Page 26 - Pakistan

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.

Earthquake of magnitude 4.4 jolts Pakistan, no immediate casualties

An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 struck Pakistan late on Wednesday evening, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported.The details were shared by the NCS in a post on X. The tremor occurred at 21:58:26 IST, with its epicentre located at latitude 31.08°N and longitude 68.84°E. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 50 kilometres."EQ of M: 4.4, On: 30/04/2025 21:58:26 IST, Lat: 31.08 N, Long: 68.84 E, Depth: 50 Km, Location: Pakistan."Previously, on April 12, an earthquake of magnitude 5.8 on the Richter Scale jolted Pakistan on Saturday, a statement by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said.As per the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km, making it susceptible to aftershocks.In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 5.3, On: 12/04/2025 13:00:55 IST, Lat: 33.70 N, Long: 72.43 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Pakistan."Pakistan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major faults. As a result, earthquakes in Pakistan ...

PSX plunges 3,500 points due to increasing risk of showdown with India

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) plunged by more than 3,500 points on Wednesday as uncertainty took hold due to increasing risk of a showdown with India. Information Minister Atta Tarar said that India was planning military action against Pakistan in 26 to 36 hours, spreading panic in the market. The market maintained a downward trend throughout the day and finally the index closed at 111,326.57, down by 3,545.61 or 3.09 per cent, from the last close of 114,872.18, according to the data provided by the PSX. Analysts attributed the plunge to the uncertain security situation after the Pahalgam terrorist attack of April 22 that killed at least 26 people. The Dawn newspaper reported that Mohammed Sohail, chief executive of Topline Securities, attributed the decline to news of a likely attack in the next few days. Awais Ashraf, director research at AKD Securities, said, Investors are worried about potential Indian military action against Pakistan, concerns that have intensified follow

PM Modi to skip Russia's Victory Day parade amid tensions with Pakistan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will skip Russia's Victory Day celebrations, likely due to security concerns after the Pahalgam attack

Ten terrorists killed in Balochistan by Pakistan's security forces

Pakistan's security forces have killed 10 terrorists in two separate incidents in the country's restive Balochistan province, authorities said. The terrorists were killed in the Kech and Ziarat districts during a fresh crackdown against militant elements in the province. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists were killed during separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the districts. The operation was launched based on intelligence about the presence of militants in the area. As per details, three terrorists were killed during an operation near Turbat in Kech district. The operation was launched based on intelligence about the presence of militants in the area. The ISPR said in a statement that a heavy exchange of fire took place between security forces and armed terrorists. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who the ISPR said were involved in numerous attacks against security forces and the killing of civilians

Trump's family-backed crypto firm courts Pakistan: What's in it for both?

World Liberty Financial, owned by Trump family, partners with Pakistan Crypto Council to boost blockchain adoption and DeFi integration

'In touch with India, Pakistan', says US official on Pahalgam terror attack

The US State Department spokesperson sidestepped a reporter's question about a Pakistani minister's claim that his country carried out 'dirty work' on behalf of the US and the UK

Follow party stance on Pahalgam or face action: Congress warns leaders

The Congress has issued a directive to its leaders, urging them to align all public communication with CWC's resolution, which condemned the Pahalgam attack and called for unity and enhanced security