deadly oil tanker explosion in the Noshki area of the Balochistan province has risen to eight after five victims died during treatment at a private hospital in Karachi. At least one person was killed and 40 others injured when a parked oil tanker caught fire and exploded in Noshki on April 28. The Balochistan government had 24 critically wounded patients airlifted to Karachi on April 29 via Edhi Air Ambulance for specialised treatment in Karachi. A spokesperson for Edhi trust said on Friday night and Saturday morning five more victims had died. The driver was killed in the explosion while two others had died earlier this week at another private hospital for burns victims in Karachi, he said. Seventeen other patients remain under treatment in private hospitals across Karachi, according to the spokesperson, some of them are still in critical condition with 80 per cent burns. Local authorities are continuing investigations into the cause of the fire, which ...

Pak Ranger apprehended by BSF from international border in Rajasthan

A Pakistani Ranger has been apprehended by the BSF from along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan, official sources said on Saturday. The development comes nearly a fortnight after a Border Security Force jawan was apprehended by the Rangers amid rising tension between the two countries in the wake of the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. The Pakistani Ranger has been taken into custody by the Rajasthan frontier of the force, they said. BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw was apprehended by the Rangers on April 23 from along this international border in Punjab and they have refused to hand him over despite a strong protest registered by the Indian force.

Pak goods worth $500 mn likely entering India via third countries: Official

Goods like dry fruits and chemicals worth USD 500 million are believed to be entering India through third countries including the UAE, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, an official said. According to the official, it is said that a substantial proportion of USD 500 million exports from Pakistan which were earlier directly exported to India are now being rerouted through other countries. While Pakistani fruits, dry dates, leather, and textiles are repackaged and relabeled in the UAE for exports to India, chemicals are likely to be routed through Singapore. Similarly, Indonesia is being used as a transit route for Pakistani cement, soda ash, and textile raw materials. From Sri Lanka, it is expected that Pakistani dried fruits, salt, and leather goods were being shipped to India. Since there is a possibility of some of the USD 500 million exports now being routed to India through other countries, it is necessary to put a complete ban on exports from Pakistan to India (direct or ...

Islamabad calls India's IMF loan review push 'politically motivated'

Ahead of IMF's crucial review meeting next week, Pakistan has termed India's announcement that it will request the global lender to review Islamabad's financial support programme as politically motivated after the Pahalgam terror attack. The Express Tribune said Saturday quoting officials that India's attempt to involve the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an extension of its political campaign to isolate Pakistan diplomatically. The IMF Executive Board is scheduled to meet Pakistan officials on May 9 for the first review of the Extended Funding Facility (EFF), and request for an arrangement under the resilience and sustainability facility. India on Friday said it will be asking global multilateral agencies, including the IMF, to have a relook at funds and loans provided to Pakistan, as New Delhi seeks to corner the neighbouring state diplomatically following the dastardly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam which killed 26 tourists. The Express Tribune said officials argue that

Pakistan test-fires Abdali missile amid tensions over Pahalgam attack

Pakistan on Saturday announced that it has conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 km, amid heightened tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack. The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features, the army said in a statement. The army said the missile launch was part of Exercise INDUS without giving details about the exercise. The training launch was witnessed by the Commander Army Strategic Forces Command, senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division, Army Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan's strategic organisations. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and services chiefs extended their congratulations to the participating troops, scientists, and engineers. They expressed ..

Pakistan losing Rs 3.4 trn due to misuse of Afghan Transit Trade facility

Pakistan is losing Rs 3.4 trillion, including a nearly 30 per cent loss because of misuse of the Afghan Transit Trade facility due to illicit trade, according to a report. The losses estimated by the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) in its report titled "Combatting Illicit Trade in Pakistan" are equal to 26 per cent of this fiscal year's annual tax target, reported The Express Tribune newspaper. The report estimates an annual tax revenue loss of Rs 3.4 trillion on account of an estimated USD 123 billion informal economy, according to the report released on Thursday. It underlined that the illicit trade has emerged as a critical challenge for Pakistan's economy, undermining formal businesses, eroding government revenues, and jeopardising consumer safety. From smuggled petroleum and counterfeit pharmaceuticals to non-tax-paid cigarettes and under-invoiced consumer goods, illicit trade has entrenched itself across key sectors, it added. The country's intelligence a

India to flag Pak's terror role with global lenders after Pahalgam attack

India to raise objections at IMF board over Pakistan's loan and alert other global lenders, citing cross-border terror links after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26

Tie up with China, occupy North East if India hits Pak: B'desh ex-general

A former Bangladeshi army officer close to Chief Adviser Yunus urged Dhaka to ally with China and occupy India's Northeast if New Delhi attacks Pakistan in the wake of Pahalgam attack

Pak to issue formal notice to India over suspension of Indus Waters Treaty

Pakistan is planning to issue a formal diplomatic notice to India against its unilateral move to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, a media report said Friday. The decision was made after initial consultations between Pakistan's ministries of Foreign Affairs, Law, and Water Resources, reported the Express News. Quoting sources, the newspaper said emergency legal and constitutional consultations were held in response to India's unilateral move, and preliminary groundwork has been completed after which it has been decided to formally serve a diplomatic notice to India over the suspension of the treaty. Ties plummeted between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. India, among other punitive actions, announced to suspend the key water accord, signed in 1960, which governs water sharing between the two countries. Officials confirmed that the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Water Resources, and Law have coordinated to finalise the process, a

India asks IMF to review loans to Pakistan, Indian govt source says

India suspended a critical river water sharing treaty and the two countries have closed their airspace to each other's airlines

Pakistan to allow stranded citizens in India to return via Wagah border

Pakistan on Friday announced that it would continue to allow the use of the Wagah border crossing for its citizens stranded in India, following New Delhi's decision to revoke visas in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror incident. The Attari-Wagah border, located near Amritsar in India and Lahore in Pakistan, was shut on Thursday after being kept open till April 30. As many as 70 Pakistani nationals were reportedly stranded at the border on Thursday, as the deadline for leaving India expired a day earlier. Responding to media queries, the spokesperson for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) acknowledged reports of Pakistani nationals, including children, stranded at the Attari border on the Indian side. "We are aware of the media reports indicating that some Pakistani nationals are stranded at Attari. We are open to receiving our citizens in case the Indian authorities allow them to cross the border from their side, the MoFA spokesperson said. The Wagah border would rema

Support India's right to defend itself, says US Defence Secy Pete Hegseth

Hegseth, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, reiterated "full support" from the United States (US) government in India's fight against terrorism

Pak PM, President meet amid India tension, vow 'befitting' response

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met on Thursday to discuss the security situation and vowed to respond to "any act of aggression in a befitting manner. The two met for the first time as tensions rose between India and Pakistan after terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. According to an official statement, they said that Pakistan would never compromise on its territorial integrity and sovereignty and would respond to any act of aggression in a befitting manner. Pakistani nation is united and stands behind its armed forces, who are capable of responding to any threat or aggression, the leaders said. Separately, Sharif also had a telephonic conversation with the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Radio Pakistan reported. During the conversation, he reiterated his offer of cooperation for a "transparent" investigation into the terror attack. A day after the attack, India announced

Starlink's Pakistan, Bangladesh operations under scrutiny in India

The SpaceX subsidiary has been awaiting govt approval to enter the India market

India shuts airspace; 6 weekly flights of Pakistan airlines to be impacted

Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers after New Delhi blamed it for Pahalgam terror attack

Pakistan appoints ISI chief Lt Gen Malik as new National Security Adviser

Pakistan has appointed spy chief Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) amidst raging tension with India. Malik was appointed as the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in October 2024. According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday, General Malik was formally given the task of the NSA. Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik HI (M), DG (I), shall hold the additional charge of the National Security Adviser, with immediate effect, the notification stated. He is the country's tenth NSA, but it is for the first time that a serving ISI chief was given the task to serve concurrently in the two key positions. The posting comes amid heightened tensions with India following the recent Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. The NSA position had remained vacant since April 2022, when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was ousted. Dr Moeed Yusuf was serving as the NSA at that time.