Page 4 - Pakistan

Pakistan urges Afghan Taliban to act on terror, vows dialogue efforts

Pakistan said on Sunday that it was committed to dialogue to resolve differences with the Afghan Taliban but demanded that Kabul must address concerns regarding the use of its territory by terrorists. Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi issued a statement on different media queries regarding the third round of talks with the Afghan Taliban regime in Istanbul on November 6, which concluded a day later. Turkiye and Qatar mediated the parleys. The peace talks ended without any agreement to tackle the thorny issues of cross-border terrorism, the top officials had said on Saturday. Pakistan remains committed to the resolution of bilateral differences through dialogue. However, Pakistan's core concern, i.e. terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, needs to be addressed first and foremost, the FO said in a statement. It also said that Pakistan's Armed Forces and its people were well determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from its soil and take action against its supporter

Pakistan amends Constitution to give Asim Munir new powers: Details

The 27th Amendment Bill creates the post of Chief of Defence Forces, merges it with the army chief's office, and abolishes the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks in Istanbul fail amid rising tensions

Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have ended without agreement, with the sides trading blame for the breakdown in negotiations aimed at easing border tensions and upholding a fragile ceasefire, officials said Saturday. Tensions have escalated in recent weeks following deadly border fighting that killed dozens of soldiers and civilians. The violence erupted after explosions in Kabul on October 9, which Afghanistan's Taliban government said were drone strikes conducted by Pakistan and vowed to avenge. The clashes subsided after Qatar brokered a ceasefire on October 19, which remains tenuously in place. Afghanistan's government spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, blamed Pakistan for the talks' failure, saying that Pakistan's demands in the negotiations were unreasonable and the talks could not proceed, the meeting ended and the talks are at a standstill for now. Speaking during a press conference from the southern Afghan city of Kandahar Saturday, Mujahid said ...

Elements in Pakistan military 'sabotaging' peace talks: Afghanistan

A day after peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan collapsed, the Taliban government on Saturday said certain elements within Pakistan military and intelligence services are "deliberately sabotaging" the dialogue process that was aimed at easing border tensions. These elements are trying to blame the Taliban government for Pakistan's internal problems, insecurity, and attacks carried out by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said. The Taliban spokesperson asserted that Afghanistan will not allow "anyone to use its territory against another country, nor permit actions that undermine its sovereignty or security". The peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan have ended in Istanbul without any tangible outcomes. The negotiations were aimed at finding a permanent solution to their border tensions and to continue with a fragile ceasefire. "Certain elements within Pakistan's military and intelligence services are deliberately sabotaging

Pakistan brings in amendment to create new post of Chief of Defence Forces

Pakistan on Saturday brought in a Constitutional amendment to create a new post of chief of defence forces to ensure greater coordination and unified command among the three services. The 27th Constitutional Amendment bill presented in parliament proposes changes to Article 243 of the Constitution, which deals with the armed forces among other issues. Under the amendment bill, the President will appoint the Army Chief and the Chief of Defence Force on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Chief of Army Staff, who will also be the Chief of Defence Forces, will appoint the head of the National Strategic Command in consultation with the Prime Minister. The head of the National Strategic Command will be from the Pakistan Army, it adds. The government will be able to promote individuals from the armed forces to the ranks of Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force and Admiral of the Fleet. The rank and privileges of Field Marshal will be for life, meaning that Field Marshals will remain

Afghanistan-Pak peace talks end in deadlock over cross-border terrorism

Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban ended without any agreement to tackle the thorny issues of cross-border terrorism as the deadlock persisted, according to top officials. The third round of talks began on Thursday and continued for two days but it failed to get a written commitment from Kabul to take action against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants accused of launching an attack against Pakistan by using Afghan soil. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told a private TV channel on Friday night that the negotiations were suspended, with "no programme for the fourth round of talks". "There is a complete deadlock. The negotiations have entered an indefinite phase," he said, reported Geo TV. The minister thanked Turkiye and Qatar for their "sincere efforts" to mediate tensions between the two neighbouring countries. "They support our stance. Even the Afghan delegation agreed with us; however, they were not ready to sign a written agreement," he said, adding

Why the Durand Line still divides Pakistan and Afghanistan today

A border drawn in 1893 still fuels conflict in 2025. The Durand Line, a 2,640 km border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, remains one of the world’s most volatile frontiers.

Afghanistan, Pak set for final round of talks after earlier attempts fail

The second round of talks in late October lasted four days but ended without results

1,796 Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan for Guru Nanak's birth anniversary

Earlier, the Pakistan High Commission shared on Wednesday that it has issued over 2100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India ahead of the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak

Is Pakistan actively testing nuclear weapons? Here's what Trump claims

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Pakistan is among countries conducting nuclear weapons tests, as he defended his decision to restart US testing after more than 30 years

Japan to invest $300 mn in Pakistan's copper mine amid supply crunch

Situated in Pakistan's Balochistan province, the Reko Diq copper-gold mine is poised to become one of the world's five largest copper reserves, drawing Japanese financing and industrial support

Trump says Pak testing nuclear weapons, defends US' move to resume trials

Trump said several countries, including Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan, are conducting nuclear tests, while the US remains the only nation that does not

Mauritius looking to revive rice ties with India to ease out Pakistan

Pakistan became the country's significant rice supplier after India banned non-basmati rice exports in 2023 to cool down domestic markets

US delegates discuss cooperation on critical minerals with Pak officials

A US delegation held talks with Pakistani officials to seek cooperation in minerals and mining as Washington races to secure mineral supply chains for American industry amid concerns over China's increasing control on rare-earth resources. The US delegation, led by Critical Minerals Forum (CMF) chief Robert Louis Strayer II, along with US Charg d'Affaires Natalie Baker, met Minister for Finance & Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team on Friday. According to an official statement, the US delegation discussed avenues of cooperation in the minerals and mining sector, strengthening supply-chain security, and encouraging responsible and sustainable investment in Pakistan's critical minerals landscape. It said that Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan's ongoing structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and positive global outlook, emphasising that a robust minerals policy can drive Pakistan toward export-led growth and long-term economic stability. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to continued

Pakistan, Afghanistan to maintain ceasefire after peace talks in Istanbul

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to maintain a ceasefire following peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey's Foreign Ministry has announced, after a dialogue between the two sides collapsed earlier in the week. The sides plan to meet again at a higher-level gathering in Istanbul on Nov 6 to finalise how the ceasefire will be implemented, the ministry said in a statement released on behalf of Pakistan, Afghanistan and mediators Turkey and Qatar on Thursday. All parties have agreed to put in place a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure maintenance of peace and imposing penalty on the violating party, the statement read. The new round of negotiations, facilitated by Turkey and other friendly nations, was aimed at easing border tensions between the two sides who earlier this month exchanged fire, leaving dozens of soldiers, civilians and militants dead. Despite the collapse of the previous round of talks, a ceasefire has largely held and no new border clashes were reporte

Twin attacks raise concerns over security situation in Pak's Balochistan

In a separate yet equally alarming incident, unidentified armed men attacked the Jaffar Express passenger train in the same region, firing bullets and launching four rockets

Clashing over the Durand Line: A history of the Pak-Afghan border dispute

Drawn by the British in 1893, the Durand Line remains a source of conflict as Pakistan and Afghanistan inch closer to a direct military confrontation

Six Pak soldiers, including Captain, killed in blast in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At least six soldiers, including a Captain, were killed in an IED blast targeting a convoy of the security forces in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, said. The convoy came under attack in Sultani area in the restive Kurram tribal district bordering Afghanistan. In the ensuing gunbattle, seven terrorists were killed. The terrorists opened fire on the convoy while it was moving through the area. During the engagement, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near Dogar, causing heavy casualties. As a result of the blast, one officer and five soldiers were killed. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the perpetrators. Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, mostly targeting police, law enforcement personnel and security forces. The spike followed the banned Tehreek-e-Ta

Pakistan plans to send peace troops to Gaza: 'We will be proud to do it'

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the government will take a decision after consulting parliament and other relevant institutions

Pakistan now paying a high price for its long-standing ties with Taliban

Dozens of soldiers on both sides have been killed along the disputed border, and negotiators in Istanbul are now trying, with some strain, to reach a deal to prevent further escalation