Page 30 - Pakistan

Two Telangana men killed, 1 injured in attack by Pak national in Dubai

Two men from Telangana were killed and a third injured in an attack, allegedly by a Pakistani national shouting religious slogans in a Dubai bakery where they worked, the family members of two victims claimed on Tuesday. Ashtapu Premsagar (35) from Soan village in Nirmal district was killed with a sword on April 11, his uncle A Poshetty told PTI. The alleged incident occurred at the bakery where the victims worked. Premsagar had been employed by the bakery for the past five-six years. He last visited his family two years ago, Poshetty said. Premsagar is survived by his wife and their two children. His family members have not been informed about the tragedy, Poshetty said and urged the government to help bring his mortal remains to India. He requested the government to provide aid to Premsagar's family in view of their poor financial condition. Meanwhile, Union minister G Kishan Reddy said the name of the second deceased was Srinivas, who hailed from Nizamabad district. A third m

Waqf law: India rejects 'motivated, baseless' comments made by Pakistan

The Parliament passed the Waqf Amendment Bill in the budget session after which it was given assent by President Droupadi Murmu

Tahawwur Rana identified New Delhi for terror attack akin to 26/11: Court

A court here has noted that Mumbai terror attack mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana had identified New Delhi for attacks akin to the 26/11 strikes as part of a conspiracy that travelled beyond the geographical borders of India. Special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh noted in an order passed on April 10 that there was enough material produced by the probe agency to say that the allegations in the present case pertained to safety and security of the nation, a source said. "The material produced on record reflect that the conspiracy in question travels beyond the geographical borders of India and multiple targets in the form of various places in multiple cities in India, including the national capital, were sought to be identified," the judge is believed to have noted in the 12-page order. Thus, to reach the root of the matter and to unearth the facts which are laid in the deep-rooted conspiracy, a sustained custodial interrogation (of Rana) is required, the judge said. "He needs to be ...

Islamabad seeks Tehran's cooperation over killing of 8 Pakistanis in Iran

Islamabad has sought Tehran's "full cooperation" over the killing of eight Pakistani nationals in restive southeastern Iran, officials said on Monday. The Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement the killing happened Saturday in Mehrestan County in Sistan and Baluchistan province, about 230 kilometers (142 miles) from the Pakistan-Iran border, urging a thorough investigation. Pakistan's Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir, wrote on X that the eight were labourers and that Islamabad and Tehran were working on facilitating the repatriation of the bodies. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility. The Baluch regions across Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced an insurgency by Baluch nationalists seeking independence for more than two decades. In Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan, the Baloch Liberation Army, designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019, often targets security forces and civilians. Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on M

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari re-elected as PPP chairman for another four years

The elections were conducted according to the PPP's constitution and finalised key leadership positions for the next four years.

5.8-magnitude earthquake strikes J&K, no damage to life or property

A moderate intensity earthquake with epicentre in Pakistan struck Jammu and Kashmir at around 1 pm on Saturday, an official said. Tremors were felt in many parts of the Valley, but there were are no reports of loss of life or damage to property, he said. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred at a latitude of 33.63 degrees North and longitude of 72.46 degrees East in Pakistan at a depth of 10 kilometres, the official said.

Terrorist attack foiled at police checkpost in Pak's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A major terrorist attack on a checkpost in northwest Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has been thwarted by the police, authorities said. The attack on the checkpost in Shangla district of the province, a hilly terrain bordering Swat district, was foiled on Friday night, officials said. Inspector General of Police KPK Zulfiqar Hameed told the media, that the terrorists launched a late-night attack on the Shikolai police post in Shangla district which the police successfully repelled through timely action. The IG stated that the militants used both light and heavy weapons during the attack, but Shangla police responded with full force, compelling the terrorists to flee. An intense exchange of fire continued between both sides. Hammed affirmed that the morale of the police officers remains high and that the force is fully prepared to counter any form of terrorism. The IGP said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police are fully capable of delivering a strong and immediate response to any

Most-wanted TTP militant among 2 killed in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

One of the most wanted terrorist commanders of the Tehreek e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group was among the two militants killed during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said on Friday. The police said it challenged the bike riding terrorists on main Timergara road in Lower Dir district on Thursday after receiving intelligence about the presence of TTP fighters in the vicinity and killed two militants, including Hafeezullah alias "Kochwan". According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Hafeezullah was the most wanted TTP terrorist and was involved in major terror attacks. He carried a bounty of PKR 5 million on his head, a CTD official said. Hafeezullah's body has been confirmed, and efforts are underway to identify the other militant," the official said. The security forces have cordoned off the area and launched an operation to search for the presence of any other terrorist, he said. Hafeezullah, a trained milita

Pakistan to invite fresh bids for privatising national airline PIA

However, Islamabad's attempt to privatise PIA last year fell flat when it received only a single offer, well below the asking price of more than $300 million

Pakistan distances itself from Tahawwur Rana, says he is Canadian citizen

During a weekly press briefing, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Rana had not renewed his documentation in over 20 years and holds Canadian nationality

Extradition of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana big success of Modi govt: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday asserted that the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack key accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana is a big success of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government. Rana is expected to arrive in India from the United States very soon after the Supreme Court of that country denied his application against the decision to extradite him to India. "Tahawwur Rana's extradition is a big success of Prime Minister Modi's diplomacy," Shah said at the 'News18 Rising Bharat Summit'. The home minister said the Modi government's effort is to bring to justice those who attack India's honour, land and people. "He will be brought here to face trial and punishment. It is a big success of the Modi government," he said. Without taking its name, Shah also took a dig at the Congress, saying those who were at the helm at the time of the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 could not bring Rana to India to face the trial. Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian national, was a key

US firms eye investment in nation's untapped minerals sector: Pakistan

US companies are seeking to invest in Pakistan's largely untapped minerals sector that boasts one of the world's largest copper and gold deposits, the Pakistani government said on Wednesday. Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, conveyed that interest directly to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a meeting in Islamabad, according to a government statement. The meeting came a day after Meyer attended the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum -- an international summit aimed at attracting foreign investment in the country's mining sector. Apart from gold and copper, Pakistan is also rich in lithium used to make batteries, as well as other minerals. The summit has drawn participation from major international companies, including Canada-based Barrick Gold, as well as government officials from the United States, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, and other nations. Pakistan's massive .

Pakistan issues additional visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for Baisakhi

The Pakistani government has for the first time in 50 years issued over 6,700 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for the Baisakhi festival on April 14, an official said on Tuesday. "Under the Pakistan-India Religious Protocol Agreement 1974, up to 3,000 Sikh pilgrims are permitted to visit Pakistan for any religious festival. However, the government has issued 6,751 visas, granting 3,751 additional visas on the special request of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Evacuee Trust Property Board," ETPB Additional Secretary Saifullah Khokhar told PTI. Sikh pilgrims from India will on April 10 arrive here via Wagah Border to mark the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Khalsa. Khokhar said this was the first time in more than 50 years that the Pakistan government had issued additional visas to Sikh pilgrims instead of the agreed ones between the two countries. "Under the auspices of the ETPB, the main ceremony of the Baisakhi festival will be held on April 14 at Gurdwara Janamasthan

Pakistan names Binance founder Zhao as adviser to new crypto council

Pakistan has appointed a billionaire founder of one of the leading crypto trading companies as a strategic adviser to the newly created Pakistan Crypto Council. The groundbreaking move of appointing Binance's billionaire founder Changpeng Zhao as the strategic adviser was poised to reshape the global crypto landscape, a press release by the Finance Division said on Monday. The government officially launched the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) last month to regulate and integrate blockchain technology and digital assets into the country's financial landscape and appointed entrepreneur Bilal Bin Saqib as the chief adviser to the finance minister on the council. Dawn reported that the announcement was made on Monday during Zhao's meeting with the PCC, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, bringing together key government stakeholders. It said that Zhao held separate meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. This is a landmark moment for

US secy of state expressed interest in deepening co-op in many sectors: Pak

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday said that cooperation in economy and trade would be the "hallmark" of future ties with Pakistan. Rubio made the comments during a telephonic conversation with Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Office said in a statement. It said the two leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional security, and economic cooperation. Dar reiterated Pakistan's commitment to strengthening its partnership with the US. He emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, investment and counter-terrorism. Rubio reciprocated the desire to collaborate with Pakistan in trade and investment in various sectors, especially critical minerals, saying that cooperation in economy and trade would be the hallmark of future relations between the two countries. Dar highlighted Pakistan's efforts in successfully fighting terrorism during 2013-18, which caused Pakistan huge economic and human losses. The two leaders

UK, UAE, US withdraw nearly $1 billion from Pakistan's treasury bills

Pakistan has witnessed major outflows of foreign investment with just three countries withdrawing nearly USD 1 billion from the treasury bills during the current financial year. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, between July 1 and March 14 this fiscal year, inflows into T-bills totalled USD 1.163 billion while outflows stood at USD 1.121 billion, leaving a net balance of just USD 42 million. The withdrawal of USD 1 billion has left the outflows almost matching total inflows in Pakistan's fragile economy leading to investor caution despite attractive returns. The United Kingdom, traditionally Pakistan's largest T-bill investor, had invested USD 710 million during FY25 but withdrew USD 625 million. The United Arab Emirates and the United States recorded outflows of USD 205 million and USD 130 million, respectively. The Pakistan government to bring in foreign inflows has announced higher yields on its T-bills in comparison to most developed and developing economies. A financi

Pak forces kill 8 terrorists attempting infiltration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Eight terrorists have been killed and four injured as Pakistan's security forces thwarted an infiltration attempt on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the country's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan district, the military's media affairs wing has said. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities over the past year, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. On the intervening night of April 5-6, the movement of a group of khwarij, trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces in the general area of North Waziristan's Hassan Khel, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release on Sunday. After an intense exchange of fire, eight terrorists were killed and four others injured, it added. Fitna Al Khawarij' is a term that the state uses to refer to the banned TTP. Pakistan has .

Pak sees US tariffs as window of opportunity for negotiations with the US

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif set up two committees to tackle the economic implication of the new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Saturday. The two bodies include a steering committee chaired by the finance minister and comprising ministers, prominent business leaders, secretaries, and academics, while the second was a working group led by the secretary of commerce. You should never let a good crisis go to waste, Aurangzeb told a press conference here and explained that while the situation created immediate challenges, it also would open doors for negotiation and long-term engagement. He said that the government's intention was to formulate and present a well-structured package to the US administration and the recommendations are expected to be finalised in the coming days and submitted to the prime minister for approval. He said that following that approval, a high-level delegation will travel to Washington to convey ...

Dark clouds overshadowing Pakistan will soon evaporate: Imran Khan

Khan said the "peon government" was determined to keep him imprisoned as they were obsessed with clinging to power

Abir Gulaal teaser out: Fawad Khan returns to Bollywood after nine years

Fawad Khan is making his return to Bollywood after nine years. The Pakistani actor will be seen opposite Vaani Kappor in their upcoming movie, Abir Gulal, releasing on May 9