Page 6 - Pakistan

NIA to file charge sheet in April 22 Pahalgam terror attack case today

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will file a charge sheet on Monday in the Pahalgam terror attack case, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists, officials said. NIA investigations had found direct involvement of three terrorists in the April 22 terror attack. The anti-terror probe agency will present a charge sheet before a NIA special court in Jammu on Monday, officials added. In June, the NIA had arrested two men for harbouring the three Pakistan-based terrorists, who were killed by the armed forces in July. The arrested duo -- Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar from Pahalgam -- disclosed the identities of the three assailants as Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The two men provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, NIA officials had said. The three LeT terrorists, who were killed in the July 28 encounter code-named 'Operation Mahadev' on the .

Two Pak universities launch Sanskrit courses citing shared heritage

First time after partition, two universities of Pakistan's Punjab have launched short courses in Sanskrit citing shared heritage and plan to teach Gita and Mahabharat in future. The University of Punjab Lahore (public) and The Lahore University of Management Sciences (private) have launched a three-month course in this classical language. The instructors are also banking on a significant archieval collection of Sanskrit manuscripts in the Punjab University for later research. While the preparations started for the short duration courses last year, the year 2025 saw admissions to the first course. The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) was the first to start the basic levels I and II followed by the Punjab University Lahore, Prof Dr Ashok Kumar of Hindi Department Punjab University told PTI exclusively on Saturday. The course offers basic know-how of the classical language. To have a grip of Sanskrit, a student needs to complete seven levels that would require at least

Pak PM interacts with world leaders, including Russian Prez in Turkmenistan

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday interacted with many world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and discussed various issues of bilateral and regional concern, according to state media. The formal meeting and informal interactions took place in Turkmenistan's capital city Ashgabat, on the sidelines of the International Forum dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust. Footage on state and local media showed Prime Minister Shehbaz warmly shaking hands with President Putin and chatting with him, the details of which were not shared. There were no official reports of any formal bilateral meeting between Shehbaz and Putin. Shehbaz held a detailed meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where he expressed his firm resolve to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Turkiye in all areas of mutual interest including political, energy, economic, defence and investment, Radio Pakistan reported. Identifying energy, petroleum and ..

Pak govt may ban social media platforms if they don't 'cooperate': Minister

A Pakistan minister has warned that the government may consider banning social media platforms if they do not cooperate with authorities. Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik made these remarks on Thursday, according to a Dawn report. The social media platform X, which around 4.5 million people in Pakistan use, was blocked in February 2024, around 10 days after the general elections. Speaking on Dawn News programme, Barrister Malik, responding to a question about a possible ban on incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan's X account, said investigations are ongoing. He added that while the government has contacted X, the platform has shown the least cooperation compared to other social media networks. Criticising X, the minister said the platform should not operate with double standards. Posts related to Palestine are removed, and accounts blocked, within 24 hours. Here, we are talking about a matter of terrorism, he said. He further noted that the government h

Big Boost for Pakistan’s F-16s: US signs off on a $686 million upgrade

The US has approved a $686 million upgrade package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet. Watch to know what’s included, why Washington cleared it now, and what it means for regional security dynamics.

Former ISI chief Faiz Hameed gets 14-year jail term in Pakistan court

In a significant development, a Pakistani military court on Thursday sentenced former spy chief Faiz Hameed to 14 years in jail for violating the army laws. According to a statement by the army, the process of Field General Court Martial was initiated on August 12, 2024, against Hameed, formerly Lt Gen, under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act. He was tried on four charges related to engaging in political activities, violation of the Official Secrets Act detrimental to the safety and interests of the State, misuse of authority & government resources, and causing wrongful loss to persons. It is for the first time that a former chief of the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency has been convicted. He served as the Director General of the ISI from 2019 to 2021. He last served as Commander of the XXXI Corps before taking premature retirement on December 10, 2022. "After lengthy and laborious legal proceedings, the accused has been found guilty on all charges and ...

US approves sale of tech worth $686 mn for Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets

The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress about the deal in a letter sent on December 8, kicking off a 30-day review period

Pak economy regains short-term stability, still under high debt: IMF

Pakistan's population also continues to grow at a high pace, with mid-2025 official figures citing 2.55%, while World Bank data points to 1.8-1.9%

Between Pakistan and Afghanistan, trade war with no end in sight

Amid the deepest erosion of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan in decades, the Pakistani government has cut off cross-border trade

'Democracy and Pakistan don't go together: MEA amid Imran Khan protests

Jaiswal, while replying to a query on diminishing democratic institutions in Pakistan, noted that India was following events but would not go into details

Security forces foil attack on Jaffar Express in Pak's Balochistan

Security forces foiled an attempt to attack the frequently-targeted Jaffar Express passenger train in Pakistan's Balochistan province, according to a media report on Sunday. Unidentified insurgents planted an improvised explosive device (IED) on the track used by the Peshawar-bound train in the Nasirabad area of the province on Saturday, the Dawn newspaper reported. Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area after receiving information about the device and defused it, the report said, quoting a police official. The attack attempt comes almost a month after the train narrowly escaped an explosion in the same area. Months before that, it came under a deadly insurgent attack that left 26 people dead. Meanwhile, the Peshawar to Quetta Jaffar Express was stopped at Jacobabad due to security reasons. Another train was also halted there. According to the report, services for these trains will be resumed after the situation is assessed. It is not the first time insurgents have attack

Heavy exchange of fire reported between Pak, Afghan forces at Chaman border

A heavy exchange of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces was reported from the key Chaman border, according to a media report on Saturday. Injuries were reported from the district hospital, but no fatalities occurred, the Dawn newspaper reported. Officials from both sides accused each other of instigating the flare-up late on Friday night across the border in the Balochistan province. While Pakistani officials said that Afghan forces had fired mortar shells on the Badani area, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed it was Pakistan that launched an attack on Spin Boldak, alleging that their forces were responding. Pakistan's official sources told Dawn that Pakistani forces retaliated against the Afghan aggression and returned fire. There were also reports of fighting on the Chaman-Kandahar highway, but these could not be immediately verified. A senior official in Quetta confirmed on condition of anonymity that the exchange of fire started around 10 pm and conti

The failed Marshal Doctrine: Pak's most 'creative' military dictatorship

In the exact period that Gen Munir has been consolidating power, his counterparts in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal have eschewed it with remarkable dignity and professionalism

Pakistan formally appoints Asim Munir as first Chief of Defence Forces

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday approved the appointment of the army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as Pakistan's first Chief of Defence Forces for a period of five years. President Zardari approved the summary submitted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally asking him to appoint Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Munir as the first CDF of Pakistan. Last month, the parliament passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment providing to create the post of CDF with the objective to create unity of command and expedite the decision making in any critical situation. The CDF replaced the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), the post for which was abolished. The President extended his best wishes to Munir, a release from President's office said here. Zardari also approved a two-year extension in the service of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff, to take effect from the completion of his present tenure on March 19, 2026. According to a stateme

IED blast targeting police vehicle kills 3 policemen in northwest Pakistan

Three security men were killed in an improvised explosive device blast targeting a police vehicle in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, an official said. The incident occurred in the Panyala area of Dera Ismail Khan district, bordering South Waziristan. Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Gul Alam, Constable Rafiq and the driver of the mobile van, Sakhi Jan, lost their lives in the incident. The Paniyala Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), station house officer (SHO) and other district police officials reached the site of the improvised explosive device (IED) blast soon after the incident. A statement by the office of Dera Ismail Khan District Police Officer (DPO) Sajjad Ahmad Sahibzada said that the attack was carried out by unidentified terrorists. The terrorists have carried out a cowardly attack, the DPO told the media. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has strongly condemned the bomb attack. There have been severa

Imran Khan 'perfectly fine' but facing mental torture, says sister

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan's health is "perfectly fine" but he is being subjected to "mental torture in solitary confinement", his sister Dr Uzma Khan said on Tuesday after meeting him at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. The development comes amid rumours on social media about Khan's health as his family was constantly being denied from meeting him in prison for more than a month.

Pakistan passes Bill to protect minorities, set up rights commission

Pakistan's Parliament has approved a long-pending bill to strengthen protections for minority communities and create a statutory commission to oversee their rights and address discrimination

Female suicide bomber targets Pak paramilitary HQ in Balochistan; 6 killed

A female suicide bomber of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) blew herself up at the entrance of the headquarters of a paramilitary force in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, triggering a prolonged gunfight in which six militants were killed, security officials said on Tuesday. The attacker detonated herself at the main entrance of the Frontier Corps (FC) headquarters in Nokundi town of Chagai district on Sunday night, the officials said. The BLA later identified the bomber as Zinata Rafiq and released her photograph. Following the explosion, six militants attempted to storm the headquarters. Three were shot dead near the entrance after an extended exchange of fire, while the remaining three managed to enter the compound before being encircled by FC personnel. The security officials said the three have been killed as well. Residents said intermittent gunshots and explosions were heard from inside the headquarters until Monday evening. The incident marks at least

Govt rejects reports of airspace denial to Pak for Sri Lanka aid flight

India on Monday expeditiously heeded to Pakistan's request to use Indian airspace to send humanitarian assistance to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, people familiar with the matter said. They also described as "fake" reports in the Pakistani media that India has not granted overflight facility to Pakistan to send aid to Sri Lanka. The official request for overflight was submitted by Pakistan at around 1300 hours (Indian time) on Monday seeking permission to fly over Indian airspace, the people said. Given the fact that the request pertained to humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, India expeditiously cleared the request and intimated the same to Pakistan at 1730 hours (Indian time) on Monday through official channels, they said. It was processed at the shortest notice period of four hours, they added. This gesture from India despite Pakistan having banned its airspace for Indian airlines was considered purely on humanitarian grounds, the people said. "Pakistani media, as usual, is indulgi

7 explosions occur in Balochistan in 24 hours, no casualties reported

At least seven explosions have occurred in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province in the last 24 hours without any casualties being reported while two security guards of a construction company were injured. Suspected insurgents carried out the attacks in Balochistan capital Quetta and Dera Murad Jamali. On Saturday, insurgents hurled hand grenades at a police checkpoint in Quetta, following which an IED explosive was detonated near an Anti-Terrorism Department vehicle. Three other explosions were carried out later in the evening. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asif Khan said that the blast was carried out near Lohr Karez, on the outskirts of Quetta, blowing up the main line connecting Quetta with other parts of the country. Fear and panic spread in the capital due to the incident, however, no casualties were reported. SSP Khan said miscreants planted IED devices on the railway track and blew them when a train was scheduled to reach Quetta station. The blast caused damage t